eBay's New Best Offer System - I Don't Get It

[bradical]

I recently accepted a Best Offer on an item. Since then it has been sitting in a Pending state in the items offer history and then item is still appears for sale on the site.

Couple of things:

1. My understanding that is that all offers best offers from buyers require immediate payment, so why would this one be held in this Pending limbo?

2. If I accepted the offer, while the payment is pending, am I able to accept another best offer that would be submitted since the item is still active?

This seems very counter productive to the idea of Best Offers.

I am sure this has been addressed before, so I am sorry if I missed it. Just seems very confusing and backwards.

[DynaEtch]

How recent did you accept it? Payments do take some time to go through with purchases sometimes, up to like an hour.

Also was it a strictly buyer initiated offer, or one that occurred in an offer sequence originating from a seller offer (e.g. you send an offer, and buyers offer is the counter of that).

If this happened all very recently, it’ll probably post as paid pretty soon after it processes. Or maybe in your settings you don’t have immediate payment for offers? Until payment goes through, it’s true eBay keeps the listing up.

[BoKnowsCards]

This went live I think last year. eBay said it was a pilot program and even the eBay rep said they don't understand which buyer's it applies to. I've noticed most of mine this week have been in the category you have been explaining.

It used to be - a seller accepts an offer, the listing is removed from active listings, then the buyer pays.

Now for some buyers (not rolled out completely yet?) - a seller accepts an offer, the listing stays active until the buyer pays, the seller can accept other offers in that time period and another buyer could do a BITN. Basically, the listing stays active and live until someone pays for it.

I actually like it as a seller, but it was definitely confusing when they rolled it out last year.

[bradical]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

How recent did you accept it? Payments do take some time to go through with purchases sometimes, up to like an hour.

Also was it a strictly buyer initiated offer, or one that occurred in an offer sequence originating from a seller offer (e.g. you send an offer, and buyers offer is the counter of that).

If this happened all very recently, it’ll probably post as paid pretty soon after it processes. Or maybe in your settings you don’t have immediate payment for offers? Until payment goes through, it’s true eBay keeps the listing up.

I accepted the offer on Sunday. There was some offers/counteroffers until we agreed upon the price. I accepted their counteroffer and had immediate payment turned on, and now its just been sitting in the Pending purgatory.

[bradical]

Originally Posted by BoKnowsCards

This went live I think last year. eBay said it was a pilot program and even the eBay rep said they don't understand which buyer's it applies to. I've noticed most of mine this week have been in the category you have been explaining.

It used to be - a seller accepts an offer, the listing is removed from active listings, then the buyer pays.

Now for some buyers (not rolled out completely yet?) - a seller accepts an offer, the listing stays active until the buyer pays, the seller can accept other offers in that time period and another buyer could do a BITN. Basically, the listing stays active and live until someone pays for it.

I actually like it as a seller, but it was definitely confusing when they rolled it out last year.

So, the item that I originally accepted the Counteroffer on, the buyer still has another 22 hours.

I received another offer yesterday, higher than the original counteroffer I received, and I only have another 12 hours to accepts.

If the original offer was given 4 days to pay, but I accept this next offer, it really seems unfair to original person, given they are allowed 4 days for payment.

But, I also feel like the original offer is going to be paid for, and I should accept the second offer.

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by bradical

I accepted the offer on Sunday. There was some offers/counteroffers until we agreed upon the price. I accepted their counteroffer and had immediate payment turned on, and now its just been sitting in the Pending purgatory.

It’s possible I guess with counteroffers in play it goes off the immediate pay required. For seller initiated offers I notice often when I make counters as a buyer it’s not immediate pay. I thought for regular buyer initiated it still retains the immediate pay on counters though. Who knows, ebay has not always been known to be consistent with this stuff.

I’m not gonna be as much a critic on accepting the latter offer. This is exactly how eBay wants this to be now, listing continues to be fair game until actually paid for- this is the rules of the game. If a buyer doesn’t want to lose it, then they pay for it. I’m assuming the buyer has not done so yet given it’s been over 2 days…payments don’t take that long to process.

[BoKnowsCards]

Originally Posted by bradical

So, the item that I originally accepted the Counteroffer on, the buyer still has another 22 hours.

I received another offer yesterday, higher than the original counteroffer I received, and I only have another 12 hours to accepts.

If the original offer was given 4 days to pay, but I accept this next offer, it really seems unfair to original person, given they are allowed 4 days for payment.

But, I also feel like the original offer is going to be paid for, and I should accept the second offer.

Under eBay's new way of doing it, the item is fair game until someone pays. It helps the sellers. If the original buyer really wants the item, they should pay for it immediately. It's not your problem if a buyer doesn't pay or doesn't know the new rules.

[Snowcat]

It's been four days, accept the second (higher) offer

[FatButcher]

I had this happen over the weekend, the original offer said the payment method failed and they were asking them to update. While waiting for that, a new, better offer came in.

Gave it the time they allowed then I took the better offer. Not sure what else to do, but don't like they are putting sellers in that position myself.