Originally posted by JeffJS You can end an auction anytime you want. Typically though, you would cancel all bids before doing so. As it stands, the seller is obligated by ebay's rules to sell the camera to the top bidder at that price. It probably won't happen that way but there IS a winner and the seller has left himself open to negative feedback doing it the way he did. The winner also, is not obligated to pay anymore for the camera and a reasonable shipping price (just in case the seller ended early to avoid higher commission fees by ebay).
Ebay restricts changes to auction listings in one of two circumstances. A description may not change (other than adding to it) if there are Bids, or if the auction has less than 12 hours (I think) remaining. You can End an auction however up to the last seconds.
3500
That's not quite correct. You can end the auction at any time with no assumptions, EXCEPT within 24 hours of auctions end. I've listed a lot of local even tickets on ebay simultaneously as StubHub and Craigslist and cancelled before the 24 hour deadline due to it selling elseware. I always post this in my listings as a courtesy, and always provide a Buy-It-Now price, however.
You can also not end an auction within the last 24 hours if it has bids, unless you cancel them.
eBay changes all the time. I hate selling on there now, because no matter when you request funds from auctions end, the buyer has 7 days to pay before you are able to get refunded for listing fees. There is also no way to leave buyers negative feedback. It's positive or none. Ridiculous.