what is private listing - bidders' identities protected?

[portulaca]

Im bidding on an item where all bidders show as Private listing bidders identities protected but only my bid show with my ID (masked) Why is this

[phorum_junkie*]

All bidders identities are hidden in the bidding, only you and the seller can see the full id.

Sellers can list items as private listings which means the buyer's id, item number and tite are not displayed in feedback so nobody knows what has been purchased. It is mostly used for items of a sensitive nature (certain types of underwear for instance) or for expensive, colectable items so nobody knows who has an item which may be worth stealing.

[kopenhagen5]

It's the seller listing the auction as a private auction.

Usually done for high value collectables or items of a personal nature.

It can also hide shill bidding to members but not to ebay. Just don't bid more than you are willing to pay.

[imastawka]

If you log out and then go and look at your auction,

you will see all the bidders are private.

Only you and the seller can see your ID

[j*oono]

Exactly right Kopen.  The seller has chosen a private listing.  This isn't to hide bidders names during the auction as all auctions do that.  It is to hide what the item was in the buyers and sellers feedback.  No one can see what the items was if they check the buyers feedback.

[cq_tech]

Private listings also make it virtually impossible to determine if any shill-bidding is likely to be going on, as well.

[j*oono]

That is also true CQ but ebay have made that harder to detect anyway.

You can't search a buyers recent bidding history or a sellers recently completed auctions.  Detecting shill bidding is now next to impossible in a current auction.

[cq_tech]

Indeed j*oono. Makes one wonder just how frequently it really occurs, given the lengths eBay have gone to in order to prevent others from researching relevant information. It's very hard not to be cynical in such situations.

[wan303win]

Ebay don't accept the premise that "competition" is good for business, both sellers & buyers. Their website is all about secrecy to avoid competition from other sites such as Quicksales.

[vistacsp]

Why would ebay care about shill bidding ?? Seriously - the more it sells for the higher their cut.