deaddds Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Now I know why we are doomed as a country. I realize every older person typically thinks this of the younger ie millennial generation, but its becoming a reality. So I put my 77 Pace car up for auction and have a reserve on it. Bids have gotten pretty close so I decide to let it roll and lift the reserve to get it sold. Go to my listing and it wont allow me to update it and remove the reserve. After numerous maddening attempts, I cave and call support. Get ahold of a younger guy on the west coast, explain the issue and I can tell he thinks Im a moron cause any dope can do this. He walks me thru what Ive already done and triumphantly says its fixed... until I click on the ad and tell him no, it still has the reserve. Jack around with this another 20 min and he says, oh I see the problem. You have bidders so you cant change it. Now I walk him thru the posted ebay rules, you know, the ones these people are specialized in. Clearly states reserves can be removed if A: the bids do not reach the reserve! No kidding!. and B: if its not less than 12 hrs in the auction. So I point out both these criteria have been met as there is almost 2 days left. Huh. So then the story is ebay motors is an extra special section of the ebay family and I should call them tomorrow to discuss this problem as this is WAY above his paygrade. Although, his really good advise to me is I should have saved the extra money I had to fork out to get a reserve and just have started the auction at that amount. Brilliant! I told him I assumed he had never been to an actual auction before as reserves are meant to protect a seller but can and are lifted if the seller decides to take a lesser amount. Silence on the other end. I was thinking this was hitting him like Edison and the phonograph but came back to reality when he said " but if you start it at the higher price, you can avoid all this". Spinal Tap came to mind as these go to eleven. I ask to move up the food chain and get ahold of Mensa #2. Spend another 20 min explaining this and this guy finds an ebay motor rep still around to fix the problem. This young lady is very well spoken and seems to grasp the situation. Now were cookin with gas! After several hold I need to consult moments, she comes back and says I didnt scroll down far enough in the rules. There it states ebay motors allows you to remove a reserve with LESS than 12 hrs on a sale. This she states is clear evidence why it is not working and I should wait until the last 12 hrs when bidders may or may not be paying attention to cancel the reserve. I ask her to reread what she just pointed out and she does. And she presses her point. Thats when I say, "but if you read it in English, it states you CAN change it. Not specifically with less than 12 hrs to go only. Thats why I am wanting to change it now, while bidders have a chance to mull over a higher bid." Silence on the other end. But these go to eleven. So how this online behemoth is still in operation with the newest crop of savvy college educated go getters is beyond me. Now that Ive wasted a solid 90 min, I feel much better. 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 I bought a Fiero at a local sheriffs' auction once. Ex Dare car. Was great. Only once since 1980 have I gone out of Florida to buy or sell a car and then was from a forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Can you change the reserve to whatever the current highest bid + $1? That way the next bid will own the car. Ebay knows their users--they aren't buyers, they're button-pushers. If you could remove the reserve, that would force the highest bidder to buy the car, which he probably doesn't really want to do. He's just sport-bidding so that he can tell his buddies that he "almost bought one" but someone else got it at the last minute. And even if you do manage to get another bidder to break the reserve, there's still only a 40% chance he'll actually buy it rather than vanish without a word. Welcome to eBay... 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) So you expected eBay to operate like a normal live auction? That’s not how it’s designed to work. It’s a different sales platform that does it their way. No sense in getting worked up over that. That would be like getting angry at McDonalds for not sending a server to your table to take your drink order. Though they same industry, it’s a different business design. I do hate that you spent so much time with them when all you want to do is sell your car, and the people you spoke with were largely unhelpful. It can be hard to deal with people who don’t have the knowledge you do. eBay avoids getting involved in transactions. It’s actually brilliant on their part. Edited August 15, 2019 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 If you can't lift the reserve try just lowering it. I often get notices that reserves have been lowered, on things, including cars, that I bid on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) You can lower it, just not below the high bid, for the reasons I outlined above. They don't want bidders being "tricked" into buying something they didn't expect to buy. It doesn't really work the way a real auction does (although I've seen more than a few guys who unexpectedly bought a car at a live auction because the reserve was lifted and they were the bidder left holding the bag). Bidding--it ain't a sport. Edited August 15, 2019 by Matt Harwood (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaddds Posted August 15, 2019 Author Share Posted August 15, 2019 Yeah, ive tried numerous numbers on my own and the gals suggestion. Erased it altogether, entered 0, tried $1, tried $5100 and $5101. None worked. The issue i believe is a software problem. Thats why I called in. I told them I had to confirm umpteen questions to verify my identity but cant beg, borrow or steal to get them to click a button to do what they say I should be able to do myself, but all agree is not happening. Next time I think I will start it low, not pay extra, and then skip out if it doesnt hit my number. Certainly eBay seems to be encouraging that behavior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Yes software problem. That is another option, relist with no reserve, low starting bid. Then cancel saying it is no longer available if the bids are not up to snuff. Need to cancel with 12 hours or more left to go. otherwise you can't cancel it in the last 12 hours. You can end your auction listing early, if: There are no bids yet on your item. There are bids on your item, and you are willing to sell your item to the current highest bidder. There are bids on your item and you don't want to sell it to the highest bidder, but there are 12 or more hours left in the listing. Whether you can end your auction listing early depends on if you've received any bids yet, how long is left in the auction, and if you have a reserve price in place. You can end your auction listing early, if: There are no bids yet on your item There are bids on your item, and you are willing to sell your item to the current highest bidder There are bids on your item and you don't want to sell it to the highest bidder, but there are 12 or more hours left in the listing. In this situation, you'll need to cancel all active bids before you can end your listing. We charge a fee for ending a listing in this way You can't end your auction listing early, if: There are fewer than 12 hours left in the listing, you've received bids, and you don't want to sell it to the highest bidder There are fewer than 12 hours left in the listing, you've received bids, but the item's reserve price hasn't been met yet If you're not eligible to cancel your listing, you can contact any bidders to explain the situation and ask them to retract their bids. If the auction has finished, you can contact the winner and, if they agree, you can cancel the transaction. Ending listings early disappoints bidders, so we may place limits and restrictions on your account if you are doing so regularly. Canceling a listing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass is Best Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 I miss the old days when someone bought your car on ebay and backed out of the deal. At least they had to courtesy to call you up and lie to your face. Kids playing with the computer was always a good one. Don't forget mad ex wives and or girlfriends who still had the ebay password. Then there was always the I didn't see the other zero excuse. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercer09 Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 very easy- just go to your edit button and write in a bit more info- I have lifted reserve and am now selling the car at so and so price.................................. I have attempted to lower on the ebay forum, but of course, it isnt working. have at it and your buyers will understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 It's not just ebay going to the dogs. This morning I received a receipt from paypall that Microsoft had renewed office and automatically billed my paypall. I don't even use Microsoft office and had definitely not authorised payment . Turns out I had paid for my wife's subscription a year ago with my paypall. When my wife checked back through her emails sure enough there was a notice from Microsoft that her subscription was about to expire and that she had to cancel or it would be automatically renewed and billed. She has been very busy with a family member with a serious condition in hospital and had not looked at her emails for a couple of weeks. What a deceptive way to bill people ! I expected better from Microsoft, what a con ! Just another example of sleezeball marketing. I am not much of a user of software but this episode is sure going to stick in my mind for a long time. Is there any big business these days that is on the straight and narrow ? Greg in Canada 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 16 hours ago, deaddds said: Now I know why we are doomed as a country. I realize every older person typically thinks this of the younger ie millennial generation, but its becoming a reality. I do agree that the ebay rules really don't make sense at times, but someone on the phone does not have any power to change the rules. I am sure that there is a pretty good reasons that these rules were installed, the problem is that nobody on the phone knows those reasons and can offer the acceptable explanation why things are the way they are. Doomed is a little too excessive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 The impenetrable ignorance of Nigel Tufnel coupled with that prerequisite yet indeterminate accent that all eBay team members share, all wrapped in the axiomatic determination that any misunderstanding of "the great and powerful rules of eBay" can ONLY be due to the complete lack of cognitive skills of the caller. What a delight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) 32 minutes ago, GregLaR said: Nigel Tufnel Greg, WOW the lead guitar player of Spinal Tap, I have not seen that movie in years! Great analogy, and thanks for reminding me of one funny movie Edited August 15, 2019 by John348 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 "But these go to eleven." deaddds started it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 OK have to understand the precedence of the help desk. This goes back to the last century. First tier 1 is minimum wage often elsewhere who are allowed to read from a script and NEVER think. Their purpose is to keep the sans coulottes away from anyone paid more. The only thing tier 1 can do is to connect to a supervisor. Tier two allows some technical knowledge but again are not allowed to change anything. Tier three is the highest level and are allowed to not only think but also talk to the engineers/programmers. I used to keep a rolodex of tier 3 personnel at various companies and helped them whenever I could. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaddds Posted August 16, 2019 Author Share Posted August 16, 2019 Just as I suspected. Following the super duper ebay motor specialists profound knowledge and insistence that I am wrong and have no clue how the rules work, and their team of English comp graduates fully grasp the situation, it didnt work at the magical under 12 hrs requirement that really isnt the requirement anyway. Of course now when I call the offices are closed. So I get to wait until Im at work to see how long it takes on hold to get probably nothing done. So while I did post as an edit the reserve and offering to remove it, I wonder how this will play out. Technically the car will not sell if it doesnt hit reserve. A point the fresh young ebay teammates cant understand. So to try and make a deal outside of ebay is against the rules that we are supposed to play by. Wonder if I can argue against paying any insertion fees due to their incompetence? Stay tuned.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 Pat, first go into one of your rooms and inhale some gas....your patients today may appreciate not having you upset drilling in their mouth today! Just another of crosses we have to bear with modern society. Boy, that makes me sound old and crotchety. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 20 hours ago, GregLaR said: The impenetrable ignorance of Nigel Tufnel coupled with that prerequisite yet indeterminate accent that all eBay team members share, all wrapped in the axiomatic determination that any misunderstanding of "the great and powerful rules of eBay" can ONLY be due to the complete lack of cognitive skills of the caller. What a delight! I had a flashback. In High School I wrote an article that was published in the school paper. One of the English teachers held the paper up in front of his class, asked if any had read my article, then tore the paper up in front of them. A couple years later I joined the Navy to be a Journalist. They sent me to Boilerman A School. Could it be my writing style? If one cares to cognate on that. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaddds Posted August 16, 2019 Author Share Posted August 16, 2019 Steve, I decided to take it out on my lawn and buzzed the hell out of it! BTW, I got a spot on the field this year so I cant wait to be in the heart of it. Yahoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 5 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: I joined the Navy to be a Journalist. They sent me to Boilerman A School. Naval efficiency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 3 minutes ago, GregLaR said: Naval efficiency. Huh, my sister ship moored in front. Next! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 I had a strange experience with ebay support the last time I tried to buy a car ( an early 70's Ford in 2018.) The seller was running me around on the title, so I called ebay motors support. The first support rep was obviously an American who seemed to be a car guy who was fairly familiar with the process of buying and selling a car. He was also very accommodating and reassuring as well as empathetic to my situation. Based partly on this, I decided to give the seller another week. When no progress was made within a week or so, I called support again to get more advice, but this time I seemed to be directed to someone in an office overseas...kind of like one of those telemarketing or product support places in India or something. Huh? The first guy I talked to said there were maybe like a dozen and a half people in ebay motors support, but I got the impression the second call was to one of those big offices that you call when your cell phone breaks. The support person, though respectful, had a problem being understood through his broken English, and he had problem understanding me. I was able to get out of the auction, but no more ebay car purchases for me. Still like looking at what's for sale on ebay, though...if there's ever a cool LOCAL car on ebay I might go through with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercer09 Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 James, very easy to get out of an ebay auction. dont call- dont reply- just go MIA. that is how ebay rolls! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54vicky Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 same shyt different problem here try to list an item then spend 20 minutes with a tech trying to find out why it keeps kicking me back saying I need to correct the same thing.then him telling me he likes cars.I spend more time telling his higher ups that I do not care if he likes cars I want o place an ad.that is what it is like here with our bay they call it kijiji I read they called it that to allow french language ads.I waited 2 weeks tryed again no problem go figure glad I was not in a hurry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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