Ebay Make Offer no warnings

xxxxxxxx

I just made an offer on ebay.  In UK culture making an offer is not binding.  
>I'll give you £10 for it .... 
>Ok ...
> on second thoughts, nah, I don't want it. 

When buying a house buyer can withdraw their offer with no repercussions. 

The "make offer" page made no suggestion it was binding on me and will leave me bound until the listing ends which is less than 48 hours.  Stopping me from buying the same item in normal auctions from other sellers during this time. 

Then the retract offer page says I cannot retract it  &  threatens sanctions on my account if I cancel too many "make offers" .
https://imgur.com/a/BVznKbH

Ebay should not be allowed to do this on its website,  trading standards complaint ? 

theoretica

It's odd isn't it, as the page before for me said something like 'changed your mind, retract here'. 

xxxxxxxx

The page says: >You can retract your offer under certain circumstances.   None of which apply here,  but even if they did apply, the way the other page is worded they will sanction you if you retract too many offers they don't say how many is "too many" or if is absolutely cumulative  or  periodically cumulative.

Spoonie_Turtle

I'm pretty sure there's a message somewhere in the process explaining that if the seller accepts then you're committed to buying.

Spoonie_Turtle

Oh yep, here it is copied and pasted:

"By tapping Submit offer you are agreeing to purchase this item if the seller accepts your offer."

Edit: that was on the 'review offer' page

xxxxxxxx

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I'm pretty sure there's a message somewhere in the process explaining that if the seller accepts then you're committed to buying.

No, there isn't, because I did it again on another listing to enable me to take the screen captures.

xxxxxxxx

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Oh yep, here it is copied and pasted:

"By tapping Submit offer you are agreeing to purchase this item if the seller accepts your offer."

Edit: that was on the 'review offer' page

If that is true, I missed it twice...  The second time when I was specifically looking for it because I took screen captures in the OP. 
I will look again now

Spoonie_Turtle

This was my review offer screen http://imgur.com/a/S0xm4l1

xxxxxxxx

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Oh yep, here it is copied and pasted:

"By tapping Submit offer you are agreeing to purchase this item if the seller accepts your offer."

Edit: that was on the 'review offer' page

I just tried it again, on another listing (the same listing I tried it on before to get the screen capture in the OP) and this time I got a sort of pop up to enter the amount and another pop up with the text you are referring to.  This did not happen the first and 2nd times I did this, when I was taken to a completely new page for the amount and then again for the review/submit.

You can see that my screen capture (above) is different to the the pop up version (below) 
https://imgur.com/a/cnEJTrC


Appears to be random whether you get the "new page" version which I had twice and has no warnings on  or the "pop up" version which I have seen  1 out of 3 attempts.  The pop up version does have a warning but my criticism even of this is that it does not say on the end of the sentence....  "which cannot be withdrawn."    

xxxxxxxx

Of course ebay make it impossible to email.  So I cannot report using my screen capture examples, this serious & probably unlawful error.   
Well done ebay.  

The seller has at least rejected my offer so I am free to buy one of the brand new items which end before the one I offered on.

bris

An offer is legally binding once accepted, this isn't just Ebay that's contract law. 

By now refusing to commit to the offer you are breaching the contract.

How would you like it if the seller messaged you after accepting the offer saying on second thoughts I have had a better offer so I'm not selling to you?