text: how do you get on the approved bidder list on ebay?   on ebay,  a seller can set up an auction so that only pre-approved bidders can bid on it.  if you're not a pre-approved bidder and want to bid on such an auction, you must contact the seller and ask permission to bid.  all ebay items have a "ask seller a question" link that you can use to e-mail the seller with such a request.