why doesn't ebay make it easier to access options like retracting a bid?
i made a bid by mistake and i didn't see any option available to retract the bid so i asked if the seller could remove my bid, a day later i check back and realize he didn't seem to acknowledge or reply to my request, so i google the retraction process and lo and behold it is actually possibly for the buyer to do it themselves, but it has to be within a certain time frame before bidding closed. why doesn't ebay put this option right in the drop down menu when interacting with the listing? now it looks like i'm going to get a no payment strike and the seller is going to have his time wasted.
i never realized it was possible for buyer to retract the bid themselves before the deadline, in the past when buyers were asking me as seller to cancel their bid for them so i assume this was the way it was done. i'm sure a lot of people would prefer if the option to do so were right there in the "more actions" menu instead of buried somewhere in customer support
janet9988
·3 years agoI would not really mind that IF ALL sellers were allowed to automatically block any bidders who ask for a retraction.
fielwayn
·1 year agoI have had sellers BLOCK me ONLY for ASKING a question about an item when the description or photos were inadequate to tell the condition of the item! sellers can block for ANY reason, any reason at all, they just dont like your name, etc.
fielwayn
·1 year agoBy the way, when these sellers blocked me, I WAS NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO ASK THEM WHY! I contacted Ebay customer service, they REFUSED to contact the seller for me to ask why I was blocked, only that the "seller has the right to block anyone for any reason".
Real fair.
But in hindsight, probably best, these are the kinds of sellers you DO NOT want to buy from anyway! I have seen it more times than I can count, that knowingly withhold damage by careful photo angles, and then even if the item was OK, the packing is over 50% of the time so horrendous it arrives in pieces anyway, then they are even worse trying to get a refund! Been there done that so many times. Sometimes it just is not worth taking the chance of buying on Ebay anymore. I am not the only one who feels this way either.
janet9988
·1 year agoYour 7 bid retractions are most likely the reason.
mudshark61369
·3 years ago@lee6329,
As a seller who sometimes auctions items, you should know that a bid retraction can ruin an auction. Not only that, but since retractions are recorded on a buyer's feedback profile page, having more than a couple of retractions, could cause a seller to cancel a bid and/or block the bidder if they take the time to check bidder's profile pages. When buyers check another bidder's bid history page and see retractions, many jump to conclusions about shill bidding and may decide to not bid on an item because of that.
"i still think this is harmful to both buyer and seller and adds a level of inconvenience that can just be avoided".
How is a buyer inconvenienced if they can't retract easily? Smart ones don't bid until the end of an auction and those that do that make sure they have bid the correct amount before entering the bid.
Below are the 2 links, The first one tells how and why a bid can be retracted and when that can be done. The 2nd one is ebay's invalid bid retraction policy.
https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/bidding/retracting-bid?id=4013
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/invalid-bid-retraction-policy?id=4227
ibuyoldstuf
·3 years agoFor Me, as an antique Buyer/Seller who deals mostly with Auctions, I can say without hesitation that the only thing worse than a retracted bid when auctioning an item, is a winning bidder that does't pay!
Remaining Bidders/Buyers assume something is amiss and drop out or stop bidding, while the seller is stuck with a stagnant listing, the fees associated & time wasted! In my world, the Seller now has to flip the item to regain any monies in a reasonable amount of time.
I/we (in my business) have little sympathy for these folks on line (here) or in a Brick & Mortar environment.. It's bad juju.
Thanks for pointing this out!
mudshark61369
·3 years ago@ibuyoldstuf,
99% of every thing I sell is vintage and listed in the auction format. I've been very lucky in that I have had very few non payers. I've had more auctions ruined by nibblers who try to seek out an early automatic bid to see what it is, then retract/request cancellation, if it is more than they are willing to pay, and nuclear bidders who retract/request cancellation. Since I'm a fairly low volume seller, I do take the time to check bidder's profiles and occasionally log in to this ID so I can check their bid history page. Non payers I don't worry about too much because of my buyer requirements.
I do wish ebay would give sellers a buyer requirement that allows us to block;
Buyers who: have [ ] number of bid retractions in the last [ ] months.
IMO, if serial bid retractors found them selves blocked by that requirement, they might cease retracting bids. As it is I report every bidder who uncovers an early Max bid then retracts.
simba6
·3 years agoThey don't want to make it too easy. Bidders should take great care when placing a bid and review it with care before they click submit. Also, there are very, very few reasons it's allowed and they just don't come up very often.
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoBefore you place a bid, you need to make sure that you want that item. Is it the correct size, color, etc. It's a pain in the neck for the seller when a buyer retracts a bid. Since it's an auction, it can make the other buyers uncomfortable. They may think that there is shill bidding. Ebay keeps track of it too.
lee6329
OP3 years agoi still think this is harmful to both buyer and seller and adds a level of inconvenience that can just be avoided
buyselljack2016
·3 years agoeBay has a "help& contact page. It can be accessed by clicking on it when viewing most eBay pages.
Most things are easily found by using it.
Example would be "retract bid".
One can click on "help & contact"
Type in "retract bid" (or whatever else you would like to know about) where it says "Search eBay Help".
Not a difficult, or hidden thing.
ibuyoldstuf
·3 years agoAgreed,
Also, It's not just a one click process to place a bid either. There are fail stops along the way to ensure mistakes won't be made! Once you approve the amount your bidding and approve the preview of the bid and what your bidding on and the estimated amount you'll pay if won and then still click it OK. Truly, how can you make it any easier.. At that point IMO @lee6329 , the bidder should have to jump through a few hoops, just as the Listing Seller will have to do, to correct and explain to other bidders the situation ..
It's a wound self inflicted, but it is repairable.
house*of*paws
·3 years agoHi @lee6329
Cancellations are always an inconvenience for the seller ... as well as other bidders ... which is why retractions are mostly against eBay policy. [Other bidders often think the seller is shill bidding when they see a retraction.]
The ONLY situation where buyers are allowed to retract their bid is if they made a 'typo' ... such as bid $1000 instead of $10.00. In that case, they are supposed to 'rebid' the correct amount as soon as they retract their bid.
The link to 'retract' always used to be on the Bid History screen, which the buyer could use IF they were within the time limit for cancelling. BUT the appropriate action is for the bidder to request a cancellation from the seller if they don't have a legitimate reason for cancelling.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoThey don't make it easy because it's not supposed to be done. There are few legitimate reasons for a buyer to retract his bid, such as if you bid the wrong amount, i.e., $100 instead of $10. And in that case, you're expected to put in the correct amount after the retraction.
If it's an item you don't want, ebay doesn't consider a change of mind a legitimate reason for retracting your bid. Presumably, you're expected to know before bidding whether you want the item. The policy is clearly stated when you bid that you're entering a binding contract and expected to pay if you win.