Question
Hello~
Does anyone know the policy regarding selling an identical item on Ebay and on a website outside of Ebay? I remember reading quite a while ago that there were specific rules about pricing, but I don't recall where I read it or what the policy was. Was it that the staring price on Ebay has to be equal to or lower than the price on the website? Thanks!
Joan
www.catholic-collectibles.com
Answer
Used to be one cannot have more than 10 listings of an identical items at one time. If you are selling the identical item on your website, price cannot be lower than price on eBay. I am not sure if price can be equal to price on eBay.
I usually have auction of a penny less than what I am selling same item for on website.
These were old rules prior to introduction of fixed price items. Not sure if eBay ever changed the rules.
Answer
Ebay "prohibits" selling the same item at cheaper prices at your own website.
We address that by listing public prices at the same price at Ebay and at our own website, but also adding a reasonable handling charge to Ebay item listings only. We also offer discounted prices through a non-public web page for prior buyers only.
This way we stay within Ebay's rules and can still offer lower net costs to buyers at our website and further discounts to prior buyers, too.
This partially covers the considerably higher costs of selling at Ebay and provides an incentive for returning buyers to go to our website store in the future.
Be careful how the handling charge is explained in your Ebay listings.... Ebay initially cancelled our listings years ago because we stated that the handling charge reflected the costs of selling at Ebay. We now state that we assess handling charges for Ebay sales only, without directly connecting it to Ebay's costs. (They had no valid reason for cancelling our ads when they did - They said it was because we, not the buyers, are responsible for paying our own Ebay fees. Of course we are! They even state that sellers can recover Ebay's fees by calculating it into the selling price and that one can charge a handling charge not exceeding the reasonable costs of packaging, etc. The point is, don't "diss" Ebay in your listings or they'll retaliate!)
Answer
Thanks Commentary and Summerbeemeadow for this information. That's just what I wanted to know, and I appreciate the benefit of your experience and how to avoid problems with Ebay!
Joan
www.catholic-collectibles.com
Answer
One simple question? How in the he!! can eBay dictate what you do and how you run your own web site?? It's none of their business!
I'll do whatever I want and price the identical item for whatever I want on my site. I'd like to see them try and tell me that I can't do that!
I'll wind up owning them after a restraint of trade law suit!
Answer
eBay doesn't dictate your pricing off-eBay.
There is no prohibition from pricing identical stuff on your website for more, or less, than you sell for on eBay. They can't do that.
Somebody is getting confused, I think, with some old eBay linking guidlines that no longer exist. Long time ago, you could link to your website from your auction listings so long as you weren't selling the same item for less on the website.
Answer
There is no control eBay has over how you price on your website.
HOWEVER : the linking policy will not allow you to put a link on your ABOUT ME page to a website offering the same items at the same or lower prices than you have on eBay.
Answer
What happens if a seller sets the starting price on Ebay lower than the website price, but the item is bid up to a price higher than the price on the website? Is it only the starting price or BIN price that Ebay takes into account?
Joan
www.catholic-collectibles.com
Answer
The text of the rule is :
"Links to sites offering the same merchandise for the same or lower price (including the Buy It Now price). "
I would interpret that to be starting price or BIN price, if one exists.