"Is it petulant to report shill bidding?" Topic

So I lost another auction today. For the same item. Assuming the code that hides other bidder's names does not create a differnt hidden name for each item you bid on then I just got outbid by the same person again… for the same item from the ame person.

To be honest I was supicious after the first auction when exactly the same item was re-listed.

Now that the same person appears to have won it again I'm 99% sure shill bidding is going on.

First item, only two bids. I lost with seconds to spare:

auction

Second item, 6 bids but 3 bidders, I was winning until the last few seconds when the same chap for item 1 bids and wins:
auction

Yes. It's remotely possible the seller has two of the same and the winner wanted them both times. But really?

So now I'm hacked off having spent time bidding and watching for the same item twice. I could have bid more but but I set my limit. It appears I'm the only one other than the owner prepared to spend that much anyway.

You know the ebay rules, if you think it has a higher value start there or place a reserve, otherwise let the market dictate.

I bid a second time as I wanted the figures, but it appears the bloke is never going to sell so may as well report him for breach of policy. It just feels a bit petulant though. Not that it will stop me of course, I'll just agonise over it then tell you to get it off my chest.

Job done. I feel better already.

Look again. They are not the same lot. One has prone figures. You probably just got sniped.

Allen

I thought shill bidding was to drive the price up.
If your accusation stands, the buyer has to pay double e-bay fees, and still hasn't sold anything. I'm pretty sure that is a bad business decisions…

Allen, good spot, I hadn't even noticed that. Yeap, looks likes just sniped.

Oops, sorry. Nothing to see here, move along.

The best way to win on ebay is to drink heavily before you bid. Works for me but not the wife

Wait till feedback is left then you can usually check the sellers completed auctions – that is the only way you can see who has won the auctions (that I know of) – in fact you should be able to pick up the user off the last auction you mentioned? Check his feedback and investigate further……

Oops, didn't see the 2nd post

I never like that happening when I'm bidding, but it happens.

Allen

That is the reason why I almost always bid the full amount I am willing to pay the first time, and if it goes for more too bad.

First time I ever bid on anything on Ebay I ended up in a bidding war and now have h a set of Russian rifle men for I period I have never played, and in the 10 years I have had them, never used them. Lucky I did not spend much money on them, but I did learn my lession.

Before ebay hid the names of bidders I'm certain I had the seller bidding against me as the user name was very similar to the seller's user name and had joined that week. Luckily my highest bid was also the lowest and only bid and the seller/shiller withdrew their winning bid immediately. I don't remember I reported it but I got some cheap items so I probably let it go.
I have to say, though, that as a seller I really despise the bid snipe things. Better for the bidders who use them I know, but I don't like seeing 10 bids in the last second and the bidder who had been winning for 4 1/12 days losing out at the last second. Just me being weird I suppose.