annoying ebay behavior

[Teo Zenios]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob Jarratt" <robert.jarratt at ntlworld.com>
To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" 
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 2:38 PM
Subject: RE: annoying ebay behavior


>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
>> bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Brian Lanning
>> Sent: 17 October 2009 18:48
>> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
>> Subject: annoying ebay behavior
>>
>> I had a bid on a laser 128 computer, working complete with power
>> supply.  It
>> had been listed in the past for too high a price.  This time, the pirce
>> was
>> reasonable though so I bid.  There was a second one with a matching
>> external
>> floppy also.  I was hoping to make an offer on all of it at the end of
>> the
>> auction.  Yesterday, the items disappeared.  I guess the seller pulled
>> the
>> items.  I wish there were a more sane place to trade this stuff.  I
>> guess I
>> have just have to wait for somoene to give up another storage facility.
>> lol  thanks for putting up with my venting.
>
> I have seen this technique used by people trying to avoid the higher fees
> associated with a higher starting price and/or a reserve. If they think 
> the
> bidding won't meet the reserve they have set themselves (and not told eBay
> about) then they pull the item before the end. When someone did this to me 
> I
> let it go the first time as there might have been a genuine reason, but 
> when
> the same person did the same thing after relisting I sent a complaint to
> eBay, after this was repeated a couple of times eBay contacted the seller 
> (I
> know because he complained about it in the actual listing when he relisted
> again).
>
> Regards
>
> Rob
>

I have seen people pull auctions without bids before they end, but pulling 
items with bids (and a bunch of people watching ready to snipe at the end) 
is not common.