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Published: March 15 2007, 5:03:00 PMUpdated: August 02 2022, 10:26:17 AM

Why am I getting the following error on my RespondToBestOffer call?

<Errors>

    <ShortMessage>Messaging is not allowed for this item.</ShortMessage>

    <LongMessage>Messaging is not allowed for this item.</LongMessage>

    <ErrorCode>21977</ErrorCode>

    <SeverityCode>Error</SeverityCode>

    <ErrorClassification>RequestError</ErrorClassification>

  </Errors>


The exact same call that is now failing used to work fine.

Error 21977 - Messaging is not allowed for this item

Detailed Description

The reason you are now seeing this error when making the RespondToBestOffer call is because of a Trust & Safety change as part of the Safeguarding Member ID project.

Prior to this change, it was possible to always make the RespondToBestOffer call with the SellerResponse field included in the request.
The SellerResponse field is meant to be whatever message the seller wants to give to the user that placed the Best Offer along with the acceptance or decline of the Best Offer.
The Trust & Safety change implemented in this functionality prohibits the sending of this custom message for some circumstances.
In this case, when using RespondToBestOffer to decline a Best Offer, the SellerResponse field should not be sent in the request of the call.
Including the SellerResponse field with a value will result in this error message.
Here are sample requests before and after this Trust & Safety change:

Before:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RespondToBestOfferRequest xmlns="urn:ebay:apis:eBLBaseComponents">
 <Version>505</Version>
 <ItemID>xxx</ItemID>
 <BestOfferID>xxx</BestOfferID>
 <Action>Decline</Action>
 <SellerResponse>Sorry, we cannot accept your offer at this time. Please feel free to make another offer.</SellerResponse>
 <RequesterCredentials>
   <eBayAuthToken>token</eBayAuthToken>
 </RequesterCredentials>
</RespondToBestOfferRequest>

After:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RespondToBestOfferRequest xmlns="urn:ebay:apis:eBLBaseComponents">
 <Version>505</Version>
 <ItemID>xxx</ItemID>
 <BestOfferID>xxx</BestOfferID>
 <Action>Decline</Action>
 <RequesterCredentials>
   <eBayAuthToken>token</eBayAuthToken>
 </RequesterCredentials>
</RespondToBestOfferRequest>

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