eBay

[Skipper Duke]

Friends have told me  eBay's "Last One." "Last Item Available." "Almost Gone." Lie?  To sell more? I've been told "Old sellers trick"

[RogerDuke]

I'm not much of an internet shopper but my wife will get something if I want it. I have seen that a lot. I'd bet the farm that 99% of the time it's a trick. 

[Breaker1]

On 3/2/2025 at 7:39 AM, Skipper Duke said:

Friends have told me  eBay's "Last One." "Last Item Available." "Almost Gone." Lie?  To sell more? I've been told "Old sellers trick"

Of course. That's been a sales trick forever. But it depends on the product. If a seller is a dealer selling inventory of currently manufactured product, they might use that tactic. But if a seller is selling antiques, old collectables, thrift store items, etc, then 'last one" probably means last one.

For example, I had two identical Rickard Petty floor mats in my collection for many years. They were still brand new, I decided to sell them. I listed them as a single item but I had two available. Once the first one sold, eBay marked "last one" on the listing because I only had one left.

When I'm shopping on eBay, I ignore the "last one" tag, I don't let that persuade me to purchase anything.

[HossC]

I once had the opposite happen. I bid on a CD boxset and I don't remember there being any more listed by the seller. When the auction finished, I'd been outbid, but then the seller messaged me to say he had another copy and would I be interested in buying it at my highest bid. Of course, I said yes, and ended up paying less than the person who won the auction.

[Breaker1]

Wow, not bad HossC, not bad.

[Skipper Duke]

On 3/14/2025 at 3:09 PM, HossC said:

I once had the opposite happen. I bid on a CD boxset and I don't remember there being any more listed by the seller. When the auction finished, I'd been outbid, but then the seller messaged me to say he had another copy and would I be interested in buying it at my highest bid. Of course, I said yes, and ended up paying less than the person who won the auction.

You're a savvy shopper HossC!