What is everyone's take on invalid bid retractions??

[Stonepony]

If someone retracts a bid on my auction. I block them immediately without any research or questions

[packs]

I have never made a bid I didn't want to make so I don't buy the excuse. I'd have a zero tolerance policy for it too. eBay has a dummy policy in place to keep you from making an incorrect bid. You have to confirm your bid twice. Anyone who still makes an incorrect bid after confirming the bid shouldn't be allowed to retract unless their account was compromised.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by packs

I have never made a bid I didn't want to make so I don't buy the excuse. I'd have a zero tolerance policy for it too. eBay has a dummy policy in place to keep you from making an incorrect bid. You have to confirm your bid twice. Anyone who still makes an incorrect bid after confirming the bid shouldn't be allowed to retract unless their account was compromised.

It's a difficult call.

When I was relatively new at Ebay I bid on a projector I wanted that looked like it was at a good price. When I mentioned it to my friend he asked why I'd bid on one with such high shipping - it was $80 instead of the then normal 15-20. And made the good deal one that was overpriced.

That's my one retraction.
I don't recall having anyone retract a bid when I was actively selling, but my stuff was usually cheap and also usually sold with one bid. There might have been one where the first bidder retracted, and the item didn't sell, it's been a while.


If I was still doing Ebay I probably would block retractors, especially if it looked like an odd retraction.

Steve B

[pawpawdiv9]

I had this recently done by 2 bidders.
They bidded with days to go and waited until the last day to retract.
*After the responses here--I will block them now.

[drcy]

As mentioned, someone could innocently enter the wrong amount and retracted it, but, presumably, would soonafter enter another, correct bid.

Blocking someone due to a single retraction seems too much for me (especially if they have $$ to spend on your items), but it's your auctions and your choice.

As far as nefarious bid retractions go, the issue usually isn't a once in a while bid retraction but a lot of them. If it's your item, your auction and you don't know the person, obviously he isn't a shill bidder.

[bobbyw8469]

I checked the persons retractions for the past 12 months. Not TOO bad...only 10.....but compared to my ZERO, that's a lot!

[wondo]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I checked the persons retractions for the past 12 months. Not TOO bad...only 10.....but compared to my ZERO, that's a lot!

Not TOO bad? I disagree - that's ridiculous. Its either bidder's remorse or shenanigans. I agree with a blockagementation.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by drcy

If it's your item, your auction and you don't know the person, obviously he isn't a shill bidder.

Yes, but it still looks suspicious to other bidders in the auction. That was my point and why I retract my bid if I'm high bidder and my proxy is exposed.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Yes, but it still looks suspicious to other bidders in the auction. That was my point and why I retract my bid if I'm high bidder and my proxy is exposed.

I hope that is not the case.....the retractor has been blocked...but I see your point....It ruins the whole integrity of the auction.

Maybe the other guy won't mind, since his max is so close to where it sits currently anyway. He is stealing the card right now, IMHO....someone could technically win it, break it out of the low grade case, and sell it for 3 times where it sits now.

[irv]

I lost a card the other night, (well, sort of) as the winner had 11 bid retractions in 6 months and the seller informed me after if he had known about the 11 retractions, he too would have blocked him.
( I informed him in case something fell through with the buyer)

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by irv

I lost a card the other night, (well, sort of) as the winner had 11 bid retractions in 6 months and the seller informed me after if he had known about the 11 retractions, he too would have blocked him.
( I informed him in case something fell through with the buyer)

I don't even notice retractions until I block the bidder for doing it. I don't know why, but Ebay almost seems to hide retractions. It is very hard to find unless you know what you are doing.

[Runscott]

I can remember a couple of total lunatic ebay sellers years back - one sold vintage cards and the other sold vintage pool cues. These two were both completely bat-sh*t crazy. But they both had great stuff, and if either was selling something I really wanted, I held my breath and put in my bid, knowing it might end up being a transaction from hell.

It goes the same way with lunatic ebay buyers. How badly do you want their money? Obviously, if you don't block anyone, you will have more problems, but also obviously, you will make more money.

I once blocked someone who made an offer and then retracted it, and it turned out that he was just crazy. Months later he asked me why he was blocked, so I took a chance and un-blocked him. He ended up spending a lot of money on my stuff, often with weird questions attached, etc., but his money was good.