eBay now allowing bidders to retract bid using false explanation

[vermonter8]

I listed an item with a starting bid of $179.00.

A member placed a bid on the item-of $179.00.  Two days later, the bid was retracted, with the reason as "Entered wrong amount".  When I called and spoke with customer service, they said "The computer recognizes the phrase "Entered wrong amount", so the system automatically cancels the bid.  There is nothing I can do.

So, fellow sellers, eBay is not protecting sellers and anyone can now retract bids if they change their mind...

[ebooksdiva]

Bidders are allowed to retract their bid, they are supposed to rebid, but most never do. 

Obviously the bidder, either changed their mind or found a better deal elsewhere.

If they actually won you may have gotten a cancellation request or a return after they received. 

Don't forget to put the bidder in your Blocked Bidder list.

Bid retractions are nothing new, been around since auctions began. 

[ebooksdiva]

Here is the policy on bid retractions

Retracting a bid | eBay

[nobody*s_perfect]

As noted in the other post, this is not new.  You just hadn't encountered it yet.

The short list of valid reasons from which the bidder must choose when retracting a bid is sometimes referred to as the "pick a lie" list. eBay apparently does nothing to investigate or enforce the choice that a bidder makes when retracting their bid.  

[dbfolks166mt]

     Bidders have always been able to retract bids and in reality it is a form of seller protection for the reasons ebooksdiva stated. It's one of the quirks related to auctions. 

[candd205]

It's better for the buyer to change his mind before he buys, than it is for the buyer to buy the item and then change his mind and file a return. In the latter case, you would have to pay shipping both ways to get your item back. If they retract before they buy it, you don't have to pay shipping either way.

[pargran3]

Nothing new here. Absolutely nothing new.

Years and years.

Be glad the yoyo retracted the bid. They did not want what they were bidding on. Much better than a no pay or a bogus return.

[1tuna]

its been this way for a long long time

I run over 2000 dollar start auctions a year and have plenty of canceled bids

I am notified by ebay of every single one

whats new is I think ebay stopped displaying the number of retracted bids on a buyers feedback.

I check every singe bidder who cancels a bid and the retraction record is always zero

I used to get some serious violators but for the past year I have not had a single bid retractor with any record of them in feedback.

bid retractions are not fun, it makes the other bidders think there is monkey business going on

@vermonter8 

[pargran3]

That is an interesting tidbit. I wonder if that means eBay is no longer tracking bid retractions? 

I seldom use auction now. Although it is my opinion (note: opinion) that auctions have long brought out the dink around "buyers" that think they are playing a game.

[wastingtime101]

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@pargran3 wrote:

 I wonder if that means eBay is no longer tracking bid retractions?

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The info is still available @pargran3. Recent discussion where you can click through the listing to find a current example --> link

[pargran3]

Thank you.

[vermonter8]

"Pick a lie" list...you said it perfectly!