Beware using sniping software on eBay Auctions (Sumday)

[Jan M.]

I would be inclined to cut them some slack. Everyone can make an occasional mistake and they deal with a lot of inventory. They would certainly let you out of the sale if there was an error in the listing and would most likely make every effort to help you find what you wanted.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

This whole thing started because of an item changing that was on a watchlist. It's basically a word of caution to "blind" bidders using a snipe so they do not accidentally buy the wrong thing. The word of caution is valid but that is where it ends. Pay attention to what you are bidding on. Even items that don't completely change might have extremely important details change. This has been going on for 20 years. There is nothing wrong with ebay or the sellers.

 

[ssreward]

The fact that there were indeed no bids in the specific listing under discussion here seems to have been just conveniently ignored in much of this thread.
It is also a directly relevant detail not actually addressed at all in the posted "chat" exchange which has been presented as evidence from "research".

The chat representative never asked if there were bids. I don't know why it makes a difference - the listing fees are the same if it sells or not & obviously eBay doesn't want you manipulating your listings to avoid their fees...if you want to sell 2 different items, 2 auctions (with their associated fees) are required. They have absolutely no motivation to try to save users money & obviously want to make as much as possible for themselves. I'm just glad I know how to handle it if I ever notice this again: just report the auction & let eBay handle it. It certainly sounded like they will from what they told me...it's at least more effective than doing this back & forth on a forum

 

[Saintsfanfl]

The chat representative never asked if there were bids. I don't know why it makes a difference - the listing fees are the same if it sells or not & obviously eBay doesn't want you manipulating your listings to avoid their fees...if you want to sell 2 different items, 2 auctions (with their associated fees) are required. They have absolutely no motivation to try to save users money & obviously want to make as much as possible for themselves. I'm just glad I know how to handle it if I ever notice this again: just report the auction & let eBay handle it. It certainly sounded like they will from what they told me...it's at least more effective than doing this back & forth on a forum

You are misinformed. Ebay's policy is very specific on what you can and cannot do and it is clearly spelled out that the presence of bids matter. One auction, one listing fee, no bids and item no longer available, free to change any details desired. This is not in violation of any rules. Ebay prevents the changing of any specifics that they do not want changed. It is very tightly controlled.

You are also off base that ebay has no motivation to save users money and are only in it to make as much as possible for themselves. They have remaining at the top for 20 years because they do care about their customers and having it be affordable.

 

[ssreward]

You are misinformed. Ebay's policy is very specific on what you can and cannot do and it is clearly spelled out that the presence of bids matter. One auction, one listing fee, no bids and item no longer available, free to change any details desired. This is not in violation of any rules. Ebay prevents the changing of any specifics that they do not want changed. It is very tightly controlled.

You are also off base that ebay has no motivation to save users money and are only in it to make as much as possible for themselves. They have remaining at the top for 20 years because they do care about their customers and having it be affordable.

From the way I interpreted it & what they told me is you're free to add/change/delete details about the item but not change the item to another. I don't see it as any different than renting an RCI exchange - you've already paid for the week & it doesn't make a difference who uses it but it's not allowed & they don't have any way of policing it so it's pretty much up to user reporting to enforce. I'm done debating it - if it happens on another auction I'm watching (like this one was or the many some are claiming this happens on regularly) I know to report it before it ends & whatever happens from there isn't my problem...it's their circus & their monkeys so at least I've done my due diligence. You're free to do or not do whatever you'd like.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

From the way I interpreted it & what they told me is you're free to add/change/delete details about the item but not change the item to another. I don't see it as any different than renting an RCI exchange - you've already paid for the week & it doesn't make a difference who uses it but it's not allowed & they don't have any way of policing it so it's pretty much up to user reporting to enforce. I'm done debating it - if it happens on another auction I'm watching (like this one was or the many some are claiming this happens on regularly) I know to report it before it ends & whatever happens from there isn't my problem...it's their circus & their monkeys so at least I've done my due diligence. You're free to do or not do whatever you'd like.

More than 12 hours until auction end time + No bid(s) received:

• Change any information except the format. The auction end time cannot be extended if it has been 2 or more hours since the listing was submitted

That second sentence is there specifically to prevent someone from changing the item while also adding time which would enable a second listing on the cheap. Ebay considers changing the item in these circumstances ok since the time period is already paid for.

 

[Pathways]

I'm just glad I know how to handle it if I ever notice this again: just report the auction & let eBay handle it. It certainly sounded like they will from what they told me.

I agree that they will 'handle' it. Just like they 'handled' the numerous times I complained about a certain TS seller who blatantly and repeatedly mis-represented his bidding process. They were 'appalled' and 'thankful' for my report. After the fourth time my brain cells kicked in and I realized the script they were using to acknowledge my concerns and then they promptly moved to the next person to placate them. Handle it? right.

 

[breezez]

 

[uscav8r]

More like I didn't care for the attitude that this was some insignificant thing that shouldn't have been brought up by OP. It seemed wrong to me so I went to the source to find out...that's called research, not vigilantism.

Conducting research has nothing to do actively seeking and reporting changes listings. But you are allowed to change your story even as you rail against some seller changing its ad...


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