posted on January 20, 2001 08:01:08 PM new
Someone just retracted a $3.00 bid on one of my auctions. The reason they posted was "wrong item". I checked this person's rating history, and (s)he has 6 positive feedbacks, 1 neg, and a total of 8 bid retractions in the last 6 months.
Naturally I'm happy to not have to complete a deal with this person, and I'm planning to ask him/her not to bid on my auctions again. My question is, should I report this person to Ebay as an abuser of the bid retraction feature? Or let it slide?
I don't really care one way or the other about the $3, especially since I am confident that the bidding will go well above that anyway, but I am annoyed because it's the principle of the thing- not fair to anyone else involved in the transaction, y'know?
posted on January 20, 2001 08:26:30 PM new
Please report them.
I report every single bid retraction that does not fall under the specific guidelines laid out by ebay.
If this person has 8 already you really need to report them. That is why they have so many, no one is reporting them but me !
Please help the rest of us from having these types of bidders interfering with our auctions.
Bid retractions should only be allowed when a mistake has been made and the bid should be corrected and replaced.
After the auction has recieved a bid (whether it has been retracted or not), that auction may no longer be edited and the retraction shows on the bid history.
I personally recieve several bid retractions per month (7-10). I have had people suspended for it.
posted on January 20, 2001 09:06:50 PM new
I've had one retraction - and I reported them.
I reported it because the reason they gave was completely fraudulent. They stated that an 'unauthorized' person had bid under their name. When I looked at their bidding, I found that they bid on another similar item that started less than mine. The bid was placed the same time as the retraction, so I reported them.
I can handle a request to be let out of a bid - everyone wants a good deal, and I'd rather have a retraction than a deadbeat, but I hate being lied to.
posted on January 20, 2001 10:22:37 PM new
I sent her a letter asking her not to bid on my items anymore. In the letter I stated that the reason I was asking her not to bid on my items was that I felt she was abusing the bid retraction feature. I cc'ed a copy to safeharbor.
Now I'm paranoid that she's going to get mad and send me a virus (have you ever had that happen cix?) but at least I feel like I did the right thing.
posted on January 20, 2001 10:45:56 PM new
I wouldn't worry about viruses. Just don't open any emails with attachments from people that haven't let you know that they are sending an attachment, and you should be fine.
posted on January 20, 2001 10:53:25 PM new
You made your mistake [IMHO] by telling them NOT to bid on your auctions again. Over a $3 item you have invoked untold troubles from this person/s... Perhaps they will open some new accounts, bookmark your auctions, cause you lots of grief.
Yes, I'm paranoid. I have to be - my livelihood depends upon it. If yours does not, don't worry about it.
posted on January 21, 2001 01:11:05 PM new
morgantown,
So you mean to tell me that due to your paranoia, the rest of us must suffer ?
If you are a seller, it is your obligation as a seller to report every single bidder out there playing games. Unless the bidder is completely illiterate, they should have read the option before bidding.
A bid is a binding contract and should be handled as such. Simply because you are paranoid that these bidders will "come after you" is BOGUS !
Cagrrl,
Don't sweat it. Now that you have sent the email and CC'd a copy to safeharbor, if this bidder bids on your auction agin, you can report them and they will be dealt with within about 24 hours.
If they choose to engage in auction interference report them and they will be dealt with.
I have reported every single bid retraction that does not fall into ebay guidelines and I have banned several bidders from participating in any of my current or future auctions and not one has made an attempt to "get me".
I am not paranoid about it, nor do I care to waste any time on my part thinking about these idiot bidders.
As far as I am concerned these types of bidders are completely and totally irrelevant to me once I have reported them. It is this type of indecisive bidder that I do not want to deal with.
So just report them and forget about them. if they comeback, NAIL THEM !
posted on January 21, 2001 01:58:34 PM new
CAgrrl if I was you I would turn it in to ebay. I turn in everyone that retracts, and all of them are suspended for good. The gentleman from eBay was very nice and was the one that suggested I turn them in. If the have 4 or more retractions, or if they put a stupid reason down they are gone.
posted on January 21, 2001 06:28:58 PM new
Just a side note. Not all viruses come as an attachment. The KAK worm comes to mind. It comes embedded in the E-MAIL as a script. You only have to open the e-mail (it does not come with an attachment) to become infected.
So, keep your virus scanner ON and update your virus definitions on a weekly basis.
posted on January 21, 2001 07:43:44 PM new
I've had a few bid retractors. How do I turn them in? The one said that she just won another auction for the same item-well, duh, then why bid on mine if you've already bid on another??? The bid was for 99 cents so not a huge amount. Just tics me off. Also, is there a time limit that I have to notify ebay within? Thanks for any info.
posted on January 21, 2001 09:41:56 PM new
Why make a fuss over a 3.00 bid on the wrong item?
I guess the person's rating really does stink so a strong reminder to be more carefull is deserved, but the fears expressed seem awfully remote.
This sounds like overkill to me.
posted on January 21, 2001 10:33:54 PM new
Just because it was a $3.00 BID doesn't mean it was a $3.00 ITEM. I start all my auctions at $1 and this item happens to be one that I expect would sell for much more. Having a bid retraction in the bid history looks really really bad IMHO. A lot of people are already paranoid about internet fraud and whether or not their paranoia is justified, it is there.
There are a lot of people out there worried about shillers and scammers and the bid retraction feature is commonly abused by both.
Anyway, I wouldn't want to be the one to be outbid by this person. Then when she would decide to retract her bid my full proxy would revealed. No thanks!! Not fair. Not cool.
Isn't the KAK virus a PC thing? I'm on a MAC. But will be vigilant with the virus scanner all the same!
posted on January 21, 2001 10:58:26 PM new
BULL O NEY CIX!
Please, I am not obligated to act in any way that pleases you regarding eBay. Thank you.
I was there before eBay was eBay! In those days we had a sense of community spirit - those days are long gone. Compare it to early aviation travel when it was limited to riche kindred spirits! A lot less riffraff! Today it's protect thy self first!
I do not police the eBay site. That is eBay's obligation not mine. I'm out to protect MY business, MY revenue stream, not yours or anyone else's. Frankly I don't care
about your business, period. Unless you want to offer some tips here at AW that might improve mine! Many have, I have done same.
I rarely post negative feedback. I apply for final value fees and that's it. I don't
chase down bidders under any circumstances. Just relist and move forward. Again, that's eBay's duty, or should be.
Tonight I listed 350 fresh auctions. If I had many negs sitting on top of the feedback
heap from retaliatory blokes - IT WOULD COST ME LOST SALES, i.e., less moulah in me ole pocket! That's what is important to me. Like it or not. Love me ReVeNuE!
I give the very best customer service possible. My profit margin was 367% in 2000.
I am doing something right - even if I don't wish to police eBay!
And, I have been privy to several cases of CrAzY bidders waging a long unjustified
retaliatory battle against a seller. They are out there. They have the upper hand! Don't go L@@KING for em! Well, unless you are a hobby seller - which many that post to this board probably are. And that's fine with me...
MtOwN
edited to clean messy stuff.
[ edited by morgantown on Jan 21, 2001 11:02 PM ]
posted on January 22, 2001 08:16:55 AM new
If someone retracts on me their dead meat lol. I just email [email protected], and here is the email I get.
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with this information. We
have reviewed the information that you have provided and wanted to let
you know that we have suspended the member that you alerted us to.
I would like to thank you for your help in keeping eBay a fun and safe
place to trade.
Regards,
*****
eBay SafeHarbor
Investigations Team
______________________________
eBay
Your Personal Trading Community (tm)
posted on January 23, 2001 03:46:44 AM new
safeharbor didn't suspend my bid retractor, they just gave her a warning. I actually think that was a good thing to do in this instance since she did seem to be kind of a newbie.
