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eBid support happy for seller to relist after he wasn't happy with auction price
RussJK
Posts: 2,359 Forumite
After reading here and on other forums about how eBid was a great place but just lacking in buyers, I thought I'd give it a shot.
I found an auction going for an Archos 28 Internet Tablet, and won it for the minimum bid (1 cent + £10 postage).
Obviously my first thought was that the disappointed seller would try to pull out of it, which is pretty much what happened. The seller ignored all of my emails. Worse, the slime actually relisted the item but this time with a reserve price.
I emailed eBid support, and this was their very underwhelming reply:
"Although this does not happen that frequently, since normally sellers are eager to sell their merchandise, it can be disappointing when it happens. We cannot "force" a seller to honour the final auction results.
However, we feel the seller made a mistake when listing the items."
What kind of response is that? Auctions are legally binding contracts, no matter how difficult they are to enforce. It's not my fault if someone made a mistake. Surely an auction site has some responsibility to encourage sellers to fulfill their end of the bargain?
I questioned whether or not they would apply some kind of sanction or strike against a seller that they knew was behaving dishonestly by relisting an item that had already been won on their auction site. eBid responded that they'd investigate, and temporarily froze his account - very temporarily.
I just checked today, and eBid support have:
1/ reinstated the seller's account;
2/ allowed him to relist the item that I'd already won;
3/ removed the negative feedback that I'd left the seller for not honouring the terms of the original sale.
I've never listed anything at a minimum price I wouldn't be able to live with if it went for that, and I've taken my lumps for auctions that didn't go well as I'd hoped. Still, as I said, I half expected the seller to slink away and get out of the sale.
What galls me is eBid support allowing a seller to relist because they didn't like the price they got. Not impressed at all with how they've handled it.
I found an auction going for an Archos 28 Internet Tablet, and won it for the minimum bid (1 cent + £10 postage).
Obviously my first thought was that the disappointed seller would try to pull out of it, which is pretty much what happened. The seller ignored all of my emails. Worse, the slime actually relisted the item but this time with a reserve price.
I emailed eBid support, and this was their very underwhelming reply:
"Although this does not happen that frequently, since normally sellers are eager to sell their merchandise, it can be disappointing when it happens. We cannot "force" a seller to honour the final auction results.
However, we feel the seller made a mistake when listing the items."
What kind of response is that? Auctions are legally binding contracts, no matter how difficult they are to enforce. It's not my fault if someone made a mistake. Surely an auction site has some responsibility to encourage sellers to fulfill their end of the bargain?
I questioned whether or not they would apply some kind of sanction or strike against a seller that they knew was behaving dishonestly by relisting an item that had already been won on their auction site. eBid responded that they'd investigate, and temporarily froze his account - very temporarily.
I just checked today, and eBid support have:
1/ reinstated the seller's account;
2/ allowed him to relist the item that I'd already won;
3/ removed the negative feedback that I'd left the seller for not honouring the terms of the original sale.
I've never listed anything at a minimum price I wouldn't be able to live with if it went for that, and I've taken my lumps for auctions that didn't go well as I'd hoped. Still, as I said, I half expected the seller to slink away and get out of the sale.
What galls me is eBid support allowing a seller to relist because they didn't like the price they got. Not impressed at all with how they've handled it.
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Comments
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I don't think ebid are actually geared up to deal with sales as they are so rare. Unfortunately you will see quite a lot of 'spam' type posts about ebid but all from sellers as ebid do tend to support the sellers as buyers are a very rare creature.
However, ebid are correct in that they cannot force the seller to sell. I do agree though that their handling of this was poor as a seller should not be able to escape unscathed if they refuse to accept a binding sale and as for removing your feedback then that sounds awfully wrong, unless of course you swore or used profane language in which case even ebay would have removed it as well.
Unfortunately you have found one of many flaws in using ebid, and I say that as a lifetime membership seller with 4 shops and absolutely no sales whatsoever. It really doe sprove that using ebid is a waste of time.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.0 -
However, ebid are correct in that they cannot force the seller to sell. I do agree though that their handling of this was poor as a seller should not be able to escape unscathed if they refuse to accept a binding sale and as for removing your feedback then that sounds awfully wrong, unless of course you swore or used profane language in which case even ebay would have removed it as well.
Unfortunately you have found one of many flaws in using ebid, and I say that as a lifetime membership seller with 4 shops and absolutely no sales whatsoever. It really does prove that using ebid is a waste of time.
Yeah, I compeltely understand that auction sites can't 'force' anything. You can't force a buyer to pay for an item, and you can't force a seller to carry through with an auction - unless it was something worthwhile to take to small claims court.
But what they can (and should) do is create a system where buyers and sellers are encouraged to behave honestly, and penalised in some way when they aren't. Since there is no chance that the seller has two identical items, both with identical stories of being an unwanted gadget that they'd bought - then it's obvious that the seller has just relisted an item that has already been sold on the site.
I can't believe that they are letting him relist, and that they've removed the negative feedback I left. There was no reason given for removing it; I wrote nothing that could be even remotely construed as objectionable about the seller.
As you say, ebid have shown why it is pointless to use their site.0 -
Yeah, I compeltely understand that auction sites can't 'force' anything. You can't force a buyer to pay for an item, and you can't force a seller to carry through with an auction - unless it was something worthwhile to take to small claims court.
But what they can (and should) do is create a system where buyers and sellers are encouraged to behave honestly, and penalised in some way when they aren't. Since there is no chance that the seller has two identical items, both with identical stories of being an unwanted gadget that they'd bought - then it's obvious that the seller has just relisted an item that has already been sold on the site.
I can't believe that they are letting him relist, and that they've removed the negative feedback I left. There was no reason given for removing it; I wrote nothing that could be even remotely construed as objectionable about the seller.
As you say, ebid have shown why it is pointless to use their site.
Too many questions, like,
who was the seller?
I would just like an idea of how experienced they are at selling. And I assume you would not mind them being able to voice their side, as you did nothing wrong?
And I am wondering if you had typed in one million instead of one dollar would you have paid? I mean mistakes happen and as you say the seller relisted the item but with the correction required.
The reason I think they are new to selling is due to their ignoring your messages, as an experienced seller would have either held up their side or explained their mistake.
But what they can (and should) do is create a system where buyers and sellers are encouraged to behave honestly, and penalised in some way when they aren't. Since there is no chance that the seller has two identical items, both with identical stories of being an unwanted gadget that they'd bought - then it's obvious that the seller has just relisted an item that has already been sold on the site.
They probably have been penalized to not making the mistake again, once they were reviewed. But ebid probably felt it would be wrong to destroy a sellers account for a stupid error, that could happen if they were inexperienced and I am just not sure what you expect ebid to do to the seller, draw and quarter them in the market square or forty lashes?
soolin
Unfortunately you have found one of many flaws in using ebid, and I say that as a lifetime membership seller with 4 shops and absolutely no sales whatsoever. It really doe sprove that using ebid is a waste of time.
What you doing wrong? would be my first question to you, as sales are increasing for most on ebid. I know my sales have gone up.
If you ask in the forum for them to view your listings they will help you out and give you some pointers, as I found even after ten years selling over there that I had to change my methods to sell on ebid.0 -
martinknowsnowt wrote: »Too many questions, like,
who was the seller?
I would just like an idea of how experienced they are at selling. And I assume you would not mind them being able to voice their side, as you did nothing wrong?
And I am wondering if you had typed in one million instead of one dollar would you have paid? I mean mistakes happen and as you say the seller relisted the item but with the correction required.
The reason I think they are new to selling is due to their ignoring your messages, as an experienced seller would have either held up their side or explained their mistake.
But what they can (and should) do is create a system where buyers and sellers are encouraged to behave honestly, and penalised in some way when they aren't. Since there is no chance that the seller has two identical items, both with identical stories of being an unwanted gadget that they'd bought - then it's obvious that the seller has just relisted an item that has already been sold on the site.
They probably have been penalized to not making the mistake again, once they were reviewed. But ebid probably felt it would be wrong to destroy a sellers account for a stupid error, that could happen if they were inexperienced and I am just not sure what you expect ebid to do to the seller, draw and quarter them in the market square or forty lashes?
soolin
Unfortunately you have found one of many flaws in using ebid, and I say that as a lifetime membership seller with 4 shops and absolutely no sales whatsoever. It really doe sprove that using ebid is a waste of time.
What you doing wrong? would be my first question to you, as sales are increasing for most on ebid. I know my sales have gone up.
If you ask in the forum for them to view your listings they will help you out and give you some pointers, as I found even after ten years selling over there that I had to change my methods to sell on ebid.
new member, 0 posts, where have I seen this before...? Oh yes 'spam type posts' soolin was referring to...
soolin you must have obviously got it all wrong on ebid as everyone else is doing soooo well there!
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SherMari, if you are acting as eBid's rep on here, then you need to get permission from MSE to post in this capacity.
As for seller refusing to sell, then relisting, I have had this happen 6 times on Ebay and their attitude is exactly the same, i.e. nothing we can do about it.Never Knowingly Understood.
Member #1 of £1,000 challenge - £13.74/ £1000 (that's 1.374%)
3-6 month EF £0/£3600 (that's 0 days worth)0 -
You give the impression that Ebid is a start up company, it was started in 1998, actually before Ebay UK was officially set up. Using being new as an excuse is not a valid one.Many new users come to eBid expecting the same traffic they get on Ebay. This is not gonna happen right away, we are growing but we are not Ebay. A new seller may, thinking that a .99 cent starting price will gather a much higher ending price and or did not put a reserve on the auction. This could simply have been a new user error.
It is NOT common on eBid, we are undergoing a tremendous growth spurt on eBid and a lot of new users are trying desperately to get the hang of a new auction site. Most of us agree the seller should have cowboy'd up and sold the item at the winning bid price. I have given my items away when I have made an honest error for the sake of reputation.
You did not pay for the item you won, you just simply did not get the item you wanted for nothing.
We are all sorry about your experience with eBid but do hope all understand we are a group of honest people just trying to make a living without the scorching fire breathing dragon on our backs..0 -
martinknowsnowt wrote: »Too many questions, like,
who was the seller?
I would just like an idea of how experienced they are at selling. And I assume you would not mind them being able to voice their side, as you did nothing wrong?
And I am wondering if you had typed in one million instead of one dollar would you have paid? I mean mistakes happen and as you say the seller relisted the item but with the correction required.
The reason I think they are new to selling is due to their ignoring your messages, as an experienced seller would have either held up their side or explained their mistake.
But what they can (and should) do is create a system where buyers and sellers are encouraged to behave honestly, and penalised in some way when they aren't. Since there is no chance that the seller has two identical items, both with identical stories of being an unwanted gadget that they'd bought - then it's obvious that the seller has just relisted an item that has already been sold on the site.
They probably have been penalized to not making the mistake again, once they were reviewed. But ebid probably felt it would be wrong to destroy a sellers account for a stupid error, that could happen if they were inexperienced and I am just not sure what you expect ebid to do to the seller, draw and quarter them in the market square or forty lashes?
soolin
Unfortunately you have found one of many flaws in using ebid, and I say that as a lifetime membership seller with 4 shops and absolutely no sales whatsoever. It really doe sprove that using ebid is a waste of time.
What you doing wrong? would be my first question to you, as sales are increasing for most on ebid. I know my sales have gone up.
If you ask in the forum for them to view your listings they will help you out and give you some pointers, as I found even after ten years selling over there that I had to change my methods to sell on ebid.
very good post my sentiments exactly,
"
What you doing wrong? would be my first question to you, as sales are increasing for most on ebid. I know my sales have gone up."
yes what are you doing wrong soolin, perhaps its something obvious like calling your store a shop when we who trade on ebid know there called stores!
i have one store on ebid traded there two years 500 sales and the sales trend is up so quite a happy bunny at the moment,
"But what they can (and should) do is create a system where buyers and sellers are encouraged to behave honestly, and penalised in some way when they aren't. Since there is no chance that the seller has two identical items, both with identical stories of being an unwanted gadget that they'd bought - then it's obvious that the seller has just relisted an item that has already been sold on the site."
after trading on ebid for a couple of years one thing i have noticed with some sellers is if there repeat offenders they get kicked off, same thing happened with a non paying buyer i had, they were blocked from trading with me they cercumnavigaited the block by reregistering under another user name of course when my suspisions were raised and sent to ebid support they deleted the so called buyers account ,a simple check and the rest of the ebid community was saved from this person.
as to this buyers experience i think you new at best it was 50/50 the seller would honour the deal your took the chance there would be very little bidding on this item in other words you took advantage of the sellers inexperience, should the seller be banned from trading no of course not they made a mistake there can be no denial, ebid will of flagged this seller if they do this again no doubt further action should be taken, in fact the OP by sounding off on two forums to my knowledge will have done them selves no good at all i certainly will not be trading with this guy, OP you need to remember.
"if it looks to good to be true then it probably is!"
think on and move on !0 -
how many more "first timers" are we going to get before a 'real' MSE'er turns up to support ebid?
Please poster, stop signing up as a new user to post again and again.....
PS even thanking yourself....?0 -
terra_ferma wrote: »how many more "first timers" are we going to get before a 'real' MSE'er turns up to support ebid?
Please poster, stop signing up as a new user to post again and again.....
PS even thanking yourself....?
Are you saying that you as an "official spokesperson" for this site are saying that the policy of this site is for people to be giving just a slanted view of any subject added and those that actually know more about this subject can't say anything unless they are constant posters on here, or they are considered spammers?
Sorry I thought the purpose of this site was to give a truthful insight into the subjects that come up rather than just an attack and have fun site.0 -
If ebid is so great then wouldn't it make sense that there were some established MSEers that thought so too?
Lots of new users posting on the one thread and nowhere else on this site suggests that someone has seen this, and then gone on ebid and done a post saying "look at this, let's go and defend ebid!". Talking about slanted views.:www: :: MFi3 ::
Original mortgage free date ~ January 2030 :sad:
Current mortgage free date ~ July 2028
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