Repeated bid retractions by bidder with feedback score 318
Summary: La discusión aborda el tema de un postor que frecuentemente está retractando sus ofertas en una subasta, lo cual ha generado preocupación debido a que el puntaje de retroalimentación del postor es 318, lo que podría indicar un nivel de seriedad. En este contexto, varios participantes comentan y debaten sobre el efecto de estas retracciones en el proceso de subasta y posibles acciones a tomar para evitar que este problema continúe afectando el desarrollo de las ofertas.
I would like advice regarding a bidder who repeatedly places bids and then retracts them shortly afterward.
The bidder has a feedback score of 318.
I have observed this behavior repeatedly since May 2026 and again multiple times on June 5, 2026.
The pattern is always the same:
- The bidder places a bid shortly after my bid.
- The bidder becomes the highest bidder.
- The bidder retracts the bid within minutes.
- The auction price remains artificially increased.
I have documented many examples across multiple auctions.
On June 5 alone, I observed several bid retractions by the same feedback-318 account shortly after becoming the highest bidder.
I have screenshots showing the bid histories and bid retractions.
I have already submitted a report to eBay but have not yet received a response.
Could a community moderator please advise the best Trust & Safety reporting path for suspected bid retraction abuse?
Thank you.
simba6
·2 months agoYou might want to try fixed price / buy it now listings. They are very popular with buyers that don't want to wait for auctions to close.
albertabrightalberta
·2 months ago@yoshisu_69
Are you a buyer who is being outbid?
Or are you the seller?
If you're the seller, do your listings have a reserve? If so, the bidder is trying to find the reserve. If there's no reserve, the bidder is playing games.
Either way, if you're the seller, BLOCK THE BIDDER!
stephenmorgan
·2 months agoThis sounds like Shill Bidding. For what it is worth eBay says they do not need to be notified of Shill Bidding. Apparently eBay knows anytime malicious behavior is happening and will take steps to prevent it.
If it was myself I would refuse purchase if I was the winning bidder after being low bidder. I would suspected bid manipulation going on to create an unfair advantage to cause me to pay more than I should have.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy/shill-bidding-policy?id=4353&st=3&pos=1&query=Shill%20bidding%20policy&intent=shill%20bidder&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1268
How do I report shill bidding?
If you think that another member is shill bidding, you don't need to report it to us. eBay has a number of systems in place to detect and monitor bidding patterns and practices. If we identify any malicious behavior, we'll take steps to prevent it.
yoshisu_69
OP2 months agoThank you for your reply.
I am a buyer, not a seller.
My concern is not that I am being outbid.
My concern is that the same feedback-318 account repeatedly places bids, becomes the highest bidder, and then retracts the bids within minutes across many auctions.
This behavior appears to artificially increase auction prices.
I have documented multiple examples from May and June 2026.
Do you know whether this type of behavior should be reported directly to eBay Trust & Safety?
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 months agoIt should not increase auction prices. When he retracts, your bid is reduced to where it would be if he had not bid. If it allows some other bidder to psych out your bidding strategy, that is not a problem for anyone but you.
yoshisu_69
OP2 months agoThank you for your comments.
To clarify, the examples I documented involve auctions from the same seller.
The same feedback-318 bidder repeatedly places bids, becomes the highest bidder, and then retracts those bids within minutes.
I have observed this pattern many times since May 2026, including several cases on June 5.
I am not accusing the seller or the bidder of wrongdoing. I am simply reporting a repeated pattern that appears unusual and may affect auction prices.
I have screenshots documenting multiple examples.
At this point I have not yet been able to submit a formal report with all of the evidence.
Would you recommend any specific Trust & Safety reporting path for this type of activity?
Thank you.
soh.maryl
·2 months agoHow does it artificially increase the item price?
You bid $20. I then bid $25. Minutes later I retract my bid.
The top bid then returns to you and your $20 unless someone else bids immediately after I retract my bid.
stephenmorgan
·2 months agoYou may have a $20 proxy bid but your current bid only shows $5.
A well organized Shill Bidder would bid $25 to expose your proxy bid of $20.
They then cancel their $25 bid.
Now they come back and bid $19.99 forcing you proxy bid to max out at $20.
It is a form of bid manipulation that is not allowed and is illegal in many places.
stephenmorgan
·2 months agoThis is why I posted a piece of the Shill Bidding policy. eBay is saying basically they do not want you to bother them with it. If you think about it their policy says not to bother them, so would you really expect them to do anything?
Sometimes with bid manipulation the bidder with no intention to purchase the item will bid a large amount to expose your High Bid. They will then retract their bid and bid just below your high bid . This is done to expose your highest bid and make sure you pay the max price you bid.
Best way to avoid this is to bid in the last seconds of the auction.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy/shill-bidding-policy?id...
How do I report shill bidding?
If you think that another member is shill bidding, you don't need to report it to us. eBay has a number of systems in place to detect and monitor bidding patterns and practices. If we identify any malicious behavior, we'll take steps to prevent it.