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17 comments

Feedback and Private Auctions

Posted Aug-14-07 17:28:26 PDT Updated Aug-14-07 18:02:44 PDT

 

One of the concerns about the new feedback system is that a heck of a lot of information is revealed on the feedback page ie the price the item sold for, etc etc. One of my movie poster customers recently told me he was uncomfortable with having his bidding history displayed for all to see including a public record of everything he has purchased so he has gone private. Those who criticise private auctions often say that any seller who runs these auctions must be using shill bids but often, it is just a case of protecting the privacy of both the seller and the bidders.

What do you think about private auctions? Should the new Feedback page disclose the price the item sold for?

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xx-ladykiki-xx
I was thinking about doing private auctions now too. Never done them before but the new feedback is scarin people away.

Plus people are going to be buying for Christmas soon, that makes it even harder to hide what they are buying for gifts.
Aug-14-07 17:31:30 PDT Report this comment
crazyjeans12000
I love private auctions.
Aug-14-07 17:31:40 PDT Report this comment
4343martino
If yu stop and think about it..that information has always been avaliable..just click on the link for the item and you can not only see what it sold for , but what it started at , how many people bid on it and what the winning bid was..so what is the big deal..personally i think it helps if people look at my feedback and see high priced items have sold..and i was given good feedback, they feel less aprehension on paying high prices themselves..
JMHO
Mark
Aug-14-07 17:32:06 PDT Report this comment
victorian_rose_inc
I don't think that the price or item should be disclosed. If someone wants to know what was purchased, they can click on the view item link. A lot of customers won't buy certain items because they don't want everyone to know what they are purchasing, even if they don't know the person.
Aug-14-07 17:33:15 PDT Report this comment
johnwr
Quote...."If yu stop and think about it..that information has always been avaliable..just click on the link for the item and you can not only see what it sold for"

Actually that is not entirely true. The link to the listing only lasts for a limited period of time and if you have a look at feedback records you can see that the item number turns grey after a while and you cant see any information about the listing. The new system has the price displayed forever.
Aug-14-07 17:34:57 PDT Report this comment
fata-morgana1
Like I have said before...you do not want all of ebay to know that you bought that Playboy magazine!
Aug-14-07 17:42:28 PDT Report this comment
tjsttng
The price goes off after 90 days!
Aug-14-07 17:42:39 PDT Report this comment
4343martino
that is true john...but i thought we were refering to recent auctions..since the whole change only started in may..i still dont see what the problem with showing what something sold for??
I want people to see what my goods sold for high or low..it reflects on what kind of seller i am i feel..
Mark
Aug-14-07 17:45:17 PDT Report this comment
charmed*aromas
It is true. As a seller, you can go and see exactly what is working and not working for your competition. I think a little more privacy would be good too...I am a little worried to buy from a seller with private feedback..But maybe if the numbers were big enough I would...MHO good post~
Aug-14-07 17:47:20 PDT Report this comment
4343martino
Hey..tjsttng is correct..when the listing passes 90 days all the pertinant info goes with it..
and fata..adult listings dont show what the item was...LOL>>>
Mark
Aug-14-07 17:47:27 PDT Report this comment
johnwr
Mark
I know what you mean and I tend to agree with you. I have no intention of changing my auctions to private at the moment but I really would prefer the old way of displaying feedback.
John
Aug-14-07 17:52:47 PDT Report this comment
johnwr
Another thing to consider is the ramifications of revealing personal information. I heard of a case where a parent was able to discover his child's userid and from there was able to find some very personal information from the childs bidding history. The child (a teenager) had thought that his parents would not know his userid so he thought he was safe. It turned out that he had a private issue that he had been trying to keep from his parents but his bidding history gave a pretty good indication of the problem and his secret was out!
Aug-14-07 17:58:23 PDT Report this comment
4343martino
I can see where that could be a real problem...but i follow a rule of thumb that says dont say or do anything in cyberspace that you wouldnt do in anyspace..because there are no secrets or privacy or security in cyberspace at all..there is nothing that cant be found if you know how and where to look..
Mark
Aug-14-07 18:05:34 PDT Report this comment
johnwr
Thats a good rule!
Aug-14-07 18:26:53 PDT Report this comment
vaughan8
I share the concern. I'd make a disticntion between selling & buying: useful to see detailed feedback for items sold, but what someone's bought is no one's business but their own - only the stats need be in the public domain.
Jan-03-08 03:07:35 PST Report this comment
gizmo1413
Can anyone tell me how to make your feedback private but still be able to list items for sale?
Jan-22-08 14:48:54 PST Report this comment
mysticmodz
Id like to know too, if anyone can help out? Do you have to do private auctions, or is there a setting/preference somewhere that makes the item number private?
Jan-27-08 02:15:14 PST Report this comment

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