topic Re: Shill Bidding? in Buying

Shill Bidding?

luvnut — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:57:02 GMT

A few weeks ago I bid and narrowly lost on a used item. The images were of the item and unique in that they were taken in someone's home (elements of background in view.) I have now spotted the same item for sale again by the buyer of the sale I lost a few months ago using exactly the same images to sell the item as the previous seller. It looks suss to me. Having bought and sold myself I can think of no circumstances where I would have cut and pasted someone elses ebay images for my own sale (particularly given they're not very flattering.) It looks like the first bidder sold the item to a 'mate' and they're now having a crack at a higher price under a different ID. Any thoughts on this?

Re: Shill Bidding?

harley_babes_hoard — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 11:09:45 GMT

Perhaps the person who bought the item no longer needs it or it fits them etc and has decided to resell and asked the first seller if they could use their pictures. It happens on here a bit.

Re: Shill Bidding?

*crikey*mate* — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 11:13:36 GMT

Sure, The buyer was unhappy with their purchase, so the seller offered them the use of their pictures etc to onsell the item with.

You'll do your head in thinking of any other scenario, because you have no proof, and eBay won't do anything unless there is proof.

So, forget about it, or, if you want to lose any more time over it, check out where both sellers live, and if the states match, that'll provide a bit more unuseable information to make assumptions with.

You need proof. It doesn't matter what we/you think, know or believe.

Re: Shill Bidding?

luvnut — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 11:26:14 GMT

Crikey_mate,

I think you've nailed it. It's dodgy but there's stuff all I can do about it, best just give it a wide berth.

Re: Shill Bidding?

phorum_junkie* — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 21:33:45 GMT

On the rare occasion I have had a buyer ask for a change of mind refund which is item price only I always offer them the option of using my pics and description to re sell it rather than be out two lots of postage.

The idea of shill bidding is NOT to win the item,

Re: Shill Bidding?

springyzone — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 21:56:05 GMT

A lot of sellers on here use images that are not their own. And without permission. That much I can absolutely guarantee, I have seen lots of chinese sites where the images have been pinched, becaue i know where the original images come from.

I would also guess some buyers save the photos of things they buy. I sometimes have.

Then if they need to resell it later, they might use the same photos rather than bother taking new ones.

I doubt most would ask permission, especially if they aren't company type photos with logos plastered all over them.

It isn't proof of shill bidding but it may be.

If the same buyer 'buys' from the same seller and onsells a few times, then I would say it is definitely suss, no matter what ebay says about it.

Re: Shill Bidding?

*crikey*mate* — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 01:19:43 GMT

Actually springy, I disagree with this comment, or at least would quantify it with "not in all circumwtances"

"If the same buyer 'buys' from the same seller and onsells a few times, then I would say it is definitely suss, no matter what ebay says about it."

Once upon a time (no damsel in distress, no prince charming) traded beanie kids on eBay. The aim was to collect, but you bought and sold them as better ones came onto the market, so you got "the best collection you could" For the "rare" or "exclusive" ones, it is very small market, we would often buy and sell off a select few traders.

Same thing now with my current line, I buy off a few trusted sellers when the price is right, and onsell. (well I don't anymore, I retired) But my history would show my later purchasing patterns to be limited to just 2 suppliers.