Examples:
I've decided that the only way this will ever (possibly) be fixed, is if I spread the word, and get people aware that
their auctions may be subject to such activities (among others).
In case you want to see proof of this actually happening, check out
my recent auction (link no longer works since eBay expires auctions after a set time).
At the bottom lists two bid retractions, as you can see, the second one was retracted just moments before the auction ended.
I can't even place any negative feedback on the two aol accounts that
placed bid retractions (reason is because eBay requires you to have a
COMPLETED transaction before you can place negative feedback). However, eBay's page that
has the bid retraction states:
"Users who abuse this mechanism by retracting bids because they changed their minds, or because they decided they could no longer afford the item, may receive negative feedback from the sellers of those items. Too much negative feedback may cause you to be barred from future auctions."
To add insult to injury, leaving yabe6 negative feedback (the guy who just scammed me)
means he too has a completed a transaction with me, and thus can leave me negitive feedback.
He can now leave me negative feedback just for not selling him the item!
Here is another example
These same person(s) are once again bid shielding -- this time it
didn't work because the auction's reserve was too high. The *REAL*
problem with this, is when you retract a bid, you don't show up on the
bidder search for that item. Thus when I was doing the eBay bidder search
to find all auctions they've screwed over (and email the sellers about
what may have happened to them), I was unable to find all but the most
recent auctions they were scamming.
I've had several people reply telling me "thats why one starts their auction at a
price they are willing to sell for", or with a reserve. My auction had a reserve, and it was met,
however I'm not upset so much for the reasons that my auction didn't make as much as I thought it should have,
rather I'm upset because eBay knows about this problem, and they WILL NOT fix it.
There are many many people out there on eBay who don't have any idea what can happen to their auctions, many sellers
don't have reserve prices and start their items out at less-than $5. Doing so is actually encouraged, as you
can't make it into the "hot item" section with a reserve, and placing a reasonable starting price will prevent
your item from getting more than 30 bids needed to make it to the "hot item" section.
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