Suspected shill bids

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Hi all, can an experienced seller here please have a look at an auction ending in a couple of hours as the bidding from one low id in particular looks a bit suss to me. Can I post the item number and/or description here? Many thanks.

[clarry100]

Ways to detect shill bidders:

Shill Bidders

[kopenhagen5]

Good link from clarry.

To add shillers will also bid on many items from same seller even though they are completely different types of items.

OP if want you can post the exact title of the listing for us to look at. (Against policy to post item numbers and ID's)

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Thanks Kopenhagen. Title is Vintage Italian Necklace Chain Heart Photo Locket Sterling Silver 925 NOT SCRAP.

[clarry100]

I see what looks like 4 separate bidders operating here.

Looks like the one with score 34 and the one with score 87 are battling it out.

I can't see the full names as ebay disguise them.

But just looking at this one listing I don't see anything to make me think there is a shiller in action here. Just some healthy bidding war going on. That's good for the seller, of course, if its genuine.

If you have more reason to suspect shill activity because you are looking at several other listings from the same seller you might report your suspicions to ebay. They have better ways to check suspect bidding activities.

[lyndal1838]

It does not look like shill bidding to me.  The low feedback ID is only bidding on one item from one seller and is nibble bidding rather than placing one high bid at the end.

A shiller would normally bid on a number of items from the same seller.

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Thanks everyone. It was the 100% with this seller and no others that had me going. Just seemed rather convenient all of a sudden with auction ending so soon.

[go-tazz]

If you click on the number of bids and then on:  Show automatic bids,(it shows you how the 34 ID is nibble

bidding to try and outbid the other bidder).

It's not a good idea to nibble bid as it is generally doomed to failure.

The best way to bid is to put your maximum amount in the last seconds of the auction if you are there to do so

and your internet connection is fast,(I use the free eBay sniper Gixen to bid at the end if I can't be home when

the auction ends or if my Internet seems to be running slower),

[sprinklespowerpuff]

Thanks Taz. Yes I always snipe in the last 10 secs if by my computer. I only bid earlier if I'm going out or an auction is ending at some ungodly hour like 3am which happens if the item is in the UK.  I've never bothered with a sniping service. Perhaps someday I will but don't really like the idea of an outside entity having my Ebay password.