Ebay bid, not sure I want it now...

[spaced]

Ive out in a max bid of �10 for an item on Ebay. I have now seen it in the shops for the same pricem but unused obviously. Some one has come in with a bid for �9.50. Is it illegal or unethical or even out of order to contact the other bidder and say, I dont really want it anymore, bid �10.01 and you will be winning the bid and hopefully win the item. Can I, shall I? Is there a way to retract my bid?

[ugly_bob]

You entered a legal contract when you entered your original �10 bid. It's no-one else's fault that you can get it cheaper elsewhere.

Can't really see a problem with contacting the other bidder. Seller will benefit from greater price. Other bidder might decide not to increase bid just to annoy you though ;-)

[Cockney_si]

You should be able to retract the bid yes but not sure how much time you have to do it.

I've listed stuff on ebay before and people have retracted the bids. Sure if you look on the help pages it shoudl tell you how.

[sweetdor]

u can retract a bid but you need the long item number usually at the top right of the page ...if you put in a search for bid retraction you then can go through with it from there

[spaced]

i have just checked - you can only retract a bid if: -

You make a typographical error and enter the wrong bid amount. For instance, you bid �99.50 instead of �9.95. If this happens, enter the correct bid amount immediately after you retract your bid. If you do not place another bid, the retraction will be in violation of eBay's policy and could result in your suspension. Please review the retraction guidelines if you need to retract your bid.

The description of an item you have bid on changed significantly after you placed your bid.

You cannot contact the seller. This means that you tried to call the seller, but their phone number doesn't work, or that you have tried emailing a message to the seller and it comes back undeliverable.

I feel bad contacting the fellow bidder, he might tell me to eff off!

[joko]

just do it.

whats the worst that can happen? if they say no - so what?

they may be glad you did, as they may really want the item but think you want it more.

i am also sure the seller would rather that than you not paying or retracting your bid

its only a shop - there are no laws that say offering the item to another shopper is against the law.

if it comes down to it you can always sell the item again yourself.

[Mattk]

but he will get negative feedback.

[joko]

from who?

the seller won't care because they will still get the money and the buyer won't because they win the item they wanted

besides you can only get neg from people you actually buy from or sell to, not just from bidding

who exactly loses out here?