Off-platform payment with sponsored post | Questions and answers among users

patapatin · 2026-05-09T05:05:53.093000Z

Lately ebay keeps suggesting that I sponsor my listings, specifying that payment only happens when the item is sold. But what happens if the item is never ever sold? Or at least, not officially? Let's assume this scenario:Buyer and seller arrange to meet in person for the exchange, with payment outside the platform.The two users exchange contact details right away, so there is no proof in ebay chat that the sale took place.The listing is not closed, which strengthens the assumption that the item was not sold.So then...Has the seller in fact gotten free sponsorship?The listing could potentially remain open for years, but does the sponsorship continue indefinitely or does it automatically expire after a certain period?I imagine that sooner or later ebay will charge the seller for the sponsorship costs, or am I wrong? Especially in the case of expensive items, maybe ebay will analyze the chats to assess possible off-platform sales?

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Off-platform payment with sponsored post | Questions and answers among users | eBay Italy