How and why does this happen

[jumperoo24_4]

I was waytching an item SWAGMAN POTTERY VINTAGE "HEART WITH KOALAS" it started off at $39.99 it had a few bids up to about $50 just before it ended .Next thing it is showing as unsold with 0 bids how can this be item has now been relisted at more than twice the price .My question is how did the bids vanish it is obvious that the seller did not get the price she wanted .Would she have cancelled the bids if so this seems terribly dishonest .

My opion is you list at auction at a price you would be happy with and the same with a BIN .

I think I am spot on saying the seller did not get the price she wanted .She is really bumping up the prices .

[putney32]

I  havent checked out the listing, but according to ebay rules, any seller has the right to cancel bids and close the auction at any time up to 12hr before the end.

seller may have been given advice that her price was way too low during the auction and decided to act.   watch it and see if it does in fact bring a better price next week.

[phorum_junkie*]

How is it dishonest? Ebay allow sellers to cancel bids right up to the end of the listing but they do not allow a seller to end the listing within the last 12 hours. The seller took a risk because if there had been a last second snipe bid in place then it may have sold and for the starting price.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with what they have done, you have the choice of bidding on the relist or not so if you don't like the way that seller conducts their business don't buy from them.

[*crikey*mate*]

an adveertisement is an invitation to treat, it can be withdrawn at any time before a contract has been formed.

a bid is an offer.

an offer can be rejected at any time before acceptance occurs.

for online auctions, acceptance is deemed to have taken place when the auction ends, and it is the highest bidder whose offer has been accepted.

so, it is perfectly legal for a seller to reject a bid prior to ending the auction.

(note for eBay, there are a few variations for the timelines in their T&C)

so to answer your questions,

It appears the seller has rejected the offers by cancelling the bids (which is how you do it for online auctions)

It may seem unfair, but that is the law.

where the seller would have been in breach of the law is if thery had have allowed the auction to reach it's conclusion with a winning bidder and then failed to honour the ciontract they had formed by supplying the item at the price won.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

the bids vanished because the seller cancelled them.  They may have been contacted by a member offering them a Buy-Now amount for the item.  If they agreed to sell for this Buy-Now offer they could cancel the bids, and the listing, and relist with the agreed Buy-Now price.  However, the risk they take is that the member who contacted them does not follow through with the sale and they are left with having the Buy-Now listing.  Sellers come to the boards quite often saying they have been offered a Buy-Now price on an item they are auctioning.  It probably happens more than most would think.