Buying after retracted winners bid

[symonrocks]

So i have been observing a pattern of what I would call underhand selling.

Basically despite the starting bid set at 0.00 there is a minimum bid before they will sell. 

If you enter a bidding war with one other bidder they would normally have a name and not be anonymous, this is the reason I became suspicious. 

Twice I have bid on an  item and lost but soon told mine was the winning bid, the other bidder retracted their bid, the bidder was listed as anonymous for their privacy.

So the bid was what was expected for the item, but what if there is only one bidder, we'll they get a bargain, no, absolutely not because I believe that the seller in both instances is bidding himself and if he wins and the lower offer is good enough he retracts his bid, monopolising the figure in a free auction, if the offer is low the item is re advertised a week later and not sold for the lower bid of the only person 

[harb_7542]

You were pushed to your limit, backed off, and the other "bidder/seller" retracted...Classic

I wouldn't get into an auction with a bidder who I couldn't check-out, though I can think of 1 "Forum Helper" who would, as it (he/she)  doesn't see a problem IF (as it put it) "you ONLY bid as much as you are happy to pay"  🙄

What IS the point of private bidding status for (and I'm making an assumption here) normal everyday stuff , when our ID is already encrypted as bidders, and if/when somebody enters our "Bid History: Details" page (easy enough, despite the best efforts of ebay to stop us) our encrypted bidding ID is different again, so actually encrypted TWICE.

Yes, ebay are certainly pulling out ALL the stops, to protect?  well, I think it's to protect ebay, & the higher resulting FVF.   

[symonrocks]

If only it were so simple and bidders could just stop just stop, rather
than just one more bid, it's only one more dollar, it's still at a
reasonable price, one more bid and I won't have lost anything, but what
else besides the greed of want can catch you out, oh yeah the clever
photos, using children or very small ladies so the item looks bigger than
it actually is, but it's described very well and you bid for it, ok that
is true however my hands are almost twice the size of some I have seen
holding goods for auction.

[harb_7542]

😄 

Yes, 1 last bid.

If only I'd done a bit more homework before my most recent purchase (a Laptop)

8GB of Ram TICK

1TB of storage TICK

Win 11...  TICK

17.3" screen TICK

And a CPU SO slow, I could almost SHAVE between tasks 😴

[davidninetynine]

I turned off "second chance offers" about 15 years ago because it was commonly used by fraudulent sellers, bidding up their prices from a second account. Loks like it's still happening...

Ebay won't do anything about it - they never have - because anything that boosts the prices of auctions also boosts their fees.

If you want to swim in the bay, beware of the sharks. Or better still, find somewhere safer to take a dip.

[symonrocks]

Problem is what i want is only one auction sites and eBay is only one of
them using tactical methods, not found one yet that has no hidden charges
or is working for the buyer .

[harb_7542]

Oh dear, I see your problem, in effect "take it or leave it"

You know when we don't bid, but show an interest? save/watch an item, I suspect the seller can see who has taken an interest, so is able to make that potential buyer an offer, SO instead of getting into a potential bidding was with the seller, one way or the other  🤔  why not sit back, and let IT (him/her) come to you, obviously time permitting, just a thought, after all, 0 bids = 0 retractions 😉

[symonrocks]

Great theory, practical problem is the items are so commercially desired.
So unless there is something for sale that no one wants you will be in a
bidding war. However my brother in law did win an almost new American style
fridge freezer that was very large for a minimal bid as no one else placed
a bidding he won the item , he did say he felt embarrassed collecting it
especially as the seller had not checked the sale price.
The rules have changed many times since then along with the charges for
listing.
Ultimately human nature being what it is your greed will always win your
regret at paying more than it's worth will be renewed every time you admire
your overpriced item, with a bit of luck it may be worth what you paid when
your children sell off the items you collected once you have departed this
realm .