Seller ending an item after I have bid and 24 hours to go

[maclore23]

I had made a bid on an item which started at 0.99 mine was the only bid. My bid had been the winning bed for 3 days. With 24 hours to go seller has ended the sale.

They have then relisted the item with a starting bid of $150.

I sent the seller a msg asking why they ended it with 24 hours to go and their response was:

because i am able to end the item, that is why, there were outstanding circumstances why this item was ended.

Can the seller do this just because they are greedy?

Do I have any rights in this situation?

Thanks

[banf15]

To give an example of why sellers should be able to end a listing early.

I had a 7 day auction running which was due to end tonight.

The auction had a starting price of 99c and had been bid up to over $40.00

Last night with less than 24 hours to go the highest bidder withdraw their bid which they had placed 2 days earlier with the reason given that they had entered the wrong amount (but they never rebid). As soon as they withdraw the bid the price went back to 99c.

With less than 24 hours to go it was too risky to hope that more bidders would now bid. Potential bidders get put of when they see bid retractions occur as many of them think that the seller is doing something dodgy.

Does this make me as a seller greedy - I don't think so. It was the potential buyer who cancelled their bid which changed the course of the auction and left me with no choice other than to cancel it.

If a bidder existed after the main bidder pulled out and you decided to cancel rather than sell at .99 cents then your actions were indeed greedy. If your unwilling to sell at .99 cents then don't run .99 cent auctions......quite simple really.

[peternt2001]

I had a 7 day auction running which was due to end tonight.

The auction had a starting price of 99c and had been bid up to over $40.00

Last night with less than 24 hours to go the highest bidder withdraw their bid which they had placed 2 days earlier with the reason given that they had entered the wrong amount (but they never rebid). As soon as they withdraw the bid the price went back to 99c.

It might be me not understanding ebay enough, but i dont understand this example.

Your item was bid up to $40  and then the highest bidder withdrew their bid. Would that have not taken the bid back to the next highest bidder in increments ? So the bid should have been approximately $38 dollars after the withdrawral and not 99 cents ?

[jensmanchester-australia]

Your item was bid up to $40  and then the highest bidder withdrew their bid. Would that have not taken the bid back to the next highest bidder in increments ? So the bid should have been approximately $38 dollars after the withdrawral and not 99 cents ?

As there were only two bidders involved once one bidder withdraw their bid the price dropped back to the opening bid of 99c.

[jensmanchester-australia]

If a bidder existed after the main bidder pulled out and you decided to cancel rather than sell at .99 cents then your actions were indeed greedy. If your unwilling to sell at .99 cents then don't run .99 cent auctions......quite simple really.

I knew with the product I had for sale there was no way it would have sold for only 99c if the auction had not been interfered with by one bidder pulling out so late.

I run lots of 99c auctions but only with products I know are going to attract multiple bidders.

[banf15]

If a bidder existed after the main bidder pulled out and you decided to cancel rather than sell at .99 cents then your actions were indeed greedy. If your unwilling to sell at .99 cents then don't run .99 cent auctions......quite simple really.

I knew with the product I had for sale there was no way it would have sold for only 99c if the auction had not been interfered with by one bidder pulling out so late.

I run lots of 99c auctions but only with products I know are going to attract multiple bidders.

So by your own admission canceling the auction may have made good business sense but as a seller it makes you morally inept. Had I been that remaining bidder I would have reported you, learn to take the hits as well as profits as buyers will have a greater respect for you as a seller.

[jensmanchester-australia]

So by your own admission canceling the auction may have made good business sense but as a seller it makes you morally inept. Had I been that remaining bidder I would have reported you, learn to take the hits as well as profits as buyers will have a greater respect for you as a seller.

So where does the bidder who withdraw their bid fit into this. Did they make a good financial decision by deciding to withdraw their bid and therefore does it also make them morally inept for not honouring their bid?

I could have reported the bidder for falsely withdrawing their bid as the reason they chose was that they bid the wrong amount and therefore they should have immediately rebid and entered the correct amount which they didn't. However, as the bidder, for whatever reason had changed their mind was it going to achieve anything by reporting them to ebay. Their feedback showed that they had only made 2 bid retractions in the last 12 months so it was obvious they weren't the type of buyer who retracted bids on a regular basis.

I can assure you I have taken plenty of hits on 99c auctions and everyone one of those sales has been honoured. However, in this case the course of the auction had been altered by the bidder who withdraw their bid.

[banf15]

So by your own admission canceling the auction may have made good business sense but as a seller it makes you morally inept. Had I been that remaining bidder I would have reported you, learn to take the hits as well as profits as buyers will have a greater respect for you as a seller.

So where does the bidder who withdraw their bid fit into this. Did they make a good financial decision by deciding to withdraw their bid and therefore does it also make them morally inept for not honouring their bid?

In my opinion the bidder who withdrew is a parasite and there is really no excuse for their actions. By bidding the buyer has entered into a contract, in the past I have withdrawn bids but only when I find the items being offered as genuine are fakes. To me that is the only excusable reason as the sellers dishonesty voids any implied contract.

In all honesty had you chosen to continue with the sale the withdrawn bidder would have deserved being reported due to any potential loss you may have incurred.

I fully understand Jen, my comments are merely a reflection of my opinion for what it is worth. I also comprehend that no seller deliberately goes out of their way to lose money, but there appears to be so much deceit and fraud within some departments on eBay it would be nice to read someone being praised for doing the right thing for a change. Ignore me Jen, I can't expect one person to stand against a tidal wave of immoral deceit. I'm just one of many people who have been defrauded many times over buying jewellery through eBay and it has hardened my views on issues. I wish you all the best