- How do I find out how my auction ended?
- Auction results are available on the original item's description screen, for up to 30 days after the scheduled close of the auction. If you have the item number, you can use the search feature to look up the item directly. Even if you've lost the item number, the same search feature will let you look up the item by name. You can also use the item's direct URL, which was included in your listing or bidding confirmation.
- What do I do if I can't contact the seller/buyer by e-mail?
- If you are both registered users, you can
ask AuctionWeb to send each of you both persons' contact information.
One e-mail message will be sent to both of you containing the contact
information each user entered when he/she registered. This information
is for use only in handling AuctionWeb-related matters. Follow this
link to the AuctionWeb user query page. If one
of you is not a registered user, there is nothing we can do that you could
not do yourself, unfortunately. For example, you might try contacting the
user's service provider, or using a search engine to track down the name and
location of the user.
- How can I stop an auction immediately?
- Sellers can stop their auction immediately from the Seller Services
section of the Main menu. You will need your item number and private item password.
- I made a mistake when listing my item. What should I do?
- You can either add to your item's description, or change its category, or you can end the auction immediately and begin a new one. All options are available on the Sellers menu.
- What if the seller doesn't want to sell anymore?
- Although this does not happen that frequently, since normally sellers are eager to sell their
merchandise, it can be disappointing when it happens. If the seller is a registered user, and
you have received confirmation that they do indeed want to back out of the sale, then please
let us know. Sellers will lose their registered
status if the refuse to sell.
Keep in mind that many people don't access their e-mail daily, so they may not be
intentionally ignoring you if you don't hear from them. Use our user query form to get
personal contact information.
- What if the high-bidder doesn't want to buy anymore?
- If you've been unable to contact the high-bidder, even after requesting their personal
contact information, then you may move on to the next bidders.
If there are other bidders for your item, you can contact them in the order in which they
appear in your item's bidding history. Please be sure to allow at least three business days before moving
on to the next bidder.
The complete bidding history of any auction is always available, via a link
from the item's description page. You can use the search page to look up an item by number.
Keep in mind that many people don't access their e-mail daily, so they may not be
intentionally ignoring you if you don't hear from them. Use our user query form to get
personal contact information.
If all efforts to sell your item fail, request a credit for the listing fee due.
- I've lost my item's password. What do I do?
- As part of the daily e-mail update you receive every morning, each item's password is listed. If you lost your original confirmation message, please refer to one of your update messages, or wait until tomorrow to receive the next update message.
- How do I pay eBay?
- Every day one of your auction ends, you will receive an advisory notice about the listing fee that was added to your account for that auction. You do not have to pay this fee right away, since many of our sellers use AuctionWeb for more than one auction. Instead, on the First day of each month, an e-mail invoice is sent to each account with a balance from the prior month. You have until the 28th to pay that invoice.
The easiest way to maintain good standing with eBay is to open your AuctionWeb account with a VISA or MasterCard. (Follow the preceeding link for complete information and instructions.) If you do not have a VISA or MasterCard, you may pay by check or money order, by following the mailing instructions included in the invoice.
- How do I put pictures in my listings?
- This is how you would add an image to your item decription.
- First, the image format must be .bmp, .jpg or .gif for most browsers to
"see" it. For photos, .jpg works best at small quick-loading files, and for
logo type graphics, use .gif. Your image software probably handles this
format; if not a good easy shareware program for PCs is LViewPro (Paint
Shop Pro is even better, especially if you use your digital camera a lot --
it's excellent at "tweaking" images) -- try www.shareware.com.
- Second -- you have to get the image uploaded to a server. If you already
have a webpage, storage space, and understand FTP, this is easy. If not,
then this is a problem...you might be able to get a Web page thru your ISP.
You may also be able to receive help from Jane at pongo@ptialaska.net!
She has offered to host images and to help users set up the proper html
coding for a price. You must have a digitized image that you can email to
her. eBay cannot be held liable for this third-party service, but it may be
an option for you.
- Finally, you must add HTML coding to your description, showing the
entire "path" back to the internet address where the image is located. Here
is an example:
<img src=http://www.ptialaska.net/~pongo/computers/drive.gif>
You can also simply put the URL http://www.ptialaska.net/~pongo/computers/drive.gif in the field
called "Picture URL" when you initially create your listing.
- What do I do about duplicate listings?
- Some users have reported that their listings have been duplicated during submission. This usually happens because the server was very busy during submission, and the user canceled the first submission to try again. Regardless of how it happened, you will want to eliminate the duplicate listing.
To do so, use the Sellers menu to end your auction early. You will need your item password to end the auction. You may have to wait until you receive your daily update via e-mail, which contains all the item passwords for items you are currently selling.
- Why doesn't my listing show up right away?
- Your direct URL will be enabled immediately, but the index pages are only update
once per hour.
- Why did my listing disappear?
- If the e-mail address you entered is invalid, or if there is a problem in delivering
the confirmation message that is automatically sent when you place a listing, your
listing will be automatically removed.
- Why did my bid disappear?
- If the e-mail address you entered is invalid, or if there is a problem in delivering
the confirmation message that is automatically sent when you place a bid, your
listing will be automatically removed.
- Why did I show up as high bidder again after I was outbid?
- This happens if the bidder who outbid you entered an invalid e-mail address, and the bid could not be verified.
- Every time I make a bid, it says I was outbid immediately. What's wrong?
- Actually, there is nothing wrong. What is happening is that an earlier bidder specified
a maximum bid higher than the maximum you just specified. When you confirmed your bid, the other bidder's
"proxy" immediately placed a bid on his behalf, just enough to outbid your maximum, to ensure his
position as high bidder. When you place a bid with a maximum high enough to outbid all other bidders,
your proxy will protect your position in the same way.
- Why does it still say I am an unregistered user?
- After filling out the registration form, you will be sent a confirmation message
via e-mail. You must follow the instructions in that message to complete your registration.
This process ensures that your e-mail address is correct and functional. Please allow
at least thirty minutes to receive your confirmation message. You'll need to
confirm your registration with the information you receive via e-mail, using
this confirmation form.
- I never confirmed my registration. What should I do?
- If you never confirmed your registration by following the instructions given to you via e-mail, you will need to get those instructions again. (The e-mail message contains a special password you will use with the this confirmation form to show that you do in fact control the e-mail address you used to register.)
To get another copy of the registration information and special password, simply go back to the original registration form and enter only your e-mail address. You will be sent another e-mail message with instructions on confirming your registration.
- I have forgotten my user password. What do I do?
- You'll have to request a new password, which will be sent to you via e-mail. See the Registered User Services page for more options.
- How do I change my e-mail address?
- Unfortunately, you cannot change your e-mail address for any current AuctionWeb activity. You'll have to become a registered user under your new e-mail address and begin using it for your new activitiy. Our system treats each e-mail address as if it were a different person, so you should be sure that any payments that may need to be made are credited to the correct account.
In order to keep your feedback rating, please see our form on changing your e-mail address.
- How do I change my address or phone number?
- We now have an online form which you can use to view or modify your registered user information. The form is on our Registered User Services menu, or you can access it directly by using this link.
- Can I increase my maximum bid after I've placed a bid?
- Yes. Simply place a new bid with your new maximum. You won't be bidding against yourself,
so there is no need to worry.
In Dutch auctions new bids must have a higher value than previous bids. The value of the bid is determined by multiplying the amount bid by the number of items bid for. Reducing this total value in subsequent bids is not permitted, and your new bid will be rejected.
- Why is my Dutch auction bid not being accepted?
- In Dutch auctions new bids must have a higher value than previous bids. The value of the bid is determined by multiplying the amount bid by the number of items bid for. Reducing this total value in subsequent bids is not permitted, and your new bid will be rejected.
This rule protects sellers from unscrupulous bidders who bid for the entire quantity, thereby discouraging other bidders from participating, and then reduce their quantity at the last minute.
- Can I reduce or retract my bid once it has been placed?
- No. As stated several times during the bidding process, bids cannot be retracted. The problem is that you are disrupting the auction and possible causing financial harm to the seller if you back out of your bid. Please read the AuctionWeb Rules for complete information.
However, there are certain legitimate cases where a bid retraction may be appropriate. Please see this document for more information.
- Can I change my item's description or category?
- Sellers can add to their items' descriptions or change the category at any time. Please see our Seller
Services section.
- Can I change my item's starting price or quantity?
- Unfortunately, the initial parameters of an auction, such as starting price, quantity, or reserve price, cannot be changed once the auction is underway. You should carefully verify your listing before placing it. If necessary, you should end your auction right away and place a new listing. The non-refundable insertion fee cannot be credited just because you made an error in your listing.
- I was very pleased/unhappy dealing with someone; what should I do?
- If you'd like to give some public feedback, positive or negative, on another AuctionWeb registered user, you
can do so using our new user feedback feature. More information about this feature is available in our Registered
User Services section.
If you are making a complaint about someone, please try to resolve the conflict with that person directly before using the user feedback forum.
- What if my buyer backs out? Do I still owe a listing fee?
- If you are unable to sell your item after contacting all the
bidders, you may be eligible for a credit of the listing fee. Please
see our credit request form for more
information.
- Why is there a star next to a user's name?
- For users with a feedback rating of more than ten, a star is listed next to
their name. A user receives one point for every positive comment and loses
one point for every negative comment in their feedback profile. Remember, you can
click on the star or the number next to the user's name to see all the feedback
comments.
![[AuctionWeb]](aw.gif){kind=small}
![[eBay Internet]](ebay.gif){kind=small}
Copyright © 1995-1997 eBay Inc.