posted on September 30, 2001 03:24:45 PM
... that you could change your eBay proxy bid to a lower amount? Seem like to would cut down on bid retractions. It would be a nice thing if sometimes you could lower your proxy bid if you change your mind or find a better price on another auction. I wonder if it would be that difficult a programming chore to allow this on eBay. Any thoughts?
posted on September 30, 2001 05:10:29 PM It would be a nice thing if sometimes you could lower your proxy bid if you change your mind
Ok, I'll bite. Why bid if your mind isn't made up.
I think this is a bad idea, it could lead to all kinds of bid shielding. It would just be another way to "game" the system. What ever happened to "being responsable for your own actions"?
posted on September 30, 2001 09:09:04 PM
A couple of times I have wished that option was available.
If it was set up to only be an option for the high bidder until someone tried to outbid them (and at that point their original bid would be set in stone), I don't see how that would contribute to bid shielding.
posted on September 30, 2001 10:37:13 PM
I never meant my idea to be construed as a total bid retraction. Here's an example, You see an item you like that has a minimum $9 start bid ( no reserve ). There are no bids yet on the item and you place a $15 proxy bid on the item. Now you are stuck with that proxy bid amount no matter what. Why not let the bidder lower his proxy to the $9 minimum or perhaps a new $10 proxy? The seller would never know the proxy had been changed.
posted on October 1, 2001 01:19:12 AM
okay, here is another example.
bidder places 110.00 bid on an item that has a starting bid of 10.00 and reserve is 100.00
reserve is met, then bidder changes bid back to 10.00. reserve disclosed but not met, looks like bid retraction to all who have seen it at the $100.00 bid.
posted on October 1, 2001 01:38:11 AM
Okay ... then eBay could prohibit the 'reduce proxy bid' on reserve auctions. I never bid on reserve auctions anyway and I have been on eBay for almost 4 years.
posted on October 1, 2001 04:06:40 AMIf it was set up to only be an option for the high bidder until someone tried to outbid them
Now you're getting the picture, IF you also did this, that, and the other thing, maybe it couldn't be used to "game the system".
Better to "Keep it simple". You bid, you live with it. Be responsable for what you do. Buyers already have enough "outs" (retractions, threats of negative feedback if a seller pushes a NPB/ FVF, or simply deadbeating), why give them more? If bids are not "binding", the whole thing is a joke.
posted on October 1, 2001 04:31:58 AM
I have to agree with microbes. The more choices you give buyers to change or retract their bids, the less serious they are going to take the whole process. And the less responsible they are going to feel to keep their end of the bargain.
