how does a bidder retract a bid?

Question

my high bidder on an item want to retract his bid, how does that work?

woodland_gnome · Answer

A bidder can retract a bid only in particular circumstances (you changed the description or to correct a typo in entering the amount; there are time limits; and it cannot be done in trading card categories). The seller can cancel any bidder's bid(s--one cancellation removes them all from that auction) at any time up until the auction ends.

It is almost always in the seller's best interest (not the best interest of the community as a whole though) to cancel the bid if the buyer requests it, and to do so ASAP (and block the bidder) so the drop in price will be reflected in searches by prospective buyers as early as possible. Exception might be if the bid raised the price significantly (vs. what it will go down to--remember the price is set by the SECOND highest bidder so the price will go down from the second highest bidder's maximum plus up to an increment to the third highest bidder's maximum plus up to an increment--even if the bidder requesting cancellation of one bid has multiple bids since when you cancel they all go away--or your minimum price, e.g. the Starting Price if there are only 2 bidders and no Reserve) for an extended period of time (relative to the time remaining).

Just remember: someone who doesn't pay is usually just an inconvenience that can be sorted out in 5 days. Someone who doesn't want to pay for the item but does because s/he feels forced to do so can really hurt you.

Go to the Site Map (link at the bottom of this and most ebay.com pages) Sell Section (use the shortcut at the top--it's a long scroll down) and you'll find the link to that and several other useful seller tools, especially to your Block Bidder/Buyer List to which cancellers and retractors should probably be added unless they did have a valid reason.