eBay Seller Question

[GGKoul]

If a seller has a history of cancelling bids with 12 hours to go and ending the auction early.  Can you report that abuse to eBay?  If so how?

[CheffoJeffo]

Hey, GGK ... I expect that you are talking about irrek0 (the rest of you can consider this a Bad eBay Seller warning) ...

His eBay moves have been questionable (he cancelled my bids on the Joust cabinet a few weeks ago with minutes left in the aucton), but I don't think this latest cancellation is in violation.

I almost confronted him at the last auction, but decided that it wasn't worth my time ... maybe we should both take him aside and talk to him in April ... he'd probably fit inside one of the Megatouches if we really tried ...

I know he has ticked off Swede a few times and, like Swede in Heartbreak Ridge, he isn't somone I would want to piss off.

Cheers.

[GGKoul]

Crazy stuff... he seems like a nice guy in person, but he's a jerk..

[Scott84]

I saw what he looks like at the last auction....

I would go up to him if he cancelled one of my bids, but i didnt bid on anything

[ratabase1]

According to ebay this is considered a Reserve Price Violation.  http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-reserve.html

"A seller is not permitted to misuse the Reserve price feature. Misuse includes:

Canceling bids and ending a listing early because the seller's desired price has not been met to avoid reserve fees.

Listings that violate the reserve price policy are not permitted. Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:

Listing cancellation

Limits on account privileges

Account suspension

Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings

Loss of PowerSeller status"

Ebay says
"To report a listing that has a description or title that violates the reserve price policy contact us with the item number."

To report a listing that a seller ended early in violation of our reserve fee avoidance policy, contact us with the item number you would like us to review. Although there are legitimate reasons for ending a listing early, eBay will investigate sellers who abuse this option.

I say if you have the auction numbers he cancelled, use the link under the additional information section on  http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-reserve.html, and report him to ebay.  Maybe they'll do something about it, if enough people report him. 

I'm sure plenty of people on here have sold items on ebay, and wished it sold for more, but followed through with the auction.  Why should he be able to be any different?  If he wants a reserve on an item, he should pay the few extra dollars just like anyone else. 

Just my two cents.  I'd report him if this happened to me!

[GGKoul]

I probably can't use the Reserve Price Violation because he didn't have a reserve price on the item.

[Jess--]

thats the point.....

he cancelled your bids and ended the auction because it did not reach the amount he wanted for the item (and so avoided having to pay to set a reserve)

[ratabase1]

Another thing I want to point out is, it doesn't sound like you have to have been the winning bidder (or even bidding on the item yet), to report an auction item in violation of an ebay policy.   Based on this, anyone or everyone could report it to ebay.

[fredster]

Hell, complain.  What's the worst that could happen? You fail totally?

Like that's never happend before?

Complain. Go ahead.

[emdkay]

You sure can report excessive bid retrations.  I hate when they do that and retract with the bogus reason "entered wrong bid amount" - total BS.   http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/invalid-bid-retraction.html

Invalid Bid Retraction
A bid is a binding contract. Except under special circumstances, bid retraction is not permitted. Furthermore, misuse of the bid retraction option to manipulate the bidding process is not permitted. This includes any manipulation of the bidding process to discover the maximum bid of the current high bidder or to uncover the reserve price.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
    *
      Listing cancellation
    *
      Limits on account privileges
    *
      Account suspension
    *
      Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
    *
      Loss of PowerSeller status

[RayB]

I know it sucks, and his actions may violate some Ebay rules, but in the end did any of you get ripped off? No.  If had my car up for sale and you called, and I said sorry, I don't want to sell it to you, that's really my problem. It's jerky, may not make sense, and may disappoint you, but in the end, there's no law forcing him to sell to you. You've lost nothing, but hope.

[missioncontrol]

but if he's constantly retracting bids then report him