Pete,

You are right, we both have bruised heads from arguing this before, and I don't recall anything being accomplished. Since I'm not an attorney, I don't feel comfortable arguing this any further.

I will say, however, that the truth probably is one of these two options:

1. eBay is well aware of the inconsistancies you point in their User Agreement and Rules & Procedures, regarding a seller's right to change his mind and withdraw and item, but prefers not to enforce the prohibition against this practice contained in the User Agreement, due to a major lack of "balls".

2. Based upon the guidance of their legal staff, and their original intention when drafting the User Agreement and Rules & Procedures, eBay staff feels that a seller does have the right to withdraw a listing.

Again, I do not take the position that what this seller did is good business practice, or something that I would ever be comfortable doing. I do maintain that he has the right to do so, however.

It's one thing to say that a particular rule should be changed, it is another thing entirely to say that eBay's rules are unclear on the matter. To me, they are perfectly clear.