If “yourgmdealer” didn’t have these, their feedback would be 33%. Ouch.

“eBay has no tolerance for this sort of behavior (the two high bidders in these auctions have been banned – for life – from eBay)”

???

Given recent posts about journalistic standards, I think maybe you should research exactly what happens in the real world of eBay transactions.

Because that ‘no tolerance’ claim gets blown out of the water completely by citing only 1 policy: the Unpaid Item Strike appeal. It’s well known that NPBs get a 1st time free pass. No consequences whatsoever.
Clearly, eBay has some tolerance for the practice since they allow every user id (notice I didn’t say person!) an opportunity to sport bid without paying. And they get AT LEAST 3 more chances (strikes) after that before eBay even bothers to begin suspension.

Unless the bidder is unlucky enough to be the high bidder on a high profile item.

Gee, that’s tough for them. Now they’ll have to sign up again for new IDs so they can continue their actions.

If you say “doesn’t happen” you’re dreaming.

I am going to be charitable and continue thinking that you are not very knowledgeable on the actualities of doing business on eBay.

The only difference between those two auctions and the thousands of listings which result in Non Paying Bidders (NPB) annually on eBay is that they were high dollar and high profile.

Unless and until eBay institutes some form of buyer identity verification, banning for life does not work. Sellers blocking individual buyers from bidding or purchasing does not work. They just go get another eBay ID.

I have had previously blocked buyers complete a second NPB transaction on a new ID, and then they get to leave feedback. Their address was already in my database with their old (blocked) ID. Despite notifying eBay, because this is a NARUable offense nothing was done.

Sadly, the tone here is not high. eBay had a seller who had faith in the platform. Why didn’t eBay step in and help the woman, proactively, when it became a high profile listing? How many listings garner million dollar bids? Really?

What would lead you to believe that the little old lady from Beverly Hills reads your blog? eBay Media department will get back to you within three days earns a communication DSR of 1 in my book.

Sheeesh!

When I do a live auction, once in a blue moon, a winning bidder will immediately say, “NO, that was a mistake, I wanted to be out”.

I will offer it to the under-bidder for the amount of their last bid, but if they decline, I will not put it back on the block again, that night, because it has just been de-valued.

Good on eBay for banning these deadbeat bidders, this is not a game for most of us.

Thanks for putting some perspective on such an important issue.

“eBay has no tolerance for this sort of behavior (the two high bidders in these auctions have been banned – for life – from eBay) and because placing a bid enters someone into a legal, binding contract, the consequences might not end there.”

In the 8+ years I have been selling on eBay this behavior has been tolerated and very little has been done about. 5-10% of our auctions go unpaid every month. eBay does very little to prevent this and upaid auctions has been a huge problem for years.

Obviously eBay only takes strong action against deadbeat buyers when unpaid auctions get media attention. What about the sellers who on selling on the platform every day for years????