Bid retracted on ebay lot I'm bidding on - What to do! - Saga continues

Wondo · January 11, 2007 7:36AM

I opened a lot with the minimum bid. A guy bid over and then retracted his bid using the "wrong amount" excuse. Since the opening bid is 999.99 and he bid 1234.56 that seems an unlikey scenario.

Opinions? My gut is to retract my own bid, but I don't feel right in doing that. Just feel like I'm getting played.

storm888 · January 11, 2007 7:46AM

I would jump out.

Can you post the auction number?

RipublicaninMass · January 11, 2007 7:48AM

How bad do you want it? Is it just the principal of the retraction? I say retract...did I mention I HATE ebay's new format?

Sincerley,

Bidder #1

Wondo · January 11, 2007 7:48AM

<< <i>I would jump out.

Can you post the auction number? >>

Auction

cravetopps · January 11, 2007 8:04AM

not sure why you would jump out if you want this set as long as the bid was retracted and your offer was unchanged which appears to be the case.

storm888 · January 11, 2007 8:18AM

"...not sure why you would jump out if you want this set as long as the bid was
retracted and your offer was unchanged which appears to be the case."

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

Sometimes, when something odd happens, it portends future manipulation.

The retractor might have just been curious. He could be setting his own snipe.
He could be messing with the seller, for reasons we have no way of knowing.

The seller looks pretty golden to me. However, I do wonder how he "knows"
that the cards have "not been trimmed."

The new hidden-bidder scheme is not going to work out well for buyers; but,
the % of action between the parties is kind of nice. The change has nothing to
do with protecting users. It is about stopping fee-avoidance by sellers who
contact bidders and offer to sell stuff off-EBAY.

I think the auction is OK, even though I, personally, would rather spend that kind of
money on something/anything else.

earlycalguy · January 11, 2007 8:35AM

the person who retracted their bid knows your high bid and could bid again coming just over your high bid. but if you still want the item and are willing to pay your high bid price then go ahead and leave it there.

80sJunkie · January 11, 2007 9:14AM

whats ebays new format?

RobMM77 · January 11, 2007 9:23AM

The auction looks legit......good feedback, nice cards.............

jfkheat · January 11, 2007 9:30AM

I don't understand why you would retract your bid. The other bidder didn't affect your bid amount. You were happy with your bid when you placed it. How has that changed by the other person retracting a bid?
James

larryallen73 · January 11, 2007 9:34AM

Why are my Ebay auctions not new in stuff I am selling?

stown · January 11, 2007 9:37AM

<< <i>whats ebays new format? >>

Yeah, what in the heck is that bidder1 and 2 thing?

Keep in mind my short term memory is lost but that's the first time I've seen that.

calaban7 · January 11, 2007 9:59AM

John, Earlier this year I put the highest bid that I've had ever bid on a card. It looked fine until someone outbid me which exposed my max bid. Less than a minute later the bid was withdrawn ( I never looked for the reason at the time). I then raised my bid a little to bluff liked I jacked it up a bunch. I got just over bid at the end. At the time I didn't think there was a connection, but when I checked the buying and bidding of these two I saw that they had bid often together, even on items that really didn't look like one or the other collected. I complained to the GODS and they replied that they would imvestigate , but due to confidentialality the conclusion would be theirs and not shared with me. I really could've been wrong on that, but..... As a result , when I have something that I really want or need bad, its time for the sniping service. By the way , I still love that 78 Randy Jones PSA 10 card, again you've made a lot of people including me happy, Sonny

SportsCardCollector · January 11, 2007 11:04AM

I agree with earlycalguy. Someone wanted to know your max bid and now they do. It gives them an unfair advantage in bidding against you and anyone else.

I've seen this before and ebay looks the other way and refuses to do anything about it. Let's face it, when you bid, you enter the amount and hit "place bid". Then it comes back and makes you confirm that that is what you want to bid. If you are stupid enough to enter the wrong amount and confirm the wrong amount, then you should be stuck with it. No backing out. That would stop these games with retractions.

Wondo · January 17, 2007 1:22AM

Ok - so I get overbid and don't win the auction. That is fine 'cause I have a bad taste in my mouth. Then comes this:

eBay sent this message to wondo.
Your registered name is included to show this message originated from eBay.Learn more.

Second Chance Offer
eBay sent this message on behalf of an eBay member via My Messages. Responses sent using email will go to the eBay member directly and will include your email address.

Second Chance Offer
Item: 1929~25 CARD SET R316 KASHIN BASEBALL STARS~BABE RUTH (130065792242)
This message was sent after the listing closed.

Good news! The following eBay item on which you placed a bid for US$ 999.99 on 09-01-2007 09:58:15 PM is now available for purchase:

1929~25 CARD SET R316 KASHIN BASEBALL STARS~BABE RUTH (130065792242)
Your Price: US$ 999.99
Offer end date: 5 business days

Second Chance Offer
The seller is making this Second Chance Offer because the high bidder was either unable to complete the transaction or the seller has a duplicate item for sale.

The selling of this item through Second Chance Offer is in compliance with eBay policy; you will be able to exchange Feedback with the seller and will be eligible for all eBay services associated with a transaction, such as fraud protection.

Act Now - This Offer Expires Soon
To take advantage of this opportunity, please act quickly. This offer expires in 5 days.

You may purchase this item by contacting the seller in this email : guduty@aol.com
To learn more about Second Chance Offer, please visit:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/personal_offer.html

Thank you for using eBay!
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What do you folks make of it? Thanks

John

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onlyanumber · January 17, 2007 1:36AM

Odd that two people out bid you and you get the second chance offer. Neither wanted to complete the auction? Hmmm...

originalisbest · January 17, 2007 1:37AM

Refuse to pay... no need to be played with by shysters.

Stone193 · January 17, 2007 1:44AM

<< <i>Refuse to pay... no need to be played with by shysters. >>

Why does have to "refuse?"

It's a second chance offer - can't he just disregard the offer?

Wondo - did ya contact the seller to see what happened?

mike

calaban7 · January 17, 2007 1:47AM

John , If its a card you want ,then I would buy it. This sounds like a group ( collusion )effort to shill the price up. With ebay's wonderful new hidden , protect the scammers policy, I would learn how to be a pro-sniper, otherwise be prepared to pay higher and higher prices as this is now protected behavior. This exact thing happened to me. I was outbid on a very rare oddball item. I wanted to only pay $ 9.99 as its not that rare. In the end I got it back in a second chance offer, which i jumped on. I still love that 78 PSA 10 Randy Jones. Thanks again

bxb · January 17, 2007 2:41AM

The guys who outbid you may have been shillers, baiting you to increase your bid. When that failed, they backed out.

ArchStanton · January 17, 2007 2:52AM

Can you counter the second chance offer with something significantly lower? Let the seller know that the auction really drew your suspicion.

originalisbest · January 17, 2007 3:31AM

Yep Stone, by "refuse" I meant "just fail to respond." I wouldn't touch it with a so-many-feet pole.

storm888 · January 17, 2007 3:53AM

Anybody know the winner ?

EBAY ID: 030190

I would not take the 2nd chance at the $999 number.

blindflyer · January 17, 2007 3:59AM

I would counter the offer for a lower amount --- say $799.

My gut tells me that they were trying to shill you and you didn't take the bait. Too many weird things going on in that auction for something fishy not to be present.

Email him back, offer $799 ... and make him pay for his shady attempts.

-t

baseballfanatic · January 17, 2007 4:09AM

There is no counter offer on a second chance offer. If 999.99 was good enough the first time, it should be good enough for a second chance offer. If you think the seller was involved in some type of scam, email him and talk about it. It seems he put it on for what he wanted to get as a minimum, and the other two buyers were just playing games with each other. There are hundreds of ebay scums who just open up accounts to follow other people around and sellers have nothing to do with it. (just look up sigmaguy and his 200 alternate id's)

blindflyer · January 17, 2007 4:17AM

<< <i> If 999.99 was good enough the first time, it should be good enough for a second chance offer. >>

I disagree for two reasons:

1. There were bid retractions and multiple other bidders that "didn't work out" for the seller. This raises red flags, if nothing else.
2. Wondo now knows that that item isn't generating a lot of buzz. It's very possible that he can get it for even less now that he knows the market.

I would decline the second chance offer ... but inquire to seller as to the possibility of selling it for $799 or 899. UNLESS --- I REALLY REALLY wanted the item. Then I would take the second chance offer.

-t

storm888 · January 17, 2007 4:26AM

"It seems he put it on for what he wanted to get as a minimum,
and the other two buyers were just playing games with each other."

//////////////////////////

Could be that the seller was a victim. But, I would not bank on it.

A good way for sellers to prevent some of this vandalism is for them
to select the "PayPal Account Required" option in the restrictions-list
on the listing form.

This does NOT mean the buyer must use PayPal to pay for the item.
It only means that the buyer has at least been "looked at" by PayPal.

cohocorp · January 17, 2007 4:29AM

wondo,
always trust your gut feelings. if it were me, i would pass on it. another similar item will come up and you may get it cheaper without people playing games. btw, i snipe everything nowadays so that this situation doesnt present itself. there are alot of shady characters out there.
pat

onlyanumber · January 17, 2007 4:42AM

I'm sorry, but this definitely looks like the shill game. Both other bidders are 5 year vets. How many times do you have a five year vet with 2500+ feedback reneg on a deal? Or an under bidder whose a 5 year vet also reneg. It looks like there was some serious collusion going on somehow, and you didn't take the bait. I'm curious if this seller will negative that top bidder. I doubt he will...

Stone193 · January 17, 2007 6:03AM

The spirit of the new rule is to prevent people from getting scam emails?

Would be nice if they provided a bit more info - like location of bidders - range of stuff they have bid or purchased e.g.

mike

WinPitcher · January 17, 2007 6:19AM

I'd pass. or.............................

I'd offer 799.00 for it, or I'd tell the guy I was able to find a nicer one cheaper.

Steve

Wondo · January 17, 2007 6:26AM

Thanks for all the input, folks! It reflected several different views, each with it's own slant.

I am very happy that I was outbid (possibley played) and chose to do nothing.

As far as I am concerned, the matter is over and it is time to move on.

Caveat emptor!!

Bid retracted on ebay lot I'm bidding on - What to do! - Saga continues

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