Very strange purchasing limitation on that big auction site?

I've also run into this problem.  I sent the seller a message and they changed some setting and then it allowed me to continue with my purchase. 

I don't buy on ebay terribly often, but the few recent times I have I seen more sellers  asking folks not to bid if they don't intend to pay.

There seems to be more people retracting bids and backing out of puchases. Maybe limiting the number of items sold to one person reduces the chance of that person backing out on a number of purchases.

I have also seen this message, I just did what Pulaski did and was then able to proceed.  I think many are suffering from folks bidding and backing out on items, I know a few folks selling on da bay that have ran in to this.

I can see the possibility of a small business making a purchase limit such as this. In your case, your purchases amounted to a few hundred dollars. Let's say a scammer tried to make a purchase of 25+ Legacy Steamers or Premier Proto Sound 3 Diesels. That would be a much larger dollar value. A small retailer could probably weather a few hundred dollar purchase scam, but would have a much harder time weathering a several thousand dollar scam.

If a simple call to the seller to assure them that you are a legitimate customer is all it takes, I would give them a pass on this one.

In these auction deals, you never know who's on the other end of the transaction.

David,

Over my years when I was selling heavily on the site, the people who backed out or I had the most problems with getting payment from, were those who bid many items all at once.   Granted, I'm just one case, but it seems as it happens enough that ebay now allows this parameter.

I know nothing of this limitation on DaBay, though I am an all-too-regular user (read: buyer) on this evil and alluring site...

Anyway, and the following is not specific to any particular site, company or group, I have discussed with friends over the last few years how it seems that regularly companies and organizations make it a chore to give them money - I must search through menus and websites and boxes just to get to the point of spending my money. Often I just give up and forego it, whatever it is, as, by this time I am annoyed or even p****d off enough that I just don't want what these people are selling.

I have even seen hard-copy, RR-hobby magazine ads telling me to go to the website to get their phone number. I'm looking at the ad right now - you couldn't have printed the $%#@* phone number? Genius - pure genius. (Didn't go to the website, either.)

A few years ago I attempted to join a particular RR historical society, in addition to the two I already support. The website made it a royal pain to just give them money - I forget exactly what the problem was. I wrote them a letter outlining - politely - how hard it was to spend money with them. I'm the customer, for Pete's sake. They wrote back, apologizing, and changed the website. But I never did join; that moment had passed.

Now: the Corporation is always right. The Customer will Buy Anything, and thank the Corporation for making it an unpleasant experience.

Nothing to do with the Bay issue above, as such, but reflective of Addictive Consumer Disease run amok.

I would guess it is there as others have said to limit problems with buyers that don't pay.  That one confuses me as I've never had an auction go more than half a day( because I was asleep or at work) without sending payment.  just need to remember, the moment you click a bid, you already spent the money; just like shooting the dice at a craps table, don't set your money down if you don't want it gone.  

As for placing a limit in general, this is nothing new. look at just about any coupon you get in the junk mail and there will be a limit on how many you can buy at that price.  item limits like this are often used with two reasons, to stop loss on product sold under value to get folks in the door, and to insure there is product to offer to other people.  

With all the talk of how bad sellers are on the auction site, it seems they need protection from bad buyers just as much as the other way around.  I'm sure contacting the seller will sort things out if you have green in your hand.  

JGL $

I, too, have never seen this on the Bay.  However, I have not tried to buy that many multiple items from 1 seller.  I wouldn't worry about it.  I would call them and get the limit increased as mentioned above.  Maybe someone in the past tried to rip them off.  What's that they say about being once burned shame on me twice burned....

Rick

Yes folks... the seller was very accommodating.  To a large degree, it's the wild, wild West out there in many ways.  And I guess some sellers have had issues with unscrupulous buyers who buy things, then complain things aren't "as described"... lodge a complaint with eBay or Paypal... get a refund... then never return the perfectly good merchandise to the seller.    From what I'm hearing, it's more about that being the scam than anything else.  Shouldn't happen in the first place, but there are definitely folks like that out there.   I guess I just don't understand people some days.

Thanks to those who chimed in with their thoughts... very much appreciate it.

David

I recently listed a bunch of (non train) items on the site. Based on that experience I can say there are a lot of very needy buyers out there who think they should get special privileges. 

I also see a change in selling. More and more sellers seem to be listing a two sentence description of the item for sale and a three of four paragraph dissertation about their return policies, payment restrictions, shipping costs etc., probably due to the needy buyers noted above.

Burn me once, shame on you

Burn me twice, shame on me

I think that is how it goes.

D500 posted:

Now: the Corporation is always right. The Customer will Buy Anything, and thank the Corporation for making it an unpleasant experience.

This thread is about e B a y, not Apple!

ADCX Rob posted:

D500 posted:

Now: the Corporation is always right. The Customer will Buy Anything, and thank the Corporation for making it an unpleasant experience.

This thread is about e B a y, not Apple!

But Apple is a pleasant experience.  Oh wait, that's using, not buying.  I'm a long long time Apple user, but the stories I have about trying to buy from them.

Anywho, I've never had enough money to buy from  multiple listings from the same seller, so this is news to me, something to keep in mind if I'm ever so blessed.

D500's comments had me laughing out loud.  I have not had that experience...can't say I've ever tried to bid on several items from more than one seller...but I have seen the "go to website for phone number" stupidity.