Shill bidding

[Khyber]

How does one know if an ebay dealer has put in a shill bid..?

I have bid on an item which is slowly being bid up 2 GBP at a time and shown as 'private listing' ...in another post a member had pointed out a similar practice by dealers ...how does one know ? Do I send a message to the dealer pointing this out ....

[altcar73]

Originally Posted by Khyber

How does one know if an ebay dealer has put in a shill bid..?

I have bid on an item which is slowly being bid up 2 GBP at a time and shown as 'private listing' ...in another post a member had pointed out a similar practice by dealers ...how does one know ? Do I send a message to the dealer pointing this out ....

Difficult. Personally I am loath to put a bid on an item where the seller has set up his sale as a "private" auction. I regularly sell on eBay and I can't for the life of me understand why eBay have such a facility. I've never had any desire to use it and can't think of an occasion when I would need to. So, what are they trying to hide? In fairness to your particular dealer, there are individuals who are inveterate "nibblers" and simply put repeat small bids on (I think) because they have nothing else to amuse themselves with.

Dave.

[Khyber]

I've just noticed that all the bids on the items put up by the bidder are by private listed bidders ....

[Frank Kelley]

I should buy elsewhere if I were you.

Originally Posted by Khyber

How does one know if an ebay dealer has put in a shill bid..?

I have bid on an item which is slowly being bid up 2 GBP at a time and shown as 'private listing' ...in another post a member had pointed out a similar practice by dealers ...how does one know ? Do I send a message to the dealer pointing this out ....

[MH331]

The answer is to put on the max bid you are prepared to pay then leave it until end of auction and not worry about it. Everything has a different value to different people but we all generally have a limit so shill bidding or not you either get it for the price you want to pay or not.

regards

Mark

[btns]

Go to his feedback and look at his recent auctions.
If you find a similar pattern, then you have a shill bidding seller.
It is possible to withdraw a bid.

[Phil2M]

Let them win and you will likely get a second chance offer sent. I ignore them when they do and wait for it to be relisted. Then only snipe bid on it.

[Khyber]

Thanks all,
I will wait and see. Not a must-have item and I have put the maximum I am willing to pay.. so will not lose sleep either way..

[Sonofacqms]

If I see a "private listing" I tend to steer clear, it's open to shill bidding, but if I desperately need the item I put in a maximum bid, if I get it ok, if not who cares . . !

Rob

[NEMO]

Originally Posted by MH331

The answer is to put on the max bid you are prepared to pay then leave it until end of auction and not worry about it. Everything has a different value to different people but we all generally have a limit so shill bidding or not you either get it for the price you want to pay or not.

regards

Mark

best bit of advice ever - I used to get so wound up chasing bids now I put one bid on if i win I win make a calm reasonable judgment what your willing to pay then leave it .

[irish]

I have noticed this recently on a number of auctions that have interested me. Private listings or bidders are a red flag for me. I will go in and look at the bidders recent bids particularly with this seller and will also look at the bid retractions. It is curious that there seems to be a correlation. In the many years in which I have used eBay not once have I retracted a bid. Certain individuals have numerous retractions and within a shorter history. This is a signpost to me that something is a miss.

[Alex Rice]

What is shill bidding?

[Alan O]

When the seller of an auction item bids on his own item to drive the price up using a second ebay account.

[Peter Brydon]

It is actually not illegal in sales of property ( i.e. buildings and Land ) by public auction, when the vendor in the terms and conditions of the sale, reserves the right himself, or through his agent , to bid up to the reserve price.

Now whether you take the view that that is morally wrong or not is another matter.

P.B.

[norfolk regt man]

Originally Posted by Alan O

When the seller of an auction item bids on his own item to drive the price up using a second ebay account.

I sell items on ebay for other people, but if I want them for myself I have to bid like everyone else, so as a fair price is payed to the owner.