I only see a history of bid retraction on my laptop not the iPhone and only when I select a bidders history. However I am seeing on a site like Treasure Pipes that a no history bidder is bidding on almost every pipe (c*****o) but I can't see if they are retracted. This just keeps getting stranger.
eBay Bid Retractions
- Thread starter bernie2
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This Treasure pipes auction has no retraction on my laptop screen:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361274152046?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
On my phone, it has 29! Led by bidder "o**c" - who has an Ebay rating of Zero.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361274152046?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
On my phone, it has 29! Led by bidder "o**c" - who has an Ebay rating of Zero.
I think it sucks that some jag off can do this to Pipestud and that if he does not own a tablet or a certain phone, he cannnot see what is going on with his auctions. I hope he can contact ebay and force them to do something about this.
ssjones, this is exactly what I am talking about. Now I can't see the retraction history for the individual item, but I can see the bidders past retraction history. In the Treasure Pipe case, 0****c is on many of the items either just keeping the prices up or looking for the upper limit and then backing out. I'm just starting to put these auctions aside as this game does not suit me at all. Then, when you see a pipe relisted because the winning bidder didn't pay....well that's another story.
I just talked to Chance, GreatEstates. His buyer is fully legit, and a regular customer. He thinks it is an Ebay glitch.
Retracted bids are something Ebay can monitor and I suspect they will start doing so now that they're aware of the issue. There are always people who try to game the system but generally speaking I think Ebay does a great job at policing itself. Keep up the good work folks, your efforts and feedback make that job much easier. Trying to keep ahead of the cheaters is a task. Helping out when you can does make a difference.
I immediately called eBay after seeing bernie2's latest post and the eBay representative went to that Dunhill auction with me. She said there were no bid retractions on that particular auction. I cut/pasted what bernie2 said and sent it to an email address she gave to me so that she could have her supervisor look at it and then call me back. I received the return call from the supervisor who assured me that there had not been any bid retractions placed on that auction and that it would be impossible for someone to retract a bid without going through their bid retraction process and that in his opinion, there is no human in the world who could type in the item number, go to the next screen to click on why they were retracting the bid and then going to a third screen to actually retract it in a matter of just a few seconds. According to the eBay rep, any bid retraction on any auction then immediately is registered in the Seller's auction "bids placed" section at the bottom and also is tallied on the buyer's "bidding history" page.
So, I don't have a clue what's going on. I have trouble every day just saddling my horse. :wink:
Pipestud
So, I don't have a clue what's going on. I have trouble every day just saddling my horse. :wink:
Pipestud
Pipestud, No human true, but a well designed app maybe. The integrity of the system is at stake. If people are to be confident there needs to be some conclusions drawn and answers given. A lot of people read this thread and they need to believe in the integrity of the system. Push Ebay to explain. You have a lot more leverage than most of us. Pain in the butt no doubt, but we all have a stake in the outcome. Most of us act with integrity. The few that don't need to be exposed. If it's a glitch, Ebay should say so and fix it. But we all need to believe. Right now it's obvious many may not and for good reason.
Don't know who 0***c is, but he must have deep pockets, He is currently involved in bidding on all of Coopersark's auctions. Over the last thirty days he has bid on 522 auctions with over 1057 bids. He has 2 bid retractions for the last 30 days and 18 for the last six months. That is some heavy duty time on eBay.
All this sounds like two concepts that have plagued stock markets for years: "Spoofing" and "Flash Trading." Both are done programmatically and take only milliseconds to execute, and though Wall Street has developed ways to detect and minimize their impact, it is possible that Ebay's auction system isn't sophisticated enough yet. (Indeed, it sounds like they are only now being made aware that it's happening.)
Not really sure that I have any more clout with eBay than the next guy, gloucesterman, I'm just a little pea in a big pod, but after getting your email I did call eBay back and asked them how to file some kind of formal complaint or an assurance of upper management officials at eBay being made aware that at least one portion of their community has raised concerns that could potentially impact lost sales.
I spoke with a very nice supervisor who said that anyone who is really concerned should compose a letter and send it to their legal department for review. Any additional information that can be provided with the letters would be helpful. I am going to do that early this week. I also wanted to pass along the address for any of you who want to do more than just voice your concerns on this thread. Here is the address to send your complaint regarding the potential threat of lost integrity in the eBay bidding system -
eBay, Incorporated
2145 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose, CA. 95125
ATTN: Legal Dept.
The eBay rep said it was very important to have the ATTN: Legal Dept. on the envelope to ensure that your letter gets to the right department.
Thanks,
Pipestud
Well, the rest of Chances message about the glitch in their system may be the answer. Now I recall that when I won the Charatan auction, I didn't get any notification that I had "won" or to make payment. I did so anyway, thru my phone. The next day, the notifications showed up that I had won and to may payment. These typically are emailed to me within seconds of closing.
It is beginning to appear that eBay has little interest in acknowledging or addressing this issue which has far ranging implications for the integrity of their business model. A level playing field is not in their best business interests which is clear by their response. Understanding this one is better prepared to participate or not given insight into the situation. Obviously others have figured this out and implemented strategies such as our 0****c.
I’m very doubtful that this is some sort of display glitch. I’d also be surprised if eBay does anything about this problem. This bug/exploit really only makes it difficult for great deals to fall to average eBay buyers. The amount of work required to build and update a software program to take advantage of this weakness would only be done by higher volume buyers looking for great deals on certain items that could be eventually resold. I wouldn't be surprised if eBay is very aware of this and is OK with allowing it to continue because it will just mean more auctions for them.
eBay has an open application programming interface (API) that allows developers to automate eBay functions through standard software calls. The functionality through the expected use of these API’s are very deep and could be used to create a great custom program that could really help with advanced searches and auction monitoring. eBay is very open with their searching and selling API functions. eBay is more restrictive on who they allow to use the API bidding/purchasing functions.
Although there is no API functionality to programmatically retract eBay bids the system is not safe from creative programmers. Because eBay applications exist for devices such as smartphones and tablets, the functionality of those applications can be intercepted, modified and automated by savvy programmers. I’m guessing any good “hacker” could manipulate the eBay application to allow a bid, data capture of bid amounts and bid retraction to all happen in under a second.
The only real solution to this problem will be for eBay to eliminate the bid retraction process from their website, applications and API, forcing people to place a phone call to eBay support to retract a bid.
I don’t see eBay taking this step because it would too expensive to implement as they’d have to hire more people to handle the increased support load.
eBay has an open application programming interface (API) that allows developers to automate eBay functions through standard software calls. The functionality through the expected use of these API’s are very deep and could be used to create a great custom program that could really help with advanced searches and auction monitoring. eBay is very open with their searching and selling API functions. eBay is more restrictive on who they allow to use the API bidding/purchasing functions.
Although there is no API functionality to programmatically retract eBay bids the system is not safe from creative programmers. Because eBay applications exist for devices such as smartphones and tablets, the functionality of those applications can be intercepted, modified and automated by savvy programmers. I’m guessing any good “hacker” could manipulate the eBay application to allow a bid, data capture of bid amounts and bid retraction to all happen in under a second.
The only real solution to this problem will be for eBay to eliminate the bid retraction process from their website, applications and API, forcing people to place a phone call to eBay support to retract a bid.
I don’t see eBay taking this step because it would too expensive to implement as they’d have to hire more people to handle the increased support load.
One quick positive note as a follow-up to my last long pessimistic post...
I am impressed with some of the action already taken by members on this subject. Most forums that I monitor and participate in are just filled with people that like to discuss and complain about things. Very little real action is taken on most of these forums.
That is certainly not the case here. Calls have been made, support tickets have been opened, complaints have been filed and change is being pushed. It's very nice to see!
The collective power of this little group of pipe smokers is quite impressive!
I am impressed with some of the action already taken by members on this subject. Most forums that I monitor and participate in are just filled with people that like to discuss and complain about things. Very little real action is taken on most of these forums.
That is certainly not the case here. Calls have been made, support tickets have been opened, complaints have been filed and change is being pushed. It's very nice to see!
The collective power of this little group of pipe smokers is quite impressive!
Bernie2, I think you just convinced me to become a sniper! At least for the higher end pieces. But thanks for the insight and assessment.
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