Requests to Retract Bids Need Permanent Penalties

[jstengren]

I'm noticing, on some of my more rare listings, that bidders will spam like-listings with bids from multiple sellers and then request sellers retract their bids for all but the one they won. I just did this today for a bidder on an auction that literally just posted yesterday afternoon, and sent her a stern warning that retracting bids is not a normal feature of auctions and to please be more intentional. However, IMO eBay ought to somehow "knock" these people's account feedback ratings or something whenever this happens to make it public that they are not serious bidders. I realize I could've refused to allow this, but I am also concerned about my own ratings as a seller - and, by offering the option, it puts me in a bit of a pickle.

[mr_lincoln]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

 clicking the Received as Buyer tab,

@mr_lincoln 

Thank you, Mr. Lincoln.   I resume my position in the slow typing corner! 

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@ittybitnot 

LOL ... T ... h ... a ... t  i ... s ... ok

[itsjustasprain]

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@gator08041971 wrote:

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

Hi @jstengren 

I think eBay should have a block setting for Sellers to block Buyers with "X" number of bid retractions in the last 12 months.  That would cut down on a lot of the abuse of the retraction policy.

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I agree. That would be most helpful.  No one wants bidders that do that repeatedly on their items.

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That has been requested repeatedly over the years in the Weekly (now Monthly) Chat, but it has never been implemented.

[reallynicestamps]

Bid retractions show on the bidder's Feedback Page.

You could look at the FB of every bidder and cancel the bids of any that have more retractions than you want.

However, if your product is widely available, and having multiple auctions open at the same time indicates that it is  mass-manufactured and not suitable for auction.

Warhammer ?  Gamers gonna game. Another part of your problem is your customer demographic.

Work out your price, list at Fixed Price /Immediate Payment Required.

The item remains available for 30 days  not  just seven, or until someone pays.

This also gives you the benefit of Immediate Gratification by your impatient buyer  and a wider customer base due to the longer availability.

[mr_lincoln]

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@gator08041971 wrote:

Thanks.  @mr_lincoln  above answered it.

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@gator08041971 

You are more than welcome.  I have never had issues with Customers bidding and retracting bids on my Games Workshop - Warhammer items.  I am very low in that category right now but typically it performs well ... although I look for the older stuff from the 90s if I can find it ... 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

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 Holy cow!  How can anyone have that to shop here?  lol

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Auctions are not important to Ebay any more.

Buy It Now is the bulk of the listings, bulk of the sales, and bulk of Ebay revenue.

Auction sellers have gotten their new protection - the prepay requirement. It will be a long time until they get another.

As for the concept of "rarer" items, some of us define that to be items which are likely to have only one listing on the site and unlikely to have another in the near future.

You seem to think a multi-bid auction is "rarer". It is, most Ebay auctions now sell on 1 bid, and the auction format is usually inappropriate for the listing.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Turn on the autopay feature for your auctions and they will not have the opportunity to request retraction of a bid and it may also dissuade them from bidding in the first place. Of course they could always request a cancel of the order. I use the auction format almost exclusively and have very little problem with bid retraction requests, cancel order requests or non-payers. 

     For sure add these buyers to your BBL 

[gator08041971]

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@tobaccocardyahoo wrote:

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 Holy cow!  How can anyone have that to shop here?  lol

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You seem to think a multi-bid auction is "rarer". It is, most Ebay auctions now sell on 1 bid, and the auction format is usually inappropriate for the listing.

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Not sure why you think I would be thinking that.  But then, most of my "auctions" get more than one bid.  And I usually don't list them with a starting price below what I'm willing to accept for them.

To each their own.

[luckythewinner]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

If a Buyer retracts a bid and violates eBay Policy by not REPLACING IT with another bid you have the option to add them to your blocked list

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You also have the option to add them to your blocked list anytime you want for any reason you want.  

[luckythewinner]

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@jstengren wrote:

 I realize I could've refused to allow this, but I am also concerned about my own ratings as a seller - and, by offering the option, it puts me in a bit of a pickle.

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I'm not sure I understand how this would affect your seller rating, and what the nature of this "pickle" is that you are referring to.