Shill Bidding?

[barrydixon]

Hi,

I bid on an item last week and was the highest bidder for pretty well the whole auction. I had put quite a high maximum bid in and the high bid was quite a bit lower than my maximum up to a few minutes before the end of the auction then another user came in and outbid me. The item was re-listed later the same day with the seller saying that it was because of non-payment. I bid on the item again and the same thing happened, with the same user as before outbidding me at the last minute. This seems very suspicious to me. Why would a user bid on the same item twice if they don't want it?

The seller had a Buy Now price with a low auction start price and I suspect when the bidding wasn't getting anywhere near the Buy Now price the seller didn't want to sell at the lower price so put in a high bid on another account. Does this sound likely?

[cornishmaid1961]

This does sound rather strange to have this happen twice. I would report this to support giving them both the item numbers and let them investigate. support@eBid.net

[billsstamps]

It also happens when a seller decides they do not want to sell for the price bid. In any case, report.

[barrydixon]

Thanks, I'll do that

[barrydixon]

It also happens when a seller decides they do not want to sell for the price bid. In any case, report.

I thought they could put a reserve price on it, or at least set the starting price to the lowest price they will accept.

It's just a waste of time for buyers if people do this and if they are bidding against themselves with another account isn't that against eBid rules?

I see that practice as fraudulent. If my bid was, say, £150 and the highest but I had put a maximum in of £400, if they then bid on it they could boost the price up to £400 so on winning the auction I would end up paying £400 whereas if they hadn't boosted the price themselves I would have got it for £150.

I'm new to eBid and if that is the sort of practice that goes on I don't think I'll bother.

[sidthelamp]

I thought they could put a reserve price on it, or at least set the starting price to the lowest price they will accept.

It's just a waste of time for buyers if people do this and if they are bidding against themselves with another account isn't that against eBid rules?

I see that practice as fraudulent. If my bid was, say, £150 and the highest but I had put a maximum in of £400, if they then bid on it they could boost the price up to £400 so on winning the auction I would end up paying £400 whereas if they hadn't boosted the price themselves I would have got it for £150.

I'm new to eBid and if that is the sort of practice that goes on I don't think I'll bother.

no seller or buyer can have two accounts on ebid unless its for very good reasons and they need to apply for it through management , if you think a auction has been shilled or ring fenced you should give the details to ebid.

[cornishmaid1961]

I thought they could put a reserve price on it, or at least set the starting price to the lowest price they will accept.

It's just a waste of time for buyers if people do this and if they are bidding against themselves with another account isn't that against eBid rules?

I see that practice as fraudulent. If my bid was, say, £150 and the highest but I had put a maximum in of £400, if they then bid on it they could boost the price up to £400 so on winning the auction I would end up paying £400 whereas if they hadn't boosted the price themselves I would have got it for £150.

I'm new to eBid and if that is the sort of practice that goes on I don't think I'll bother.

eBid take action straight away if there is a case of shill bidding. Someone's account was closed only a couple of months ago because of that very reason. Management here take it very seriously that is why I said you should report it to be investigated. Shill bidding can happen on any auction site, not just eBid , at least here you can be assured that action would be taken.

[barrydixon]

no seller or buyer can have two accounts on ebid unless its for very good reasons and they need to apply for it through management , if you think a auction has been shilled or ring fenced you should give the details to ebid.

It's simple to create a second account. As a test I've just created a second account and it went through fine.

I have reported it to eBid so I'll see what they do.

[cornishmaid1961]

It's simple to create a second account. As a test I've just created a second account and it went through fine.

I have reported it to eBid so I'll see what they do.

I would advise you to close the second account pronto if you haven't asked permission because you might find yourself locked out of eBid altogether !

[MPS16]

It's simple to create a second account. As a test I've just created a second account and it went through fine.

I have reported it to eBid so I'll see what they do.

do w se you ?