posted on May 13, 2001 10:10:54 PM
In a stunning move, eBay reminded members to "place a bid only if you're serious about buying the item."
The announcement, under the heading "Bid Retraction Reminder" came in response to years of complaints from members about the complete lack of deterrent for buyers to not abuse withdrawing their bids, sometimes moments before the end of auction.
The announcement went on to link to the rules, so buyers will now realize it is "wrong" to frivolously retract their bids, thereby effectively bringing to an end this longstanding problem.
posted on May 13, 2001 11:15:48 PM
I think it will be a good move.
As long as there are penalties for those who continue to abuse the opportunity to be able to retract a bid.
I was bidding on a domain name I really wanted and I was not sure if I was going to be online at the closing time. Someone bid and retracted to "Feel Out" my high bid 48 hours before closing time. Then attempted to snipe close to the end but I caught him red-handed and was online and out snipped my sniper in the end. Then I reported his butt for abuse of the bid retraction system.
Its also a hidden shill tactic with a sellers 2nd identity to feel out proxy bids on their items and push bidding up to a legitimate customers proxy limit. Just high enough to not outbid a legitimate customer yet get the most that they can if a 2nd bidder doesn't come along.
Both of these scenarios have been used against me on items I wanted. Which is why I hate proxy bidding and only use them if I know I physically can't be online near closing time.
I now feel more comfortable about leaving a proxy if bid retraction scams are reduced.
http://www.lovepotions.net
posted on May 13, 2001 11:44:04 PM
>>In a stunning move, eBay reminded members to "place a bid only if you're serious about buying the item."<<
Ouch!!! Pretty strong language. I hope we don't lose all our bidders. (yes that was sarcasm)
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Last year, Reliant Energy (Bush's buddies in Texas and big contributor to the Bush campaign) was charging California $30 per megawatt hour. One year later, Reliant Energy is charging California $1900 per megawatt hour. Bush says "California created the problem. They'll have to fix it." California didn't vote for Bush.
lovepotions- snipe software is the bomb! I like the public snipe box at www.vrane.com- it's under their "free tools". I used to put in a proxy bid and hope for the best like you do now. (And I'd usually get outbid.) But the sniper robot is great, now that I've discovered it I almost always win even if I'm away from the computer when the auction ends.
[ edited by CAgrrl on May 14, 2001 06:31 AM ]
