My bid was canceled, can't find item, don't know reason

[chronogeist]

I bid on an item.  Later, I received notice that my bid was cancelled and I could find the reason by checking the bid history.  I can't check the bid history because the page for the item has disappeared.  The item does not come up in any search (description or item number).

[woodland_gnome]

Paste the item number into the URL: ebay.com/itm/###########  (this is more inclusive than a search by item number).  If a "similar" item comes up look around for a link to bring you to the listing you really wanted. If the item number is not found, eBay removed the listing for some issue with the listing and/or seller (this also applies if you had the listing on your Watch List and it is gone from there).

I recommend you place any listing you are planning to bid on onto your Watch List (or another list you make for that purpose) BEFORE you bid so it is easy to find after you bid: you won't have to look in 3 different possible locations (Bids, Didn't Win, and Purchase History, and if your bid is cancelled it won't be in any of those, AND it can take some time after it disappears from the active Bids section at the end of the auction to show up in the appropriate other section) as it will be in the Watch List regardless of your status in the auction (unless eBay removes the listing).

[chronogeist]

Thank you for the response.  I have done all of those things suggested, and still end up with a page from Ebay indicating the item can't be found.  It seems odd that Ebay would tell me I can find the reason for my bid being cancelled by using the bid history, and then remove the item page (bid history included).  If Ebay removed the listing entirely, couldn't they just tell me that is what they did?  Instead, I'm left wondering if I am being punished by some obscure policy, or possibly offended someone.

[woodland_gnome]

Your bid was cancelled because* the listing was removed by eBay for a problem with the listing and/or the seller.   eBay does not disclose the reason a listing was removed (or even the fact that it was, except that the item number is "not found") except to the seller (and even then it is usually too vague to be of any use).

YOU were not "punished."   The seller most likely was (at least by having the listing removed).

*or before.  If the seller cancelled it the reason would have been there if you had brought up the bid history while the listing was still up, though sometimes recently they don't even display the reason the seller selected for the cancellation, only "Cancelled by the seller" even when it was not the seller but eBay who cancelled the bid instead of "Administrative cancellation" which is the reason given when eBay cancels the bid e.g. for a problem with the bidder.