Special Orders -- How to Pay for them?

[clarry100]

We operate two ebay stores selling in the same category of baby headbands and accessories.

We very commonly get requests from customers asking if we can make up a special order.
It might be different combinations of what we already have listed or bulk quantities etc etc.

We are happy to negotiate a price but when it comes time to pay this is where the problem lies.
eBay don't like off-ebay transactions and will block passing of email addresses.

Bank transfer is an option but some customers don't feel comfortable with doing this.

So here is a thought on how we might do it. 

Set up a special BIN listing with a price of say $1.00 (could be any $$ increment you wanted really).

Make up a good descriptive listing title.

Include a picture that just says "Special Orders". This may contravene the new picture requirements???
In the description area write about what the listing is for and how to use it.

Then when we negotiate a price with the customer, say $10 (or whatever in whole dollar amounts).

All they have to do is goto this special listing and order and pay for qty 10x of these "special" items.

qty 10x = $10.00. Or whatever qty = the dollar figure we negotiated.

Once they pay we mail out as usual.

Ebay/PayPal get their fees and everyone is happy.

Q1. Is this going to work or will it get blocked or taken down by ebay?

Q2. Does it contravene any ebay policy/rule?

Q3. Any thoughts or other ideas?

[*crikey*mate*]

It's been my experience that even the most carefully planned listing including synchronized watches etc to be come quite convoluted as eBay don't always send our listings live when we want them to.

The above method is a lot less restrictive when trying to match the availability of two trading partners.

i.e. it might not be convenient for you or the customer to be at the computer at the agreed upon listing time.

So title:

Picture of a box or something else that you can supply related to your listing if necessary

Description - 10 headbands.

Then Postage price

and BIN with best offer option.

[*crikey*mate*]

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@clarry100 wrote:

Hmmm! A high quality DOT in a bag. Might send 'em some QLD air as well. Note to self. "New Marketing Idea". LOL.

But I do like the idea tho phorum_junkie.

But it would still be easier for us if my original idea of the special BIN listing would not contravene any ebay policy.

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If you look around, you will see I have already cornered the dot market LOL

This is my dot => . <=

And as for the Qld air? It's perfect, isn't it? But do we really want to share it?

[trulyspecialgoodies]

For private listings my Description always reads "As arranged with buyer".

[clarry100]

I've never used a "Private Listing".

Is this a listing that only a nominated buyer can see. A bit like a 2nd chance offer listing?

How do you make such a listing?

[digital*ghost]

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@clarry100 wrote:

I've never used a "Private Listing".

Is this a listing that only a nominated buyer can see. A bit like a 2nd chance offer listing?

How do you make such a listing?

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There used to be a facility ages ago to make a listing only available to a specific member, but eBay discontinued it, so now the only way is to give it a title such as "Private listing for...", and then indicate clearly in the description that the listing is reserved for a specific member. I previously used a "Reserved" graphic for the gallery image, but the latest picture requirements put paid to that idea, unfortunately.

You can't stop someone else from buying the listing, but most people will respect the "reserved" thing, and technically any other ID who purchases from a listing for someone else can be reported for listing interference, if it came to it. With my items, I can generally make or supply more of the same thing if someone else buys it before my original buyer can, but I usually message them and arrange a specific time to list, then tell them the item number. If you want to make extra sure, you can also use the Best Offer function and list at a ridiculously high BIN price, then only accept the offer from your buyer at the agreed price). 

[clarry100]

So when you send a 2nd chance offer is this visible to the world or only the designated buyer?

Sounds like ebay have reserved this private feature for their own internal use if this is so.

I do appreciate all the ideas given on here about this topic. I like quite a few of the ideas put together for our purposes better than the original idea I proposed at the start.

Like you DG we can also remake anything if some other ID should buy it anyway. But I do like the idea of a high BIN price with a Best Offer button. That way if someone is silly enough to buy the BIN price I will happily make another one for them and again for my special order customer at our agreed price.

Q: If you have a BIN price with Best Offer when I accept the Best Offer does the listing automatically cease?

I will continue to watch the thread for any other ideas that might be put forward.

Cheers, all.

[digital*ghost]

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@clarry100 wrote:

So when you send a 2nd chance offer is this visible to the world or only the designated buyer?

Sounds like ebay have reserved this private feature for their own internal use if this is so.

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Yep, only the buyer being offered the second chance can access and purchase that listing (I tested it once by putting the item number into a search using an different ID to the one that received an offer and just got an error message. Once I had accepted the offer, the number took me to the ended listing).

I wasn't a member when  it was possible to create an exclusive listing, but apparently it was being abused in some way - manipulating feedback, I think.

In regards to BIN with Best Offer, the listing will end if you accept the offer price, unless you have multiple quantities available.