posted on January 30, 2001 10:55:23 AM new
Hi Everyone. I could use a little input here, as I think a bidder(s)is playing games with me.
I listed a piece of vintage clothing. This item is a sought after item. For what reason, I dont know, but I am always happy when I find a piece. I have listed a few others; they have always sold at a great price, but there always seems to be game playing with these auctions.
Anyway, here is the situation:
Bidder 1 & 2 Both have good feedback and have been on ebay for some time.
Bidding between the two brings item up to $32.00
Bidder 3 - Registered with ebay 1/05/01, zero feedback, aol addy. 7 bid retractions in the past month.
Item is now at 76.00 with this bid.
Bidder 4 - Registered 11/00, 2 positives, 2 negatives, aol addy, 11 bid retrations.
Bids item up to 81.00
Bidder 5 - Registered 1/04/01, no feedback, aol addy.
Bids item up to 100.00
Bidder 6 - Registered YESTERDAY, aol addy.
Bid is now over 200.00
Now, I may have a bit too much medication in me at the moment, but I think something funny is going on here. What should I do, if anything?
Can I put a stipulation in the auction that if there are bid retractions, I may end it and relist? I have a feeling that the high bidder and maybe a couple of others plan on retracting at the last minute. This has happened to me before on a similar item, and I just want to cover myself.
posted on January 30, 2001 05:45:30 PM new
kinda makes me uneasy too.
Have you done a search to see what other auctions they have bid on and/or completed?
What do you feel is a 'fair' price for the item in question? Are we in the right ballpark? How much time is left in the auction?
posted on January 31, 2001 03:28:16 AM new
Thanks for your reply.
I just got another bid from one of the same bidders with an aol id. I have sold a few similar items in the past and they have sold anywhere from 150.00 to 300.00. The one I have listed is different from any other that I have ever seen on ebay. I am always looking at these things because it amazes me the amount of money people will spend.
Anyway, another seller emailed me and pretty much said that he thinks these bidders are playing games with me. They are going to retract their bids and get the item for low price.
So, now what. I guess I am trying to figure out if I can end the auction early if bid retractions start flying on the last day! Can I state that in my auction? "Will end auction early if I feel something funny is going on"....or "Auction will be void if there are bid retractions on the last day". I have 5 days left on this thing and already I have a headache.
I feel like going in and cancelling the bids on the bidders with retractions in their profile. But, can I just go and start cancelling bids without any proof of game playing? I dont know. I would ask ebay, but that will get me nowhere fast.........
posted on January 31, 2001 03:41:48 AM new
Hi there -
Whew...kinda wierd. I think I'd put a stipulation in your auction, something along the lines that if there are excessive bid retractions, you have the right to cancel all bids and the auction. Then, I'd be ready with the "cancel finger" on the last day just in case something funny goes on.
Kinda sucks that you have to babysit the auction, but if you want to maximize your $$ you may have to.
"Who's tending the bar? Sniping works up a thirst"
posted on January 31, 2001 05:49:35 AM new
Check the bidding history for the bidders with bid retractions, with an eye to the following:
1. Do the histories have a lot of items in common?
2. Does the same bidder(s) seem to win many of the auctions on which they retract bids?
If so, then you've probably been a victim of a bid shielding ring. You most certainly may cancel bids, and "Excessive bid retractions" is certainly a valid reason. Be sure to send any bidder whose bid you cancel an email instructing them not to bid in your auctions again, and CC: [email protected]. In the event that they do rebid, report them to Safe Harbor and they will be suspended.
posted on January 31, 2001 06:10:35 AM new
You can, RIGHT NOW, before you cancel your auction or bids or ANYTHING, you can report the bidders with excessive bid retractions to Safe Harbor. Those folks will then receive a warning & know that Ebay is aware of their activity.
I had a situation when a bidder retracted her bids on my 5 of my auctions. I looked at her feedback and she had 11 bid retractions in 6 months (16 after all mine were done), feedback of 5! I notified Safe Harbor, she was warned. The good news: She bid on another of my auctions, paid promptly, has stopped retracting bids, and is a great repeat customer now!!!
By the way: don't contact the customer directly, let Ebay do it. I almost wrote directly to her to ask her not to bid, but thought twice, and let Ebay handle it. I had a positive outcome!
[ edited by ksterni on Jan 31, 2001 06:13 AM ]
posted on January 31, 2001 06:28:08 AM new
I throughly agree with Sterni about contacting Safeharbor or Support. I have had similiar situations and they handle it so well and save you the hassle.
posted on January 31, 2001 07:00:37 AM new
If the bidding is at a point where you make a decent profit and the bidders are making you nervous, end the auction. Then the high bidder is suddenly responsible for his high bid.
posted on February 1, 2001 03:47:26 AM new
Hi Guys, Thanks for the input.
Did a little research yesterday and it seems there is some bid shielding going on. There are 3 user ids that are bidding on the same items. Kind of strange, hun......They all like the same videos, same playstation games, and of course, my piece of clothing! The more I look, the more of a tangled mess it is. Seems to be a whole bunch of these ids out there. Some have been NARU'D, but this bidder just comes back to life with a new aol addy.
I am going to end the auction and relist it. I know the high bidder isnt going to pay since he is one of the shield bids. There are other bidders who are interested but of course, they are not going to bid. Who would blame them!
I am then going to send an email over to safeharbor. Let them deal with this. Geez, with all this other nonsense they are implementing, you think they could stop someone from getting a zillion ids!
