"User ID kept private" why?

CoinOnTheCob

This is probably well known, but why would someone keep their bidders private? I am not an eBay seller. I want to bid on an auction whose seller has over 500 items sold and has 100% feedback. I don’t see a big risk, but why keep your bidders’ user IDs private?

ziggy29

IMO, when a seller uses private bidding, it's usually a scam, at least where coins are concerned. However, there are some items that buyers often don't want others to know they're bidding on. Very valuable stuff is one such thing. Perhaps "personally embarrassing" items might be another.

But in the realm of coins, unless it's a very valuable coin from a very reputable seller, I usually assume "scam" because they don't want other eBayers informing the high bidder that they're being had.

CoinOnTheCob

Hmm. It is in the realm of coins, but the highest dollar value would be about $50.00.

Here is an example:
Example

CarlWohlforth

I only used that feature once. I was selling a very high grade 1950s proof Jefferson. The bidders could probably guess some of the others involved in the bidding. I contacted potential bidders before the auction and one mentioned they would like to bid but didn't want that fact known. The price ended up being thousands of dollars.

Steve27

Usually it's because they don't want anyone to contact the high bidder and tell him that there's something wrong with the auction/coin.

CoinOnTheCob

Thanks, you guys. I didn’t think it was to protect the bidder in this case. I think I’m going to give it a whirl and bid on four of his auctions. He does have 100% positive feedback and my highest-bid total for all four auctions is only $150.00. We’ll see, I guess.

ILikeDimes

after March of this year , they went from no private auctions to quite a few and the ones that aren't private are widgets............ not sure WHAT this means..........his neutrals are about NTC coins (1), shipping and shipping charges(2) and 100% for the rest.........I'd personally stay away but for the price of this coin, why not, if you want it?.......just make sure to read the whole auction.........JMO

CoinOnTheCob

<< just make sure to read the whole auction.........JMO >>

Maybe I missed something. Did you see something in particular?

ILikeDimes

Nothing particular, it actually looks fine to me.


Edited to add............the only thing he doesn't have is a return policy

CoinOnTheCob

10-4. The total dollar amount is pretty low and they’re slabbed. So, I guess if I win and they arrive in the mail, I’ll be satisfied.

ttown

I've bid on some of those type auctions in the past. Just don't get caught up in a bidding war. These bidder driving the price up many have a zero feedback and the seller is playing the "shill" game.

291fifth

I really don't know. I have sold quite a few items to such bidders and have had no problems.

When buying, however, I won't bid on lots offered by sellers with private feedback.

streeter

Coin on the cob

There is no reason for that seller to be "protecting" bidders on those $20 coins. He just forgot to hide a couple of recent ones. The seller may have a stalker and he might want to hide his business from his competition.

Weak photos for sure. He is probably just selling the plastic.

Gandyjai

I woud like to agree with the sugestions already mentioned and add another.......
It does leave open the posibility of shill bidding without being "caught".
I tend to shy away from such auctions.
JMHO.

Happy Hunting!
Brian

My Ike Error Set With Pics

CoinOnTheCob

“Beware of shill bidders” seems to be the consensus. There is no need to worry, I don’t bid that way. I bid the highest price I would like to pay the item and leave it alone. If I win, awesome. If I don’t win, I wouldn’t want the item at a higher price anyway. So, it looks like there isn’t a down side except, as Streeter pointed out, I don’t know what kind of shape the coin is in inside the holders. I would be bidding on an ANACS holder hoping the coin inside didn’t turn to poo.

flaminio

<< <i>This is probably well known, but why would someone keep their bidders private? >>

Usually because they sell a lot of pr0n.

CoinOnTheCob

pr0n?

CommemDude

Coin: I once got sucked into one of these "private bidder" auctions and later realized that the seller was shilling. I tried to resell the coin a few weeks later for 20% less than my winning bid and there were no bidders. Along with "no returns allowed" sellers, best to just stay away and not encourage these guys.

CoinOnTheCob

CommemDude,
I hear what you’re saying. There is no way, that I know of, to tell if I am being shilled. But, like I said before, I bid the highest price I was willing to pay for each of these quarters (there are four) and leave it at that. If I get out bid, I don’t get upset about it. If the seller shill bids against me and outbids me, he just cost himself unproductive auction fees if there are no other bidders.

Flaminio,
What the heck is pr0n?

RiotAct

p0rn

CoinOnTheCob

Ha ha. I’m dense; I didn’t see it.

CoinOnTheCob

I believe that y’all should hear the good along with my nervous, potty-dance concerns. The auction went off without a hitch. I sent an eBay message to the seller telling him that, at first, I was wary of the private-bidder format that he chose. He sent this reply:


Thank You,
We have Private Feedback because there are so many fake e-mails people recieve.
We do not want new people to eBay to be scared off by these fake e-mails so we make our auctions private.

Thank You and we look forward to doing more business with you!

He is also a very easy person with whom to do business. I have just won two more ANACS slabbed quarter from him.

dizzyfoxx

<"User ID kept private" why?>

I'm sure there are various reasons... some of which are legit, and some are suspect