Bidders cancelling their bids

[queenwaldorf]

Twice this week I've had people bid on an item and then two days later they message me and decide their budget can't afford it, then they cancel their bid. Super annoying obviously, but more to the point is there any consequences for the user or can they just bid away then change their mind? I lost a couple of watchers after the first item was bid on and then it went on to not sell after the retraction. I've blocked both users now, but seems like a flawed system. Am I missing something? (Other than making everything 'buy it now' which doesn't always work well for the clothing section)

[*tippy*toes*]

There is nothing against the rules to retract bids. Have you not ever walked around a store picking things up, then change your mind on something and put it back on the shelf? It's far better having someone retract a bid than have them change their mind after and you have to go through the whole unpaid item route, which effectively ties your item up for 8 days.

My guess is both your bidders changed their mind if they were the only bidder. They may have found the same item cheaper. Others will put a bid on to try and find what the highest bid is and then retract. If you look at their history they have a high retraction rate. EBay says they frown on people who do that, but you can report all your like and nothing ever happens.

[springyzone]

They're supposed to only retract in certain circumstances, such as putting in a wrong figure. The ebay instructions imply you are then meant to enter the correct amount etc

But basically bidders seem to be able to retract pretty much at will, up till the last few hours of an auction.

There's nothing you can do & no, there are no consequences that I know of.

I understand where you're coming from, saying you've potentially lost customers. I know when I watch something which is then sold to someone else or where I am outbid, I pretty much put it out of my mind and move on. A couple of times I have had second chance offers come through and thought.. what on earth can it be for as I have forgotten what i bid on days before, till I open the message.

If you don't want this happening, you could list your items as buy it now or buy it now/ make an offer instead of auction format.

[*tippy*toes*]

I know eBay says for the entered wrong amount option you're meant to enter the correct amount, but sometimes it seems pointless. One time a few years back I entered $3,500 instead of $35.00. Of course I then saw what the highest bid was, which turned out to be more than what I was planning on bidding. It was a seller I'd bought from many times before, so, so that he didn't miss out, I still went back and entered the $35, even knowing the high bid was for $50 and my bid wouldn't outbid them. The item ended up selling for $45, but it could well have been less if I'd not re entered my bid. The only other time it happened, I didn't re enter any amount, I just walked away.

[springyzone]

---

@*tippy*toes* wrote:

I know eBay says for the entered wrong amount option you're meant to enter the correct amount, but sometimes it seems pointless. One time a few years back I entered $3,500 instead of $35.00. Of course I then saw what the highest bid was, which turned out to be more than what I was planning on bidding. It was a seller I'd bought from many times before, so, so that he didn't miss out, I still went back and entered the $35, even knowing the high bid was for $50 and my bid wouldn't outbid them. The item ended up selling for $45, but it could well have been less if I'd not re entered my bid. The only other time it happened, I didn't re enter any amount, I just walked away.

---

I've had to retract a bid a couple of times and I think in one case it was as a favour as the person listed postage at about $10 on a very heavy item & on rereading, I realised they probably wanted pick up only. I told them why & they immediately changed their ad.

But as far as I know, there are no penalties for retracting bids & I guess anyone can make an occasional mistake. The ones I wonder about though are those who have dozens upon dozens of bid retractions over a few short months. Seems strange.