Why does ebay allow folk to place and increase bids then retract them

[davyjones123]

Why does ebay allow folk to place and increase bids then retract them to ensure that they are getting the other bidders maximum bid?

Seems to me that such is not even allowed by law in most places and is fraught with annoying hackers whom also like to put your desktop on their screens and takeover sort of thing.

davyjones123

[reallynicestamps]

Because it is better that an uninterested bidder Retract a bid that have the seller chase him for payment, fail, open an Unpaid Item Dispute and finally after more than a week, get to relisting the item, or offering it as a Second Chance to the underbidder.

Most retractions, while annoying, are done in good faith.

If you are asking about shill bidding, it is just as 'illegal' on eBay as it is in Real Life.

If you believe that a particular bidder is shilling auctions, you can Retract your own bid (but not if the auction is over and you are the winner).

You can Report the auction and the possible shill bidder to eBay. Shill bidders are often suspended if the record is clear.

You can protect yourself by bidding late, bidding once and bidding your max. That way you won't get caught up in emotional bidding wars.

On the third hand, if your maximum bid was $100 and when bidding had reached say $25, another bidder revealed that by bidding $101 then retracting, you are not paying any more than your $100 best price. It's the sleaziness not the price that is the problem.

[davyjones123]

Hmmmmmmm!

Not only is such shill bidding illegal even under ebay law it is also impossible to properly address (ie.far to easy to get away with).

Moreover such bidding beyond maximum even to determine maximum bid and increase the price is not only sleasy but downright despicable and highly improper and ought to result in fine or incarceration or both.

Seems to me someone ought to adjust the programming else closeup shop.

[debtou]

Hi, I was wondering if my last purchase was a shill bidding. The thing is I wanted this item and even paid the dang GSP imports to get it here. It arrived mangled but that is another story. My seller has not returned my messages even though there is a NAD opened on this auction and he has no items for sale so it does make me a bit suspicious. I think the auction in the end was fairly won.  I came into the auction with only a few minutes to spare and didnt have much of a chance to check out the bidding profile. It was one of those search for item ending soonest moments because it was a time issue for Christmas delivery.. which it didnt make anyway. I did notice the bidding pattern after the fact and thought hmmm.

Heres the thing this item started at a 49.99 was raised by a bidder with 0 stars almost right away, then climbed steadily to 120$ with alternating  bids from a 1 star bidder, at which time a bidder with 353 stars bid once to 200.00 and it started again to climb with two bidders 1 star and 3 stars respectively bidding it up to 209.00 The bidder with 353 stars bid again but dropped out at 212.00. I won the auction from the last bidder with 34 stars and a bid of 234.50  with my bid of 237$ 10 bidders and 40 bids.

Would you think this pattern might possibly be shill bidding and would this be the type of pattern that someone would be wary of..ie: low star bidders bidding against each other ? Do you have any other tips on what to watch for. It is hard enough to feel your money is well spent on  EBAY as it is with all the costs of shipping and high exchange rates added on to the price. I really find I have been using Amazon com and ca more than ever. 

[debtou]

Just FYI the ten bidders were 34 stars, 9 stars, 353 stars, 3 stars,1 star, 4 stars, 8 stars, 2 separate, 0 star bidders and myself 157 stars

[reallynicestamps]

It arrived mangled but that is another story.

My seller has not returned my messages even though there is a NAD opened on this auction

You opened a Dispute?

Have you been told to return the item to the seller with Confirmation of Delivery?

Unless you do as instructed, the seller does not have to refund.

If you can prove that the seller has the item back and he does not refund, Paypal will do so and go after him for their money. He will have other fallout.

Did the seller use the Global Shipping Program?

If so, you would be refunded by GSP/Pitney Bowes in full. You would not be asked to return the damaged item since GSP/PB would take full responsibility for the damage, which would not have been your seller's fault.

and he has no items for sale so it does make me a bit suspicious.

Was he only an occasional seller?

If so, he may simply not have anything currently for sale.

In addition, if he only sells occasionally, your payment would be Held by PP until the Dispute is settled. At this point, the only part of your payment he has seen was the cost of a PP shipping label.

If he was a consistent seller and did not use the GSP, PP will give him time to refund, then pay you themselves if he doesn't, then go after him for their money.

Would you think this pattern might possibly be shill bidding

Given the pattern of bidding, I doubt that there was shilling going on. Newbies often bid (fairly low) on items then drop out when they think they won't be getting it at a rockbottom price. Goes with the territory.

[debtou]

Hey Thanks for the reply. I did open a dispute. The seller did not get back to me in the ten days that Ebay allotted him to respond before resolving the case. It was very quick and simple after that. They refunded the total price I paid and did not require a return of the item. 

As far as the concern about my seller, I think it was due to him not replying when I sent him a couple of messages about the problem. He did have good feedback and over 200 stars so it was probably just circumstance.