My listing dropped in price at the last minute. What's going on?

[hammahorror]

I'm selling a rare Nintendo SNES console and have had a lot of interest. Yesterday bidding got up to $700 but today suddenly out of 3 bidders and 25 bids between them, all but 1 bid have been canceled and it's back to starting bid of $250. I know it's worth a lot more than this, and now I'm worried other bidders have been put off. Am I being scammed? Should I cancel the auction and start again? 

[*new2vintage]

You need to insure it with Registered Post. If the buyer claims it's damaged or they haven't received it and they win a Paypal dispute you'll lose your money.

[the-kazbar]

You can report the bid retractions here: http://contact.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ContactUs&wftype=2022&rcode=IV%25P10064&subject=Invalid%...

[bsal6160]

It got up to $700 for a Nintendo??? No wonder bidders started to retract bids. They might have suspected Shill bidding was going on. Look at the average price one of these sell for on ebay. No where near that.

[2106greencat]

bsal - it is an SNES console - Super Nintendo, they are worth way more than the starting price.

[bsal6160]

Yes greencat. Search SNES PAL and see for yourself. If I saw one of these get up to $700 I would be very suspicious about shill bidding.

[peternt2001]

just a thought, is there the possibility that not just this order but for ebay in general, That people work in tandem for items they want.

First person bids the minimum bit, then friends bid the item up past what normal people would pay, scaring away any other potential buyers from buying or watching the item.

Then towards the end of the auction the second and third bidders retract their bids leaving the first bidder / friend with the highest bid / minimum bid.

Being the internet people are always out there scheming and plotting some new form of scam.

[foxette-in-sox]

The seller in this thread is 'interesting' re their old Nintendo's

http://community.ebay.com.au/topic/Buying/Happy-Seller-Cancelling/600156625

[hammahorror]

bsal. This is a Super Mario SNES console. They are very rare and one in bad condition sold last week for $511 and mine is new. It is defiantly worth what it got up to. 

[2106greencat]

Yes greencat. Search SNES PAL and see for yourself. If I saw one of these get up to $700 I would be very suspicious about shill bidding.

Wow, sorry and thanks, I have been looking for one, cheers :-x

[the-kazbar]

just a thought, is there the possibility that not just this order but for ebay in general, That people work in tandem for items they want.

First person bids the minimum bit, then friends bid the item up past what normal people would pay, scaring away any other potential buyers from buying or watching the item.

Then towards the end of the auction the second and third bidders retract their bids leaving the first bidder / friend with the highest bid / minimum bid.

Being the internet people are always out there scheming and plotting some new form of scam.

What you are describing is called bid shielding and yes it does happen, although I don't think it happens as often as it used to