Ebay became a place for scammers too

[fdsa]

I wouldn't have created this topic if it was a single case, however it is a third time already within the past few months. I've won three different auctions from three different sellers and they all have cancelled the order with the reason "buyer asked to cancel" and relisted the item again. But of course I did not ask to cancel the order because I've won an auction with a great low price!

Obviously the sellers just did not like the low winning bid. It seems that Ebay has added a scam button for the sellers allowing them to cancel the order on their own discretion, without the need for the buyer to actually request a cancellation.

 

 

[zzaa09]

Imagine that. 

Add: any type of online transactions. 

[CharlieH]

A "scam" is generally where an attempt at fraud or decption has been made. I dont see any evidence of any attempted scam here, and  you did not lose any money !

 

The transaction was simply cancelled, how is this a "scam" ?

[soi3eddie]

42 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

A "scam" is generally where an attempt at fraud or decption has been made. I dont see any evidence of any attempted scam here, and  you did not lose any money !

 

The transaction was simply cancelled, how is this a "scam" ?

Agreed that "scam" may be a bit strong a word. However, an auction where a competitive and binding bid is received should be honoured. I have not used ebay for many years (and was in UK) so don't know the terms here in Thailand. Assume if the seller can cancel then the winning bidder must have same rights to back out?

 

[fdsa]

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

A "scam" is generally where an attempt at fraud or decption has been made. I dont see any evidence of any attempted scam here, and  you did not lose any money !

 

The transaction was simply cancelled, how is this a "scam" ?

Of course this is not a scam per se, but a dirty trick bordering with fraud. We the buyers are presented with half a dozen of pop-up alerts telling "by placing a bid you are OBLIGED to buy this item" and might get blacklisted on Ebay if we would not buy, but once we win an auction the seller could simply cancel it like as having zero obligations with the bidders, and start a new auction for the same item with a higher starting price.

And we could not even leave a feedback for an order cancelled by the seller on their own will, and thus their feedback rating stays 99.99% positive. I would love to leave a negative feedback for such tricks.

 

If you do not want to sell an item for a low price then do not start an auction with $0.01 starting bid.

Edited December 9, 2022 by fdsa

[Myran]

I can't imagine that would fly well with eBay. Have you reported it to their support?

[Mac Mickmanus]

26 minutes ago, fdsa said:

Of course this is not a scam per se, but a dirty trick bordering with fraud.

In any transaction , the seller can refuse to sell up until the money has changed hands . its not fraud , dirty tricks or a scam 

[fdsa]

26 minutes ago, Myran said:

I can't imagine that would fly well with eBay. Have you reported it to their support?

No I did not, I doubt they would care.

 

4 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

In any transaction , the seller can refuse to sell up until the money has changed hands . its not fraud , dirty tricks or a scam 

If we are obliged to pay for an item if we make a bid then the seller must be obliged to sell an item if we win an auction.

I've had the same experience even after the money "has changed hands" - I've won an auction, paid for the item+shipping, and shortly after the order was cancelled by the seller for the reason "Buyer asked to cancel", and several days later I've got a refund to my card. My winning bid was well below the item's market price again. 

What was that if not a dirty trick?

[Bigz]

7 hours ago, fdsa said:

No I did not, I doubt they would care.

You should report the seller. eBay certainly would look into the matter. They tend to favour the buyers in disputes.

[mrfill]

eBay charges a seller the selling fee for a cancelled winning bid so its unlikely to be a scam.

Seller should be reported using "Report an Issue with a Seller" in the Help & Contact section.

[LomSak27]

They have been doing the bait, then not delivering, for decades now. OTOH, that is why many do not bother with E Bay, and haven't for a long time.  

 

[digger70]

You are right in my eyes to ,    a scam.   Its' well an truly deceptive.

 

What does scam mean; 

 

A scam is a deceptive scheme or trick used to cheat someone out of something, especially money.

Scam is also a verb meaning to cheat someone in such a way.

Example: Banks will never call you asking for your credit card number or social security number over the phone. If someone calls and asks for information like that, it’s a scam.

[The Theory]

23 hours ago, fdsa said:

sellers allowing them to cancel the order on their own discretion, without the need for the buyer to actually request a cancellation.

eBay is not what it was 20 years ago. 
ebay is a place to buy fixed prices only. I quit eBay auctions long ago. 

[snowgard]

Ebay was all the time a hub of scammers. They try to avoid it but criminals find all the time new ways.

 

[3NUMBAS]

if you use paypal you cant get scammed as   ebay delay the payments to the seller

until  you  have given good feedback

 

i was scammed over an ebike but it didnt arrive so the  scrote got no money and it was returned to me in full ,because no good feedback from me

the seller was banned for being a crook

 

car buyers get scammed cos they pay cash on a car that don't exist

[Onerak]

On 12/9/2022 at 7:39 AM, soi3eddie said:

winning bidder must have same rights to back out?

Winning bidders routinely backs out. From my own experience as a seller and also a as a buyer.

[Maybole]

I come from a farming district. It is normal when selling beasts at auction, to put a reserve, i.e minimum acceptable price on the item(s) for sale. If the highest bid does not meet this expected price, then no sale. I can recall many occasions over the years when livestock was returned to the farm unsold.

[tyler28]

You ought to be able to leave feedback for cancelled transactions. Ebay will not automatically prompt you to do so, but if you search Google for "Ebay leave feedback for cancelled," you ought to be able to find instructions.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 12/10/2022 at 9:07 AM, LomSak27 said:

They have been doing the bait, then not delivering, for decades now. OTOH, that is why many do not bother with E Bay, and haven't for a long time.  

 

"...that is why many do not bother with E Bay".

The other many millions continue to use eBay with no problems.

[ChrisKC]

An upfront Seller can easily put a "reserve" on the item!

 

I don't buy anything on EBay now, shipping and import taxes takes the shine off any decent deal one might achieve.

[fdsa]

9 hours ago, tyler28 said:

You ought to be able to leave feedback for cancelled transactions. Ebay will not automatically prompt you to do so, but if you search Google for "Ebay leave feedback for cancelled," you ought to be able to find instructions.

good idea, thank you! Yes, I've found how to leave a feedback for a cancelled order: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Seller-cancels-order-Can-t-leave-feedback/m-p/32038971/highlight/true#M358162

 

In short: go to your feedback profile https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/feedback_profile/ and you will see a list of orders "awaiting your feedback"

[1FinickyOne]

you should see behind the scenes at a real auction some time... unimaginable, near brilliant chicanery...