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Another buyer retracted their bid but automatic bidding still bid against the retracted amount on my behalf
Summary: tg5555 described an issue with eBay's automatic bidding, where a retracted bid still influenced the auction outcome, resulting in them paying more than expected. They won the item at £78.78 even though the next highest valid bid was £32. Despite contacting eBay support, they were told nothing could be done to adjust the bid due to the automatic system, leading to frustration over what seemed like a system flaw. *vyolla* and red_magpie provided input, suggesting that support's explanation might be incorrect and advising to seek further clarification.
Hi eBay community,
Wondering if you can help me. I placed a bid of £78.78 on an item within the last few seconds and won the auction. When I looked at the bidding history, I noticed that I won the item at £33 above someone who had placed a bid of £32, but then automatic bidding made the winning price my top amount £78.78. A few bids beneath those were from the same buyer, first placing a bid of £31 and then increasing their bid to £78. I've detailed the last 5 records in the bid history below.
I contacted eBay customer service on the advice of the seller. Customer service said the bid of £78 had been retracted by other the buyer at the last moment, but this didn’t reset the highest bid, and my bid was accepted at £78.78. They confirmed that had I not placed a bid, the next highest bid would’ve won after the retraction (so this would’ve been £32). This seems like a double standard, as in the event I didn’t bid it would’ve forgotten the bid of £78 that had been retracted by the other buyer, but as I bid above that amount and automatic bidding took place it did not forget the retracted bid. eBay support have said there is nothing they can do to adjust the winning bid and to negotiate this with the seller.
I still want the item, but this situation feels completely unfair. I believe the highest bid should’ve reset as the retraction was made just before the end of the auction and therefore this is a fault with eBays systems. Can anyone with more experience advise where I stand here. Thanks so much
Me - £78.78
Me - £33
Seller A - £32
Seller B - £78 (retracted last minute)
Seller B - £31
*vyolla*
Mentor1 month agoCan you provide the listing number or a screenshot of the actual bid history please?
tg5555
OP1 month agotg5555
OP1 month ago · EditedThanks for your reply @*vyolla* I've included a screenshot of the bid history above. Let me know if anything else would be useful.
*vyolla*
Mentor1 month agoWas there a Reserve on that listing?
If there was a £75 one that would make some sense.
tg5555
OP1 month agoThere was no reserve set by the seller, and eBay support told me the bid for £78 (which was from the same person who bid £31) was retracted last minute.
From what I can tell, this goes against the Invalid Bid Retraction Policy as it doesn't appear that they entered the wrong amount but I don't know what to do next. Once retracted the next highest amount was £32 so I believe I should've won it for £33, but eBay are saying automatic bidding meant the system bid just above the highest bid, meaning it ended the auction at £78.78.
*vyolla*
Mentor1 month agoCan you post then item number or the bid retraction details please.
tg5555
OP1 month agoIt doesn't show as a retracted bid on the bid history. In fact it says "retractions: 0" at the top of the page. But here is a copy of the transcript from support: