The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

bigal · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject: Shill bidding?

I understand the basics of shill bidding but don't the seller face buying back alot of his machines

Would seem to add alot to his cost basis between listing and final fees.

I've noticed items sell and then seller has it relisted so assume shill bid won the item.

I myself then refuse to consider placing a bid or even watching item.
Having said that if it's really rare I then consider it a retail priced item and have to determine a maximum price I'd pay.

I'd really rather just avoid the item--just subborn

_________________
While you're resting

Sandman · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Shill bidding?

tmuir · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

The seller gets out of the fees by cancelling the sale which you can do without penalty if both buyer and seller agrees on it, which obviously they would if it was the same person.
_________________
http://www.freewebs.com/ozsteam/index.htm
http://members.iinet.net.au/~tmuir1/

A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

Nick · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject:

What is the best way to spot shill bidders on ebay?

bessytractor · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

you can't easily now that Ebay have prevented peeps from viewing detailed item bid history.
_________________
burning fingers since 1989!

johnreid · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject:

There is no easy way to prove it however I do know of a few instances where friends did it to keep an item from selling too cheap ( one time was a $3000 guitar that had $50 on it with 30 seconds left and his shill friend was the winning bidder at $51 it would have been devastating if the guitar sold that cheap, a good reason for a reserve ) However most often it is a ploy to get more for an item.
Ebay is where many people have an opportunity to both show their best side and their worst side. The anonymity allows people to do all kinds of things.
_________________
Your life is an occasion...Rise to it

paul_c · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:01 am Post subject:

Some people have very few morals and as was said previous the tight ***&&&%%$$ should use a reserve. Unless of course Ebay knock reserves on the head.
_________________
You can justify buying anything if you try hard enough

johnreid · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:34 am Post subject:

He listed the guitar again a few weeks later and got a little over the $3000. To be honest, I probably would have done something like that if it was me as taking a loss of three thousand dollars would be a killer.
I really do not know why people sometimes dont bid on auctions that have a reserve, when I do a reserve auction I usually tell what the reserve is in the description. Just like a low starting price will get the ball rolling, but puts a lot of risk for the seller and the low starting price isnt always to avoid Ebay fees..
_________________
Your life is an occasion...Rise to it

Mister Occlusion · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:51 am Post subject:

In the end all you can do is bid no more than you want to pay. Of course I've paid more than I had to for a number of items because at the time I did not know how rare they *weren't* or did not have the patience to wait for the right one.

Nothing to do with shill bidding in my case(s), though. Just personal stupidity.

But still, if it's not a one of a kind item, wait for another to come by.

They always will..
_________________

Gingerly prodding the envelope since 2007.

logoman · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

I think Shill bidding is relatively rare.

Wallace · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

I agree with Mark. Only bid what you are happy to pay.

I get suspicious when I place a bid on, then you see another bidder putting on small bids, repeatedly, until they beat your bid.

I had that happen once, and that bidder ended up winning the item. A few days later it was relisted due to the reason of non paying bidder. I looked at the NPB's feedback, and nothing was left, so I say a shill bidder.

Used to see shill bidding a bit, and possibly it's increased since the hidden bidder system.

Closest you can come to checking is click on the bidder, and check the bid activity with this seller %.
_________________

http://www.freewebs.com/mamodsteam/