Pre-approved bidders ?

[pierrelebel]

eBay advises:

Pre-approved bidders

Occasionally, for certain high-profile listings, we allow a seller to create a pre-approved bidders list to restrict their listings to a specified group. Here's what you can expect if you bid on a listing that has a pre-approved bidders list: If you're a pre-approved bidder: The bidding process will proceed as usual. If you're not one of the pre-approved bidders: If you bid, you'll get a notice that the item is restricted, and you will not be allowed to bid on the item. If you're interested in the item, contact the seller to ask to be added to the pre-approved bidders list.

My question is:

Does anyone know where a seller can make a request to have pre-approved bidders only for a listing?

I looked and looked and cannot find the information on SYI3 or the help pages.

After Mary suggested it, I am playing with the idea of listing one large lot which would include all my remaining inventory (instead of moving over one hundred boxes and bookcases to our new home in Napanee).  The asking price would be substantial and I certainly do not want to waste my time with jokers or unqualified buyers/bidders.

[kcgwynne]

I just tried googling that and all the links take me to the buyer block list. There is an article from Ecommercebytes that this was discontinued in 2006.

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y06/m12/i07/s01

It may be a hidden feature for the big guys like the Superman comic. You may need to phone Ebay.

[photosalp]

No, I saw an auction earlier this year where it was used. I tried finding it in my watch list, but it was already gone. 

[kcgwynne]

I am still digging but this is as far as I got.

http://pages.ebay.com/services/buyandsell/PreApprovedBidderListNotAvailable.html

[kcgwynne]

The article where I got that link

http://www.ftp28.com/how-to-use-ebays-pre-approved-buyer-function/

[rose-dee]

Hi Pierre - I asked Raphael that same question about a year ago (Dec. 18th, 2013 board hour).  I used to set up a "pre-approved" bidder list for my custom-made items that were created for a specific buyer (so the pre-approved list contained only one ID).  If I recall, it used to be an option within the SYI form, but it's been gone for ages.  

I think eBay is trying to heavily discourage this type of selling, and it sounds as if some kind of special permission is now required in order to use it.  Below, for what it's worth to you, is what Raphael told me at that board hour (my bold emphasis, not his, but I was surprised to see the words "rarely allow").  His suggestion for my situation was to use an auction format and cancel bids.  Granted, my issue was not the same as yours where you're looking to permit more than one potential buyer to participate in the auction, but cancelling bids might work in your scenario.  

Incidentally, I didn't take Raphael's suggestion for my custom listings, as I personally don't like the idea of having to cancel unwanted bids.  Instead, I set up my fixed priced listing with a title that says: "Custom listing for [eBay ID of customer] only", and appropriate text within the description area.  

In your situation, I think a note to Raphael might be the best thing to do.  

"The closest thing would be Pre Approved Bidders, which works only for charity and very high profile listings, and restricts bidding only to bidders put on a pre-approved list managed by the seller. However we very rarely allow anyone to use this feature.

The right way to sell to a specific buyer is to create a new auction-style listing and set the starting price at the price agreed to between you and the buyer, then have the buyer place a bid at that starting price, then end the listing early to sell to that buyer. Doing it this way (auction style) will allow you to cancel unwanted bids if there are any."

[pierrelebel]

Thank you for the link.

Unfortunately, it leads to:

Message from eBay

	Pre-approved Bidder List
	To ensure the security of our users, the pre-approved bidder list is no longer available. For other buyer management tools go here.

So I guess I will have to forget the idea of selling the remaining inventory as one lot on eBay.  The lot would have a starting price in excess of $100,000 and I certainly have no intention to deal with idiot bidders disrupting the process.  A pre-approved bidder list (where only known dealers would have been approved) could have done the job; without it, it is not worth the risks.

[recped]

How about Fixed Price with a pretty hefty price and Best Offer (using auto-decline to weed out the ridiculous low ball offers).

It might not result in an eBay sale but would help to make people aware that there is a huge lot available.

[pierrelebel]

That was the original plan. 

However, there is nothing preventing anyone from clicking on Buy-it-Now with no intention to complete the transaction.

I would most likely make-it pick-up only (one would need a large truck)

[photosalp]

Pierre, you have a lot more experience than I do, but do you think eBay is the right venue for that kind of a sale? I could see it more if you were breaking it up into a hundred, or even ten, lots. Although if you sent it to a large auction house they'd probably want to break it up as well. If I were younger, and in better health, I'd love to have a crack at it:) I've done a few exhaustive searches, but nowhere on eBay can I buy back ten years............

[dutchman48]

Hi Pierre

It must still be available but possibly on the US site only.

The 1938 Superman comic I believe was sold that way. It went for 2.3 M I believe

[dutchman48]

I believe it was Pristine Comics or Metropolis Comics and the owner was Darren Adams if memory serves me tight. It actually sold for 3.2M.

metropoliscomics is on Ebay and may be worth sending them an email to ask.

[recped]

I doubt a simple high value is enough for eBay to open the doors to the VIP club, it takes an item with "sizzle". I don't think the leftover inventory of a long time stamp dealer really has the same kind of sizzle as one of the rarest comics out there. Perhaps the bulk sales of a world renowned collector's entire collection would.

While a lot like Pierre's can probably be easily sold within the stamp dealers inner circle it's probably on eBay where he has the best chance of getting more than market value.

Caveat: I know nothing about stamps beyond the fact that a Canadian P is currently worth 85 cents.