The following happened to me several times when bidding for something at eBay:
- I place my bid → I'm the highest bidder
- Alice places several small-step bids, but I'm still highest bidder (thanks to my maximum bid)
- Alice reaches my maximum → Alice is highest bidder
- Alice retracts her last bid → I'm highest bidder again (with my maximum bet)
Now I get a mail from eBay saying something like: "You are highest bidder again, because someone retracted his bid. Congratulations!"
Well, I got the item, yes, great. But … for my maximum bet!
To me this looks like Alice is a friend of the seller. She tests where my maximum lies and then retracts her last bid, so that I'm bidding exactly my maximum.
In the mail it says that I could see the reason for the retraction in the bidding list. But there it only says who (the username is disguised, however) retracted which bid at which time, without any reason.
Now I wonder: Can I do something about this? (except last second bidding resp. using a sniper)
eBay should know about this, right? Do they do anything against it?
Best Answer
You placed a bid on an item and it means you agree to buy that item by paying that amount, so just place a bid amount you are okay with and which won't make you go mad.
If some play such tricks to sell their items for higher value, just don't buy from them. It's the best way to stop such cheating.
Cheaters are everywhere, we can do nothing about them. Additionally report