eBid Widgets

In an ideal world when using a new selling site one should read all the rules, check all the small print, and familiarise oneself with all the dos and don’ts up-front. The reality is that most people rush in keen to play with their new toy, and only find out about the differences from the sites they’re used to when things don’t work, or they get their wrist slapped for breaking rules. Both in the selling side of the site, and in the forums, there are various things you’re not allowed to do on eBid that might differ from places you’ve used before. 

So what are the eBid rules that most people break, albeit accidentally in many cases?

1. Do not post duplicate items. If you have multiples of something to sell, you have to do that as a “dutch auction”. Note, there’s nothing Dutch about it and it doesn’t have to be an auction! On eBid the term is used simply to describe any listing with more than one item. 
2. Do not put your contact details on view. You may not put snail mail or email address information in your listings, about me page, or in the forum. Your details will be sent to your buyers when they purchase and you are not permitted to make them visible within eBid before that.
3. Do not list banned items. These included knives and ebooks - the most common pair listed by mistake. The list of banned items is available in the help pages, but also includes a “catch all” of anything eBid deem unsuitable.
4. Do not put items with lewd or revealing pictures, or of an adult nature, outside the adult section. Even if your item is fairly tame underwear, for example, if the picture with which it is illustrated is considered OTT it will need to go in the adult section.
5. Do not pimp your stuff in the forums outside the plug forum, or more than the one-per-day quota allowed.
6. Do not put on messages warning viewers that items are offered elsewhere and might not be available when bought.  If you offer it on eBid you’re supposed to be able to deliver.
7. Do not post on the forum about items for sale elsewhere, or provide any links to other selling sites. No commercial links are allowed, even if the items in question are not currently available on eBid.
8. Do not post just to be offensive about eBid or other sellers. Rudeness, personal attacks, swearing and other playground behaviour is not tolerated and such posts (and often the entire thread) will be removed.
9. Do not “name and shame” when you’ve had a bad a experience - you can ask for help or advice about a situation, but “XYZ has scammed me, what a thief” will rarely see out the day. 
10. Do not refuse to sell if the price reached is insufficient. That’s what the start price and reserve price are for. Do not set an item to sell at a price you’re not going to be happy with. If it sells, it sells, you can’t say “I expected more bids”.

That handful of rules probably account for the majority of the complaints about mysterious disappearances of either listings or forum posts. Follow the rules and I’m sure you’ll find selling on eBid a pleasant and productive occupation. 

Happy selling!