Bid Retraction Etiquette

[Rhotchkiss]

Retract with a clear conscious. Since you have done business with them in the past and presumably want to maintain that relationship, you may want to email them to tell them that you will retract the bid by Xpm if they dont cancel it for you. But I think you are in every way justified retracting the bid.

[thecatspajamas]

For what it's worth, the seller CANNOT change the title or description of an auction on eBay once there are bids on it. They can add to the description, but not alter what was there when the bid(s) were placed.

Ebay won't penalize you for retracting one bid, and you have already reached out to the seller to explain why you're doing so. Assuming they agree with you that there is an error, it would probably be in their best interest to pull the listing altogether, but you are not bound to complete the transaction simply because they have not proactively cancelled your bid for you. Better to do so before the end of the auction, since you will not be able to retract your bid in the final hours.

Another consideration is that if by chance they do not agree that an error has been made, or don't care, the seller may simply be waiting to see if someone else tops your bid, saving them the trouble of cancelling your bid, and resulting in a higher final bid overall.

[Leon]

+1 I agree with this.

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Retract with a clear conscious. Since you have done business with them in the past and presumably want to maintain that relationship, you may want to email them to tell them that you will retract the bid by Xpm if they dont cancel it for you. But I think you are in every way justified retracting the bid.

[Mrc32]

I don't think Ebay will let you retract a bid that was placed that long ago. I'm pretty sure they only let you retract it if it was within a couple of hours of placing it. The Seller will have to cancel your bid.

[GeoPoto]

Originally Posted by Mrc32

I don't think Ebay will let you retract a bid that was placed that long ago. I'm pretty sure they only let you retract it if it was within a couple of hours of placing it. The Seller will have to cancel your bid.

I think you can retract the bid, until there is 12 hours until closing. But you may run afoul of eBay's bot. Call eBay, push past the phone operator, explain the situation and get them to green light (or effect) the retraction. If the seller accepts returns, the potential for disputed facts is moot. If your communication has been through eBay, the buyer's acceptance of your evolving understanding of his ambiguous listing will be obvious.

[aloondilana]

How in gods name is this allowed?
Sorry this is on its side, it wasn't when I attached it.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by aloondilana

How in gods name is this allowed?
Sorry this is on its side, it wasn't when I attached it.

Yeah, it's just further proof that there are no repercussions for retractions on Ebay. Retract away, and then make a habit of reading full descriptions before making a bid, instead of just the title.

The only real consequence you might face would be the seller blocking you, if it annoys them enough.

They seem to be casual enough about it, that you probably don't have to worry, especially if you are a regular customer of theirs.

[Buythatcard]

eBay will allow you to keep bidding regardless of how many retractions you have.

I will automatically block a buyer that retracts a bid and does not rebid. If more Sellers would do the same thing, we might get rid of these buyers who love to retract.