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SHILL BIDDING- what do you think?

I just thought of something last night while bidding on a few cards. When you put the auctions that you are interested in-in the items I'm watching category on ebay does this encourage the practice of shilling. Why does ebay even have this option viewable by the seller? It should only be viewable by the potential buyer. Has anyone else ever thought of this? I believe there is alot of SHILL BIDDING going on.
Mickey71image

Comments

  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    Snipe. Either with a service or seconds before auction end.

    If you snipe, you won't get shilled.
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,261 ✭✭✭✭
    Digicat,
    I do use the Snipe method sometimes. I only used the items watching thing this past week when I thought about this topic and shill bidders. I usually write down a few auctions on a piece of paper that interest me and put a few snipe bids on some other things. What I was wondering is do you think watched items encourage the use of shills by the seller?
    Mickey71image
  • That is a very good point. I assume if a seller was going to shill an auction, the best ones to shill would be ones with many buyers watching, since you can assume there will be a lot of interest. However, as a seller myself, I have had some auctions that were watched by a lot of people, that recieved few bids. I will sometimes watch an item I have no intent of bidding on, just to see what it goes for.
  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    I don't really see how someone could shill by using the number of watchers. I suppose a seller could set a "shill" snipe, or place a single shill bid that everyone has to beat, but if you're going to do that, why not just have a reserve, or start the bidding at that price?
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • colebearcolebear Posts: 886 ✭✭


    << <i>Snipe. Either with a service or seconds before auction end.

    If you snipe, you won't get shilled. >>



    Shilling does still happen when you snipe. For example, let's say the seller shilled his account up from $50 (the last real bid) to $100, if you set a snipe at anything 102.50 or above you still got shilled.
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