Suspicious private bidding

[gadaboutpc]

Hi folks

Fairly new to ebay buying and have looked through a number of help and support pages and posts for advice on the following scenario but have found nothing concrete so far.

My question is like this....

Over the past week or so I have been looking at folding solar panels from several different ebay stores. (I'm not sure it is appropritate to name them at this time but searching for folding solar panel listings in NSW Australia) should give anyone who is curious about it a clue.)  I have noticed that the initial listing prices are always extremely low (under $1.00).  The bidders identities are hidden for all of these auctions.

As the bidding on each item starts (and I have bid on a few myself to check this) the bids placed are trumped by an automatic bid placed on the day following the listing.  I cannot see the identity of the bidder, but using the "show automatid bids" option shows me the date and time stamp confirming it is the same original bidder. Would a geniune bidder place a first automatic bid (always the day after the lisitng) for a price almost as much as the "buy it now" equivalent?

The bids keep rising until the item is eventually sold for almost the same price as the "Buy it now" prices on the vendors' regular store.

It certainly looks as if the sellers are placing their own bids (shills) the day after their listings to protect themselves from having their products sold at too low a price.  I am led to think the unreasonably low starting price also saves them money in listing fees.

I have tried using the "report this item" but the ebay reporting system seems to be pretty limited at best.  There doesn't seem to be a way to actually explain the problem and the pre-selected options are not always a perfect match.  Ebay doesn't seem to want to get back to anyone with the results of any investigation although they are very quick to start pestering me to fill out a survey asking if my problem was resolved.

My gut tells me to stay away from these suspicious auctions but there really doesn't seem to be any way to prove illegal bidding in this situation.   It is just curious that the same pattern keeps repeating on these auctions time after time.

What do the other members here think?

[*crikey*mate*]

One of the sellers I buy Mickey Mouse watches from also sells adult fetish clothes (with matching diapers) I soooooo wish that his listings weren't private, cos anyone reading through my feedback and then looked at what the seller sells, might think I was buying Bugs Bunny paraphenalia.

Spoiler

ehhhhhh What's up Doc?

[2106greencat]

and you would never buy Bugs Bunny paraphanalia would you ?

Mickey Mouse ?

I want that watch !!!

[*crikey*mate*]

Definitely not from eBay LOLOLOL

I have quite a few Mickey mouse watches - I collect them. Which one did you have in mind?

[2106greencat]

I can't remember now.....

you couldn't just play the game could ya ?

[*crikey*mate*]

I was tryin! But I got NFI how Mickey watches fit in with your interpretation of Bugs Bunny Paraphenalia!

*blush*

[davewil1964]

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@diamond-halo wrote:

I was tryin! But I got NFI how Mickey watches fit in with your interpretation of Bugs Bunny Paraphenalia!

*blush*

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[gadaboutpc]

@2106Greencat - thanks for your perspective.

I don't know if anyone is doing anything "illegal" but it is certainly open to being "unethical".

Again, the issue is identities being "protected" not simply hidden.  (Sorry, my original mistake in describing it).  You CANNOT even see *.......* so there is no way to know if that buyer is genuinely following the auction and gradually icreasing their bids like many potential purchasers probably would.  The timestamps on these bids suggest they are not.

I cannot imagine how solar panels could be considered to be of a "very personal nature" or what the seller would need protecting from.

Why should ebay stamp this out????

Perhaps because:

a) It is impossible to see if you are bidding against the same bidder for each auction.  ie.  There is no way to see if the same bidder has pushed the prices up or even more importantly WON many auctions for the same item as a kind of seller's default stop/loss mechanism. 

b) It negates the usefulness of the feedback system, since you cannot tie buyers' comments to any particular item.  In other words a seller could develop great positive feedback for small items over 6-12 months and then begin fake listings for expensive products.  I have seen this happen on multiple occassions with electronics good from Asia for instance.  (Though I'm not actually suspecting that in this particular case.)

c) I believe ebay themselves lose money on listing fees if the items are priced at a nonsense starting point like $1.00 when the final selling prices are for $200 and up. (I don't think any responses here have commented/confirmed that yet.)

[go-tazz]

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@gadaboutpc wrote:

@2106greencat - thanks for your perspective.

Why should ebay stamp this out????

It makes them extra money so there is noooo!! way that they would stop this,(after it was one of their ideas to

"protect" buyers,(the added benefit is that it stops people reporting shill bidders).

 

Perhaps because:

a) It is impossible to see if you are bidding against the same bidder for each auction.  ie.  There is no way to see if the same bidder has pushed the prices up or even more importantly WON many auctions for the same item as a kind of seller's default stop/loss mechanism. 

That was their plan when they brought it in IMHO,(to hide suspect bidding)

b) It negates the usefulness of the feedback system, since you cannot tie buyers' comments to any particular item.  In other words a seller could develop great positive feedback for small items over 6-12 months and then begin fake listings for expensive products.  I have seen this happen on multiple occassions with electronics good from Asia for instance.  (Though I'm not actually suspecting that in this particular case.)

That is exactly how some of the Chinese scammers operate,(eBay has made it easier for them),

c) I believe ebay themselves lose money on listing fees if the items are priced at a nonsense starting point like $1.00 when the final selling prices are for $200 and up. (I don't think any responses here have commented/confirmed that yet.)

The point is that eBay make money on what ever the final price is,(so they aren't concerned with starting prices

and they even tell members to start at 99 cents to gain more interest for their items).

They now offer a lot of free listings so their main concern has shifted to FVF's and trying to get members to list

items at a price that guarantees that it will sell,

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[dnnelg9689]

I have bid on an item from the same seller many times and always out bid by a  "private listing - bidders' identities protected".   This is the only bidder apart from myself.   This has happened at least eight times.   The private listing - bidders' identities protected cannot have purchased this one item that many times.   I am sure these bids are sellers are placing their own bids (shills).

[ooak3]

interesting!! but would"nt that end up costing the seller fees on a no sale if they keep winning it them selves???