Known Issues
FAQ - Group Offers
- What is a group offer?
- How much does it cost to make a group offer?
- What are the advantages of group offers?
- How do I start using group offers?
- Are shipping costs included in group offers?
- How do I know if a group offer was accepted?
- What happens to the remaining offers after a group offer is accepted?
- Where can I manage my group offers?
- How can I increase my chances of completing a group offer?
- How do I avoid common mistakes made with group offers?
What is a group offer?
A group offer lets buyers send one single offer to multiple sellers on similar or matching items. The first seller to accept the offer wins the buyer's business.
A group offer is one offer, for one item, for one transaction.
A group offer is NOT:
- buying multiple items from the same seller or multiple sellers
- buying multiple items with one invoice
How much does it cost to make a group offer?
Nothing. Group offers are FREE, giving buyers more options and encouraging sellers to respond quickly to win the buyer's business.
What are the advantages of group offers?
- Buyers receive quicker responses from sellers
- Buyers have a better chance of getting what they want
- Buyers save time and effort by waiting on a single offer instead of multiple offers
- Sellers gain more offers from buyers
- Sellers are more responsive to sell their items, improving the buying and selling experience
How do I start using group offers?
There are three ways for buyers to create a group offer:
- Make an offer on a single item. You will have the option to convert the offer into a group offer.
- Browse similar/matching items and mark the check boxes to the left of each item listing. Click View Group Offer at the top of the page to submit a group offer.
- Add similar/matching items to your shopping cart. Mark the check boxes to the left of each item listing. Click Create Group Offer to submit your group offer.
When sellers receive an offer, the offer will be stated as being part of a group offer. Sellers should accept the offer as soon as possible or risk losing the sale to another seller.
Are shipping costs included in group offers?
Yes, shipping costs are included in the group offer price, so take into consideration the additional amount needed for shipping before submitting or accepting a group offer.
How do I know if a group offer was accepted?
To prevent multiple sellers from accepting the same group offer, only the first seller can accept it. The other sellers will be notified and they will not be able to accept the same offer.
What happens to the remaining offers after a group offer is accepted?
After a group offer is accepted, the remaining offers will be automatically retracted. Buyers and sellers don't need to do anything to cancel the group offer.
Where can I manage my group offers?
Buyers can manage group offers under My iOffer > Buying > Open Negotiations.
Sellers can manage group offers under My iOffer > Selling > Open Negotiations.
How can I increase my chances of completing a group offer?
The likelihood of a seller accepting a group offer increases when the offer is sent to more sellers. Therefore, buyers should find more items to add to their group offer.
How do I avoid common mistakes made with group offers?
Common mistakes made with group offers include:
- Submitting a combined offer to purchase all the items in the group offer
- Submitting a combined offer to receive one invoice from multiple sellers
To avoid these common mistakes, please understand that:
- A group offer is for one item, one transaction, one invoice
- Different sellers are competing to sell one item
