Is it time for eBay to ban Private Bidders and Private Feedback?

braddick

I don't have an opinion either way, right now- but I'm curious what you think. Should eBay put a stop to auctions that allow the Seller to keep the Bidders ID's private?

How about Private Feedback. Why?
Should it also be eliminated?

ajaan

I think many 'private' feedbacks are used by people buying 'mature' items.

gmarguli

Private auctions should be allowed for certain areas - such as the adult items. It is rarely needed for items outside this area, but I have used it once or twice in the past.

Personally, I'd like it if other users couldn't ever see what I am bidding on. I'd like the feedback to be without the auction number.

ARCO

Don't know if they should have to ban it. Don't like the private auctions? Then one should just avoid them. For me, it seems like a haven for Shill bidding and is nothing less than a way to insure a coin sells for a given price without the buyer knowing the difference. Have never used it as it seems suspect for me, but if there were a given coin I liked, and I knew the market price, I would just bid what I felt comfortable paying, knowing that Shill bidding could be taking place.

Tyler

Dog97

Private auctions is what keeps message board posters from "harrassing" & "interfering with" the bidders and lets the seller complete the sale on overgraded, overpriced, AT, fake, and altered coin listings with bad pictures & typos.

Barry

I can understand the desire to have private bidders, however, anyone who bids on an auction in which the seller has private feedback is a fool.

braddick

What if the Seller has Private Feedback but the feedback count is perfect?

airplanenut

I think private feedback should have a breakdown of feedbacks, and the number of original (vs. repeat) feedbacks...

For private auctions, there should be an extra fee and eBay should monitor to be sure no shill bidding occurs.

Jeremy

Tootawl

I don't think it's anyone else's business what I or anyone else buys on Ebay. I have never liked the idea that anyone can look up my name and see what auctions I have won. I think all auctions should be private bidders. I believe that Feedback should list the feedback and not what the person bought.

BSqr

why are so many people interested in what others are doing?

Edited to add: I don't really care one way or the other

braddick

<< <i>I don't think it's anyone else's business what I or anyone else buys on Ebay. I have never liked the idea that anyone can look up my name and see what auctions I have won. I think all auctions should be private bidders. I believe that Feedback should list the feedback and not what the person bought. >>


But there is still a way for others to view what you've purchased (and, what you're bidding on) even if your feedback is private.
(Click under SEARCH on the main page. Click then 'bidders' and enter. Even with private feedback, the coins that bidder (or 'seller' if you were to click on that) are available for viewing.)

ANACONDA

My eBay rating is visible and i don't buy mature stuff. Just kid stuff.

I also, from time to time, sell things in private auctions. I would probably sell stuff in private auctions every time if i could remember to do so.

My thinking is multifarious. First of all, i spend a great deal of time selling my coins. I don't particularly like hooking up with a good customer
by selling him something or several thousands of dollars worth of stuff just to let every Tom Dick and Harry know about it and then contact
him, which happens.

Secondly, i think some buyers would like to remain anonymous. Like me. How often do you think i get something for a reasonable price
using my name "anaconda.rare.coins"?

Lastly, i think it is ok for me to sell my items on eBay, running them as private auctions. Did you ever go to a coin auction where people hold up their names instead of a number? Uh.....no. Why? Because not everyone who is buying a forty thousand dollar coin (or whatever) wants everyone else to know about it.

adrian

gsaguy

Multifarious....now that's a five dollar word.

GSAGUY

ANACONDA

A good vocabulary is epiphenominaly acquired by the college educated, as you know, Mr. Geologist.

Nice lookin' Morgan ya' got thar.

Tonekiller

Boys!

redhott

Private auctions, private feedback do me no harm. Why should I care what others do???

DesertLizard

Private auctions from unknown sellers are a haven for shill bidding. I avoid them.

Barry

<< <i>What if the Seller has Private Feedback but the feedback count is perfect? >>


Why would anyone hide a perfect feedback record?

Outhaul

<< <i>Why would anyone hide a perfect feedback record? >>



To hide items they have won. I believe a person's FB should be shown, but not the numbers of the items won. I also don't feel you should be able to search on items a particular buyer has bid or is presently bidding on.

Cheers,

Bob

Barry

Outhaul - another solution to that is have different IDs for buying and selling.

jeffnpcb

eBay, Heritage, Teletrade and other auctions should allow private bidding. Last night, Anaconda had a coin with 1 bid of $66,000! Why would you need to know who that individual is and why is he buying that coin! When you are bidding on an item, it is generally one you want or need to fill your set. Make up your mind on the coin, the price your willing to pay and sit back and wait! If it is a buy back{shill bidder}, it is self defeating to beat the bid, just wait for the day that another one is offered. There are plenty of auctions, just start looking elsewhere for a coin you need!

ANACONDA

If you want to know whether or not someone engages in shill bidding, do the following: become friends with the guy who you suspect. After you have become friends, ask him if he would like you to bid on any of his items. He'll either tell you yes or no.

Friends have asked me if i want them to bid on my stuff. I always tell them the same thing. If you want to buy it, bid on it, but don't try to do me any favors. Being straight up is the best way to be seen as a straight up guy. By the way, people lose their right to be a part of the eBay community by engaging in immoral and unethical behavior. I don't engage in immoral and unethical behavior for several reasons, one of which is that i'm not sure i'm smart enough or knowledgeable enough to know how to cover my tracks or even where my tracks are laid. Notice the lack of sophistication in my eBay listings? I know what cookies are and what HTML is but i'm not interested in getting kicked off eBay because of something stupid i've done that regards some nuance of cookies or HTML. I sell lots and lots of coins without engaging in unethical behavior. (Just thought you'ld like to know, unequivocally.)

My suspicions are most shill bidders are eventually exposed. I would never engage in shill bidding because the shill who bids for you then has you by the uh....balls. It's the same reason why i get all my personal injury cases the legal way, through advertising, as opposed to using runners. I sleep better at night and i know that i'm winning the game by playing by the rules.

By the way, i'm as interested to know whether or not that bidder on that 66K coin is "real", as you are. Sometimes "kids" like to see their eBay name on an expensive item. Running a private auction hopefully decreases that temptation. (I won't know who he or she is until the auction ends.) Also, some people, for whatever reasons, like to get eBay names and just go out on a rampage, hitting the buy it now on many expensive itesm. Running an expensive auction without a buy it now helps but all items in my eBay store essentially have a buy it now, but getting to an ebay store isn't as straightforward (or as visible) as stuff listed in eBay itself.

adrian

jeffnpcb

I wish I could get to the point in life I could bid on your items! After visiting your sites, I have to mop the floor and clean the computer desk! Didn't realize I looked like Homer Simpson at the donut counter!

ANACONDA

Hey Jeff! Thanks for the indirect compliment. I'll take 'em anyway i can get 'em!

Envy isn't something that goes away just because you have some dough, as i'm sure you know. I see "things" all the time that i drool over or can't afford. I want a 21 year old girlfriend and my wife just won't go for it, and believe me, i certainly can't afford a 21 year old girlfriend.

Happiness for me, is learning to be happy with what i've got. I must admit, though, i am indeed extremely fortunate and blessed in so many ways. I have most of my health, my wife is a gem, my kids are above average and i do indeed have some cool stuff. Just a few good decisions and plenty of help from many people as well as God's grace and mercy are to blame.

adrian

keithdagen

I want a 21 year old girlfriend and my wife just won't go for it, and believe me, i certainly can't afford a 21 year old girlfriend.

Knowing several girls in the 21-23 range at my singles group at church, I can safely say that I wouldn't trade my coins for any one of them. Much better to wait until they have matured a bit.

gmarguli

i'm not interested in getting kicked off eBay because of something stupid i've done that regards some nuance of cookies or HTML. I sell lots and lots of coins without engaging in unethical behavior.

Don't worry. You're a Power Seller. They can engage in shill activities without fear of eBay. You just can't make it super obvious. eBay wants its fees and Power Sellers give them a ton of fees.


My suspicions are most shill bidders are eventually exposed.

I'd guess most are not. eBay really doesn't care about them. If shiling reallyl works, then eBay makes more money in fees. That's all they care about.


By the way, i'm as interested to know whether or not that bidder on that 66K coin is "real", as you are. Sometimes "kids" like to see their eBay name on an expensive item. Running a private auction hopefully decreases that temptation. (I won't know who he or she is until the auction ends.)

Unless eBay changed it, as the seller you can easily find out who the high bidder is one one of your private auctions.

Go to your "My eBay" page, the "Selling" tab, and click the link "All item details" (it's on the right in the same blue bar that says "Items I'm Selling ( 0 Items)") and it will list the high bidder.

ANACONDA

Hey Greg! Thanks for the info. I didn't know you could do that.

I did determine who is the bidder on the 66k coin. He has 5 positives all on items less than $1,000, so, i'm not able to make a prediction one way or another but at least he's not a negative one guy. So, i'll just have to wait and see.

adrian

keithdagen

He has 5 positives all on items less than $1,000, so, i'm not able to make a prediction one way or another but at least he's not a negative one guy.

Maybe he just hit a lottery, or has been "testing the waters" with E-Bay so far.

ANACONDA

He's been registered since last year. I sent him an email asking him to call me.

Funny you should mention the lottery. It something that people seem to frequently mention when they talk to me..."i'll be calling you when i hit the lottery..."

Last year, a guy who hit the lottery, called me. Dropped a few bucks. I kid you not.

adrian

Bulldog

Brad,

I agree. I disagree.

I have made some serious purchases on EBAY, that I really don't care to have anyone connect me with the purchase or the value.

ANACONDA

Update on the bid on my 66K coin.

Looks good. The fellow responded to my emailed request for a phone call, and we agreed that i would end the auction early and he
said he was sending me a certified check this coming Friday.

adrian
what it's worth department

and

WWW welcoming committee

stman

<< <i>said he was sending me a certified check this coming Friday. >>



Or maybe he will wait till Tuesday, I think you know what I mean.