Buyer put price up on product when i showed interest in their product

[271._44]

I found a book i wanted but the description didn't match the photographs. So I messaged the seller to ask if the photographs were actual pictures of the product as the pictures didn't match the description. 

I was informed that the product was indeed the hard back book in the pictures and told because of his error he had to increase the price to reflect the error and increased the price by 5 pounds. Is that really ethical?

[red_magpie]

Is that really ethical?

Ethical or not, if no other bids had been placed and it was within the window during which eBay allows sellers to revise listings, they can do so.

For exactly this reason, with collectable items I'm wary about asking questions that might make the seller - or other bidders - aware that an item may be worth more than they realised.

[271._44]

I see. I believe it was around 5 hours before the end of the auction. 

So does ebay allow this? I ask as stores are held to an advertised price. I would like to know what the rules are for this situation, please.  At what point is it unable to be changed. 

[jckl1957]

As long as there are no bids, the seller can increase the price but would not be able to do so if the auction had less than 12 hours to run.  It would not actually be possible as that section would be blocked and not revisable.

Although you say stores are held to an advertised price, that is not really the case.  So, if I go to Tesco today and butter is £1.85 but I choose not to buy, I can't really complain if I go tomorrow and it is £2.

Ebay allow sellers to change their prices up or down.

So, for example, if I list an item and it attracts a lot of views and watchers, I would probably increase the price before I had any bidders.