Oh dear, what to do?????

CocoaBeachDodgers

I usually have a pretty good idea of what to do in these situations but just want to check with you all. Also I want to make sure I am right about this guy shilling his auctions:

The item is a Larry Sherry autograph ball. I was high bidder at $30 when he ended the auction citing item no longer available. I was a little disappointed since I have been trying to pick up one of these for a while now, not wanting to pay the $200-$300 BIN's. The next thing I know is that it is relisted, so I bid on it again. Thinking that the seller may have received an offer to end the auction & maybe it fell through, I sent him a message saying if he receives an offer, please let me know so that I can have the opportunity to beat that offer. He sends me a message back saying to make him an offer. I send a message back saying because of the oddity of pricing for this item, I will just bid on the item in the auction.

A few days later he sends me a message saying he has received an offer of $50-$75? I think to myself is it $50? is it $75? is it in between? At the time I had the bid at $31.50, but shortly after I was out bid. So now I am wondering if this is the offer he was speaking of or is this somebody else? That is when I started checking. As you can see, it appears he has a shill bidding account (w***w). 145 bids, all on this sellers items. I looked at some of the items he has sold lately, and see this w***w as runner up on a grill.

So now I decide to give the guy a call as he has put his phone number in the item description. I explain my concern telling him if this is an auction, I want to pay the competitive price, not a shilled up price. He tells me this is not the case, but has no answer as to why the same person only bids in his auctions and why they bid on grills as well as baseballs?

After hanging up, I was not going to bid at all on this item. But, as it got nearer the ending date I sure wanted this ball at a decent price. I sniped it for $63. I am happy with the ball and the price but if not shilled I would have won the ball for $31.50!

So, I am thinking of leaving negative feedback warning others of shill bidding. I know it won't do any good contacting ebay, they just don't care. So, I figure I would check with you guys, just to make sure I am not overlooking any matters. What do you all think?

larry sherry

skrezyna23

94.1% on 84 feedback? Yikes! I was not able to see your feedback percentage. Im not sure what the current rules are but Id be worried about negative retaliation.

otwcards

Leaving a negative and warning of shill bidding will probably get you a warning from eBay and give him a reason to be able to have the feedback removed.

If you got it at a price that you're happy with, let it be. You assumed going in that you were being shilled and if he had said he'd sell it for $75, it sounds as if you'd have paid it. Think of yourself being ahead and move on...

CocoaBeachDodgers

Yes Scott, you are right. But I'm always happy with a price because I will only bid up to an amount that makes me happy. I would have been much happier though paying $31.50!

One of my options is exactly as you say, just move on & that is certainly the easiest and less of a problem. But if I do nothing, it will continue to happen, he will continue to get away with it. It may be you he gets next, or anybody on the board. I think it is a tough decision, that is why I would like to hear from others. Thank you for your input, Scott.

Thank you also Skrez, but I think the newer rules do not allow him to leave negative feedback.

mlbfan2

<< <i>I sniped it for $63. I am happy with the ball and the price but if not shilled I would have won the ball for $31.50!
>>



That's only true if your bid didn't prevent anyone else from bidding.

CocoaBeachDodgers

Well, now I am 100% sure he is shilling his own auctions because he has relisted 2 items that w***w purchased and received feedback, one being the white N wii!

Now that I am 100% sure and I know he lied like a dog to me on the phone, he's receiving the first NEG that I can remember ever giving.

DanBessette

Leave it alone. You don't want this battle. All that stress and no gain. Just avoid his auctions in the future.

grote15

He definitely shilled you--that same underbidder was also underbidder on a fendi purse he sold for $102.50. Please.

I think it's good you left a neg--what's the point of FB if no one ever says anything negative?

corncobb

I think it would be pointless and hypicritical to post a negative when you yourself knowingly and willingly allowed yourself to be shilled.
Then paid for the item, which you seem to be happy with and content with the price you paid.

You knowingly agreed to all the terms of the deal, A neg now is just absolutely unwarranted at this point in IMHO.

BLUEJAYWAY

Could'nt the buyer return the purchase under the SNAD option? Then let the seller relist it. If then it does'nt sell let the buyer recall the seller with the original offer? If then the buyer does not get the item then let it go.

bbuckner22

I agree with Tim, well done. Don't think the shilling can be any more obvious on his auctions

CocoaBeachDodgers

Corncobb, You do have a valid point. Knowing that I was being shilled, I still elected to purchase the item. I had to weigh in the fact that I have been looking for this item at a decent price for quite a while now compared to the principle of allowing myself to be shilled. The funny thing is that he could have listed this item with a BIN of $100 and I would have snatched it up and this would be a non issue. I would be happy, he would have made more money!

I think the reason this person deserves a NEGITIVE has nothing to do with me. He is shilling his auctions and prospective buyers need to know that so they can make their own choices.

BlueJay, I could return the item, your right, but it's kind of like I said above. I want this item & I am happy with the price. That is not the point. The point is all about shilling. It is dishonest, against all auction houses policies, and causes us to pay more for items than other bidders command. I have read in the past on this board how disgusted many are with shill bidding. Ebay doesn't care, so if we do not leave NEGS, how can we complain about shill bidding! Seem to me that would be hypocritical.

DezHood

Awesome feedback. Could have made same comment with a neutral, but what's the difference - I wish more people did this.

mtcards

There was a time when ebay had integrity and accountability and this type of nonsense, when happened, would be dealt with. Now the dishonest, or even sometimes the honest but able to skirt the rules sellers can keyword spam, shill, bait and switch and do pretty much whatever they want, not because they know they cant or shouldnt, but because they know they can do so without having to worry about ebay doing anything to stop them

rjcoy06

I usually leave no feedback in situations like this. I had a seller that lived less than 10 miles from me take over 2 weeks to send me a couple of cards I bought. Only after repeated messages did he finally send them, but never responded with an apology or explanation as to what the delay was. I received the cards and everything was fine, just really slow shipping. I decided instead of leaving neutral or negative and having to deal with this seller anymore, I would not leave any feedback and not purchase from them again.