Seller jacking up bid by phantom bids under another name

[kerry22grace]

Can this happen? is there a way that eBay can prevent this? I have just won an item that required me to keep bidding (i wanted the item and it was a good price) - but what I notice is that every time I put a bid in it was topped, this went on for days until a certain total was reached then all went quite? if in the last 5 minutes I expected a late bid but not response. I suspect that the bidding was coming from a source that had no intention of buying - just wanted to push the price hihg - Kerry

[joeysrun]

Shill bidding is reasonably common.

And sometimes the shill bidder wins the auction.

When that happens, you usually get a second chance offer very shortly after the auction closes.  Too soon for the seller to have had a genuine problem with the winner not accepting the item (or something similar).

If you were the unsuccessful underbidder, and you DON'T get a second chance offer, the winner was most likely a legitimate bidder.

In suspect sales, when I do get a second chance offer, I usually refuse it and keep shopping with other sellers.

[lyndal1838]

Second chance offers can be offered if the seller has multiple items the same.  It is a legitimate method of selling without paying listing fees so is quite popular with some sellers.

Second chance offers are not only snet because the original sale has fallen through or been won by a shill bidder.

[phorum_junkie*]

I have never shilled one of my own items but have sent out dozens of SCOs.

I am sure shilling is not prevalent on ebay, it is not sustainable economically and those doing it on a regular basis probably end up more out of pocket than in.

The easy way to avoid artificial bidding is to snipe.

[carpe.diem.nunc]

It happens all the time. Even though you can't see a bidding members User name you can view their score, if you look at the history of the seller you will see the score of the fake bidder on many other items the seller has sold and on some occasions they actually win the bidding because they got greedy, the seller leaves them positive feed back and vice versa and then you'll see the history of the fake bidder who later sells the item. 9 times out of 10 the seller and the fake bidder are one and the same. Have a look next time you suspect shill bidding.

[lecauden]

Hi, I'm not a newbie but would regularly put bids to my maximum on an item after I have watched for some time and also done my reasearch. I'm currently in an auction where a no history bidder gadually upped the bid until they reached my maximum. Then the seller contacted me about the item to try and get me to buy at my maximum price as the "PHANTOM" had a no pay history with the seller. I reported it and the bids were retracted and a warning given. However the bidder is still on another of the sellers auction as is a new no history bidder. This one too has suprise, suprise, taken my bid to near maximum and is also featured across all but one of the sellers auctions driving prices. Again have reported to Ebay and waiting on action. I was advised to decline transaction by ebay at end of auction and discuss with seller. Sellers like this need to be banned. I have watched the said item passed in of 4 attempts to sell at a price that is obviously what the seller is after. There are good sellers and buyers and unfortunately bad ones as well. We need to report any thing like this to make as stand as it gives everyone a bad experience and raises doubt about even the good.

[sparkes9669]

"We need to report any thing like this to make as stand as it gives everyone a bad experience and raises doubt about even the good"

so so true.

 but when it is reported all you get is the standard response of ebay values your feedback blah blah pfft

Viva le snipe bid. no chance for the nibblers

[asummerbreeze]

The3coopers, you are spot on.  I  bid once and once only, the max amount I wish to pay - then I forget it until you maybe I get an advice that I am the winner.  The stuff I buy on eBay is usually plentiful, so I have a very good idea of  their true value, and there will always be a similar item coming up soon.

The exception to this rule is if it is a truly unique item - then why would you sell it on eBay? If this is the case, then a specialist auction house is maybe the better place to go.

Regards,

"asummerbreeze"

[apache929]

yep definately happens, stands out a mile with some sellers, you see the ones who sell the same product regularly, bids get raised by the same initials with 0, or minimal previous purchases, unfortunately ebay wont do anything ,ive been reporting the same seller for a while but still happens,.

to report you must click on report an item while its still active ,

then in report category choose listing practices,

in reason ,  choose frausulent listing activities.

in detailed reason choose the appropriate response.

[asummerbreeze]

Thank you apache929 for this tip:

"bids get raised by the same initials with 0, or minimal previous purchases"

[lyndal1838]

There really is a little more to it than apache has indicated.  Maybe that is why his reports are being ignored....there is nothing wrong.