Enduring — and Curing — eBuyer's Remorse

Maybe you're used to going into a shopping mall and purchasing something that you're not sure you like. What's the worst that could happen? You end up back at the mall, receipt in hand, returning the item. Not so on eBay. Even if you realize you already have a purple feather boa in your closet that's just like the one you won yesterday on eBay, deciding that you don't want to go through with a transaction is a big deal. Not only can it earn you some nasty feedback, but it can also give you the reputation of a deadbeat.

Floating around eBay with the equivalent of a scarlet D (for deadbeat) above your User ID would be a shame — literally. eBay uses a kinder term to describe the unfortunates souls who don't follow through with a transaction — non-paying bidders — but for many members, it boils down to the same thing. If you won an auction and have to back out of your obligation as the winner — even through no fault of your own — you need some info that can keep you in good (well, okay, better) standing. Look no further; you've found it.

Retracting your bid

Remember, many states consider your bid a binding contract, just like any other contract. You can't retract your bid unless one of these three outstandingly unusual circumstances applies:

• If your bid is clearly a typographical error (you submitted a bid for $4,567 when you really meant $45.67), you may retract your bid. If this occurs, you should reenter the correct bid amount immediately.

You won't get any sympathy if you try to retract an $18.25 bid by saying you meant to bid $15.25, so review your bid before you send it.

• You have tried to contact the seller to answer questions on the item, and he or she doesn't reply.

• If the seller substantially changes the description of an item after you place a bid (the description of the item changes from "can of tennis balls" to "a tennis ball," for example), you may retract your bid.

If you simply must retract a bid, try to do so long before the auction ends — and have a good reason for your retraction. eBay users are understanding, up to a point. If you have a good explanation, you should come out of the situation all right. So admit you've made a mistake.

If you've made an error, you must retract your bid prior to the last 12 hours of the auction. At this point, a retraction removes all bids you have placed in the auction. Mistakes or not, when you retract a bid that was placed within the last 12 hours of the listing, only the most recent bid you made is retracted — your bids placed prior to the last 12 hours are still active.

Here's how to retract a bid while the auction's still going on:

1. Click the Services link on the main navigation bar.

2. Go to the Buying and Selling Tools area.

Click the Go Directly to Buying and Selling Tools link.

3. Scroll down to Buyer Tools and click Retract My Bid.

You may have to sign in again; when you do, the Bid Retraction page appears.

4. Read the legalese and scroll down the page. Enter the item number of the auction you're retracting your bid from. Then open the drop-down menu and select one of the three legitimate reasons for retracting your bid.

5. Click the Retract Bid button.

You receive a confirmation of your bid retraction via e-mail. Keep a copy of it until the auction is completed.

The seller may send you an e-mail to ask for a more lengthy explanation of your retraction, especially if the item was a hot seller that received a lot of bids. You may also get e-mails from other bidders. Keep your replies courteous. After you retract one bid on an item, all your lower bids on that item are also retracted (unless the retraction is done within the last 12 hours), and your retraction goes into the bidding history — another good reason to have a really good reason for the retraction. The number of bids you've retracted also goes on your feedback-rating scorecard.

Avoiding the dreaded deadbeat status

Some bidders are more like kidders — they bid even though they have no intention of buying a thing. But those folks don't last long on eBay because of all the negative feedback they get. In fact, when honest eBay members spot these ne'er-do-wells, they often post the deadbeats' User IDs on eBay's message boards. Some eBay members have created entire Web sites to warn others about dealing with the deadbeats . . . ahem . . . non-paying bidders. (Civilized but chilly, isn't it?)

Exceptions to the deadbeat (er, sorry, non-paying bidder) rule may include the following human mishaps:

• A death in the family

• Computer failure

• A huge misunderstanding

If you have a good reason to call off your purchase, make sure that the seller knows about it. The seller is the only one who can excuse you from the sale.

If you receive a non-paying bidder warning but you've paid for the item, eBay requires proof of payment. That would include a copy of the check (front and back) or money order, a copy of the payment confirmation from PayPal (or other online payment service), or an e-mail from the seller acknowledging receipt of payment. If the seller excused you from the auction, you need to forward the e-mail with all headers.

• Fax hard copies to eBay at 888-379-6251.

• Mail copies of the documents to

eBay, Inc.

P.O. Box 1469

Bidder Appeal Dept.

Draper, UT 84020

• Send the e-mail via an online form. Go to the eBay appeals page, click the link to the online form, and plead your case.

Here's how to plead your case if you've received a non-paying bidder warning:

1. Click the Help link on the main navigation bar.

You're taken to the Help Overview page.

2. Click the Rules and Safety link in the subnavigation bar.

You're taken to the Rules & Safety Overview page.

3. Scroll down to the Policies heading and click the Non-Paying Bidder Policy link.

You're taken to the Non-Paying Bidder Program page, where you can read eBay's policy and instructions on how to make an appeal.

4. Scroll down the page and click the Non-Paying Bidder Appeal Form link.

You're taken to the Non-Paying Bidder Appeal form.

5. Sign In again.

For your security, this is an additional sign-in area.

6. In the Message box, write the reasons for your appeal and include the following information:

• The transaction number for the item

• Any supporting information you have to plead your case

7. Review the information you've given. If you have to change anything you've written, click the Clear All Data button and start over.

8. Click the Send Inquiry button.

All done. Now sit back and cross your fingers.

There's no guarantee that your non-paying bidder appeal will be accepted. eBay will contact you after an investigation and let you know whether your appeal was successful.

eBay has a message for non-paying bidders: The policy is three strikes and you're out. After the first complaint about a non-paying (deadbeat) bidder, eBay gives the bad guy or gal a warning. After the third offense, the non-paying bidder is suspended from eBay for good and becomes NARU (Not A Registered User). Nobody's tarred and feathered, but you probably won't see hide nor hair of that user again on eBay.