Private Listing

[ret37.2008]

What is a Private listing and why are bidders identities protected??

[scifan57 · Accepted solution]

Here is something about private listings. In addition,when looking at the feedback comments for a private listing,only the comment is visible,there is no link to view the item and no listing number mentioned in the feedback.This means that a visitor to your feedback page cannot see what you've been buying if it was from a private listing. Adult listings are another area where these private listings might be more frequently seen.

[dmil8030 · Accepted solution]

Hello 'ret37',

Sometimes sellers set up their auctions that way, and some 'Buy it Now' listings are the same.  A lot of folks don't like those kinds of auctions believing that the only identity which is 'protected' is the seller shilling up her own auction.  And so they don't bid, whereby if it is an honest auction, you can get your item for a jolly good price, resulting from too few bidders.

Another reason they do it is because when you look at the seller's feedback, if there are multiple complaints about an item, there is no way to determine which item is dodgy and hence avoid it.  And of course, most of the 'adult' items are private.

Still there are other sellers who genuinely believe that all purchases ought to be private and list everything that way.  I have bought porcelain dishes that were 'private', and even a "Wallace and Gromit" dvd.  Since when does W&G need to be a secret?

So if you are interested in an item, the best way for success in any auction is decide on a maximum you are comfortable with (including shipping), bid once and bid as late as possible in the auction.