Would something like this be allowed?

[coxengines]

Under eBay rules, would something like this be allowed or fall under the auspices of the eBay police?

Create a BIN auction for one cent.

Have 100 of these available for purchase.

Clearly state in the listing that buyers should NOT PAY.

Offer free shipping (digital delivery).

Meaning this would be an auction where the buyer would receive a digital item absolutely free. All he/she has to do is buy, and the item will be delivered immediately to the buyer’s email address on file.

The digital file would contain something of value to the buyer.

I would like to try this on a virgin account of mine as a social experiment, the results of which might be included in the book hubby is writing.

It would also serve as research in regards to the upcoming eBay changes, although that is not the main reason for doing so.

Xena

[treasure-pot]

Xena, because you are going to try to launch this from a "virgin" account, you would not be able to as you must have a minimum number of ten feedback to use fixed price and a minimum of 30 feedbacks to offer a multiple item fixed price listing.

Even if you met those minimum requirements, eBay might view your listing as an attempt to "buy" or "manipulate" your feedback depending on the wording used. Have a close look at the following link before attempting this:

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/feedback-manipulation.html

[coxengines]

OK Bill, thanks and that does answer the question.

Although my intent is not to artificially increase feedback, it could be viewed as such.

Getting 30 FB is quite easy, so that's not an obstacle.

I guess I could either do BIN for 100 of the same items @ $.98 with free digital delivery (after 30 FB) or Dutch auctions for 100 of the same, starting at 0.98.

I should be safe from the eBay police, methinks?

I also could offer a, no-questions-asked, refund upon demand.

Again, this is not an attempt to increase FB or DSR ratings. I am, luckily, in the group of the 15% of PS who would qualify for the 15% fee reduction, so there really is no need for me to enhance my ratings.

Last month we tried, in a city, to give away Loonies to passers-by. The results were shocking!

This would have been an experiment along the same lines. On top of that, as an incidental thing, it would perhaps give some insight into the validity of DSRs.

Xena

[recped]

I'm sure there will be plenty of attempts at feedback manipulation however from doing a bit of thinking in most cases it makes absolutely no sense to even try. As we have seen, poor feedback doesn't stop buyers from buying and the rewards (Powerseller 15% discount) are not of enough value to outweigh the costs to manipulate the feedback.

For me to get to the 15% discount level I would have to spend more money than I would receive as a discount. I think it's much easier just to sell more and do a better job of it and let the better feedback come naturally. Come to think of it, adding a Dollar to 10% of my listings and/or increasing my handling charge by 25 cents will get me the same financial reward. This is a lot easier than some complicated feedback scheme.
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[coxengines]

recped,

I you read my post correctly, this is absolutely, positively, NOT intended to raise FB or DSR levels, sorry!

It would be on an (almost) virgin account under which I only buy and never intend to sell.

Xena

[recped]

OK I misunderstood but I also don't understand what the point would be. You don't need any feedback history to be a buyer.
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[coxengines]

recped,

This is from my OP:

I would like to try this on a virgin account of mine as a social experiment, the results of which might be included in the book hubby is writing.

It would also serve as research in regards to the upcoming eBay changes, although that is not the main reason for doing so.

Hubby is writing a book about Quantum Physics, the Law of Attraction and the Power of the Mind.

The auction I had planned was to be part of the experiments we have been conducting and was planned before I had even heard about the upcoming eBay changes.

Now that I am aware of the changes, the case study could also have served, and this is purely incidental, to showcase buyer satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) when they receive something free, coupled with free and immediate delivery.

However, I can understand why there could be the perception that my motives are or ulterior nature. I realize that the timing of my question sucks - should have done so in December as I intended LOL!

Xena

[johnk_2000]

Hey!!

What can you do when someone is feedback farming>

Someone is offering a Digital Download for a penny.

Does eBay do anything about this?

If so who do you contact?

[numero_1]

i've seen many of these 99c auctions for a pdf file to get feedback easily and quickly

[johnk_2000]

But the question I have is it against eBay policy to do this and if so who do you report it to?

[recped]

Yes it is...

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-manipulation.html

There is a report link at the bottom of every listing page.
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[johnk_2000]

Ok so I went through the process reported it and eBay did not remove these listings?

This person is just doing this with th one cent BIN to farm feedback.

It's a shame this is allowed

Cheers

[westernstargifts]

This person is just doing this with th one cent BIN to farm feedback.

I read the thread that recped posted about feedback manipulation. To me it seems like a very gray area that can be interpreted in different ways.

On one hand, eBay encourages sellers to start their listings low to attract buyers. On the other hand it is feedback farming if they price it too low. How low is "low"? And how does eBay know what the products are worth or what a seller paid for them?

I presently have a new seller who is selling the same products that I sell at wholesale or below starting prices. Is it naivety because she thinks she is going to get tons of bids? Is she just trying to unload stock ( I don't think so in this case)? Or is she feedback farming? How do we, or eBay, know the difference?

[recped]

How do we, or eBay, know the difference?

It's a difficult call which is why when reported often nothing is done.
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[westernstargifts]

I kind of figured that.....:-(

[gbayemporium]

Is Feedback Manipulation allowed on eBay?
A: No. It creates havoc. It is a despicable practice that has done more to create the idea that eBay is an unsafe place to do business than almost anything else. The costs on the backend in dealing with the fraud that arises from these listings is astronomical. Unfortunately, the business unit at eBay only looks at the money coming in, and so because of that you can still get away with it.

Why is nothing done when it's reported?
A: outsourced LP workers who don't have a clue.

Social experiment?
A: If you do get caught, and your account gets suspended, any related accounts will be suspended as well. Don't do it!

How do I know so much about this? Feel free to ask.