posted on October 19, 2008 04:57:57 PM
Yet another buyer has written to say that they thought they were bidding on the items pictured (about 20 sweaters for $5!) and not the book, and they asked me to remove their bid. I wrote back and told them how to do a bid retraction. I admit I am simmering over this constant problem. Am I just being petty, or should the buyer remove their own bid so that the bid retraction shows on their feedback page?
posted on October 19, 2008 05:25:59 PM
No, you are not responsible. I don't get many, but when I do, I tell them it is their responsiblity to retract bids.
You should never retract a bid because eBay does keep track of bid retractions and will suspend abusive bidders... or so they say. At the very least, it makes them look bad for backing out as their bid retraction count gets higher.
posted on October 19, 2008 05:53:44 PM
Thanks, that's what I thought. This is a buyer with several negs for non-payment, so if they don't retract their bid, I hope someone else outbids them.
posted on October 19, 2008 07:19:36 PM
The nicest thing to do is to remove the bid. If the bidder shows a pattern of impetuous bidding, let it show on their record.
posted on October 19, 2008 09:22:54 PM
Hi, Amber. I'm assuming you have included, in large block letters, the fact that the auction is for the patterns, not the sweaters?
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posted on October 19, 2008 09:32:04 PM
Yes Roadsmith, I have it in large font and capitols, you can't miss it! Well I guess that isn't true, a lot of people seem to. I am thinking that since gallery is free now, some people are just looking at the picture and then bidding, for sure they are not reading my auctions, even the title.
posted on October 19, 2008 09:55:02 PM
Either way you've got her. If she cancels herself it will show a pattern & if she turns into a NPB maybe this will be the third strike.
If she has had several & eBay has reinstated her maybe this will be the one that will get her off for good.
posted on October 20, 2008 03:05:54 AM
Do you have a way to put the word 'pattern' on the first picture? I know you should not have to, I have seen your auctions and it is VERY clear that it is for the pattern only. I'd cancel her bid and block her even though she is very rude. You are right, she should remove the bid herself but it doesn't look like she will.
posted on October 20, 2008 06:19:41 AM
Thanks pmelcher, I will have to look into that. I really don't know what else to do. I had a guy on the phone from eBay and he checked out my auctions and thought they were very clear also. If only buyers would read the listings. I continually get questions that are answered quite clearly in the listings.
posted on October 20, 2008 08:41:04 AM
I would not cancel the bid with her attitude. I've canceled bids before when asked nicely but I would never do it for someone who demanded it as she seems to have done.
I think that some bidders have lost all sense of personal responsibility.
posted on October 20, 2008 08:56:06 AM
I simply respond with
"You will find 'retract a bid' instructions under Buyer Resources on the ebay site map page.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks,
Susan"
I seldom get requests, but this has always worked.
posted on October 20, 2008 10:13:51 AM
Yes, I did that, only gave much fuller instructions. That was about 5 days ago, but the bid is still there. The auction closes tomorrow, so if it is still there in the morning with no higher bid, I guess I will have to remove it, rather than go through the whold NPB process. I agree that when people are not polite, it really puts me off helping them.
