eBay caused some confusion by running two versions of a nearly identical seller promotion. EcommerceBytes covered one in Monday’s Newsflash newsletter, which restricted sellers to running new auctions only – relistings were excluded.
But some sellers received an invitation to participate in a promotion that was identical except relistings were allowed. Links to the two promotions follow:
eBay Promotion – Relistings excluded
eBay Promotion – Relistings allowed
A seller who had not received the invitation wrote to say she had discovered her eligibility when she checked how many of her regular spots were open.
“Is it me or does eBay seem increasingly desperate but at the same time trying to hide this,” she wrote. “If you have a Promo – but don’t TELL the people who are able to USE the promo – and the part about the NO RELISTINGS would have escaped me entirely because of this – it seems beyond even eBay’s “normal” disruption. Or is this a “Secret Evil Plan” to show that SELLERS DON’T USE PROMOS????”
Other sellers also reported they had received no invitation but were eligible to participate, as a seller on this discussion thread. “I didn’t get an email or an eBay message but it is showing with my monthly freebie count that I have 1000 per day free listings,” they wrote, advising others to look on their My eBay page.
One seller who received an invitation said they would sit it out because it was for auction listings only. “Already got most of my standby items up on the last FP special (including ending early stuff that would have ended up through the 17th). And since this is auction only, I am not interested. Last time I made copies of all listings in TL in order to have auction versions, then end results when all was said and done was not worth the effort.”
Some sellers also suggested those eligible for the promotion that excludes relistings use the “sell similar” feature in order to launch listings more quickly.
