Are there Phantom buyers on Ebay???

[brooke.munro]

Have you ever bidded on an item and a member has bidded against you making the sale go up in price higher and higher... until you either stop bidding or you win the auction?

I have been wondering if Ebay purposely set up Phantom buyers to increase their profits in the buying and selling of auctions.

Think about it. A typical example is a member that bids against you, they win the auction but never pay up. Therefore say if it was a phantom buyer, Ebay then deducts the sales fee but keeps the success fee. Maybe a way to make more money from people? 

This is my theory anyhow. I feel like this is something people should consider.. 

Also, funny how you can't view a bidders account and history but you can with the seller??? Seems a bit dodgey to me.

Thoughts? 

[zelly888]

This is called shill bidding,but there is no way that Ebay would be involved as it is the seller that's bidding on their own listings to hopefully receive a higher amount.But this has to be proved that it is happening so if you suspect this is happening then contact Ebay and they will investigate it.

[lyndal1838]

Forget the conspiracy theories involving ebay....it does not happen.

And before you go reporting what you thing is shill bidding, try asking here for some experienced members to have a look at the bidding history of the auction in question.  More often than not there is nothing wrong at all and if there is anything suspicious they will advise you to contact ebay.

As for not being able to view a buyers account and history...why do you want to?  Buyers have every right to keep their feedback private, and if you are referring to the hidden IDs in a bidding history, that is ebay's doing not the buyer's.

Can you give an example of an item where you are suspicious of the bidding history?

[*crikey*mate*]

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@brooke.munro wrote:

Have you ever bidded on an item and a member has bidded against you making the sale go up in price higher and higher... until you either stop bidding or you win the auction?

yes, that's how auctions kinda work.

I have been wondering if Ebay purposely set up Phantom buyers to increase their profits in the buying and selling of auctions. 

Seriously?

Think about it. A typical example is a member that bids against you, they win the auction but never pay up. Therefore say if it was a phantom buyer, Ebay then deducts the sales fee but keeps the success fee. Maybe a way to make more money from people? 

Sounds believable until you read the rules and realize that when a buyer doesn't pay, the seller gets a refund of their Final Value Fees by simply going to the resolution centre, opening up an UID after 4 days, and then if no payment is received the seller can close the case in 4 days and receive a credit for their FVF's.

This is my theory anyhow. How about now? I feel like this is something people should consider.. 

I have a bridge to sell....

Also, funny how you can't view a bidders account and history but you can with the seller??? Seems a bit dodgey to me.

Thoughts? 

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Why are you interested in what other people buy?

I'm kinda glad that my husband can't see all the stuff I buy.....

[*crikey*mate*]

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@zelly888 wrote:

This is called shill bidding,but there is no way that Ebay would be involved as it is the seller that's bidding on their own listings to hopefully receive a higher amount.But this has to be proved that it is happening so if you suspect this is happening then contact Ebay and they will investigate it.

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Shill bidding, or just automatic bidding initiated by another bidders highest price being more than your own bid?

[brooke.munro]

It could be shill bidding. Or it could just be another member. All I was wondering was how can you be sure it's a genuine bidder, and not someone that works for the company to up the sales and increase profit once the total fee has been taken off the sale.

[brooke.munro]

Seriously. Such a huge company and I am only theorizing here not stating that it's fact just wondering if it could be a possibility. I am new to Ebay so learning the ins and outs of buying and selling. Thanks for your input. Lol and to be honest, I don't really care to know what a person is buying, I'm not snooping around, was just wondering if there is a way to check that the person is a genuine member and has been active on the site. When you can't see those things it just makes you wonder. Like the person below said, it could also be shill bidding. I was just putting it out there to see if my theory could be a reality. Seen as Ebay is such a huge company.

[*crikey*mate*]

because i have explained that eBay aren't the shill bidders as they don't benefit in the way you are suggesting! because eBay give back FVF's if an item isn't paid for.

but from the scenario that they drive the price up making you pay more, but still win, just never bid more than you are prepared to pay for the item, and once that limit is reached, stop bidding.

or

use a sniping tool or manually place your bid in the last few seconds of an auction.

yes, there are shillers out there, but I'm willing to bet all the money in my pocket that it's not eBay or anyone acting in their capacity as an employee.

BUT, lets say you are right, how many people, on a global scale, do you believe that eBay would employ to shill bid, across how many auctions, and how would eBay ensure their secrecy?

[lyndal1838]

Shill bidding is just bidding by another member, albeit a bidder who is known to the seller and is trying to get a better price for the seller.

It would NEVER be someone who works for ebay doing the bidding....it is strictly a no-no on ebay and participants can be suspended for doing it.

I still do not understand what you mean by an increased profit for ebay once the total fee is taken off the sale?  It is the seller who makes the profit from a sale...ebay gets their fees, but the final value fee is returned to the seller if the sale does not go through. Ebay does not keep those fees.

[brooke.munro]

'Sounds believable until you read the rules and realize that when a buyer doesn't pay, the seller gets a refund of their Final Value Fees by simply going to the resolution centre, opening up an UID after 4 days, and then if no payment is received the seller can close the case in 4 days and receive a credit for their FVF's."

It's good to know this. I wonder how many people go through with this process to get their money back? I guess some people may not bother if they're only losing a few dollars...