I've been seriously 'shilled'

Cordy

I was pleased to win an item tonight, until I looked at the bid history and realised that a shill bid had increased my purchase price by 43%. The shill bidder has placed 8 bids on various items, 7 of which were being sold by the same seller, and yet he or she has no feedback, which might have indicated genuine transactions.

I've reported it, but according to the eBay 'help' pages, I have to complete the purchase or I may get an 'unpaid strike' against me, whatever that is. I'm very proud of my 100% rating, and don't want to lose it, but this leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

I would have been happy with the price if it was genuinely what other bidders would have paid, but to have to pay nearly twice as much because someone has been dishonest is a different kettle of fish.

The item is collect only, but the winning bid email only gives a post-code, so I presume I've got to try to contact the seller to find out his address. What shall I say? If I can't tell the truth, I'd rather not say anything, and if I do tell the truth, he's got all my details, name, address, phone number etc etc. What will happen if I didn't collect and get an unpaid strike?

I'm beginning to think eBay is not worth all this hassle!

sequence

You don't need to worry about your 100%, an unpaid strike doesn't mean anything basically. It's just a token gesture from ebay to make it appear to care about sellers. The seller can do nothing to you - you don't have to complete the transaction. I'm not going to get into another argument about shill bidding though...

cyberbob

If you are happy with the price whats the problem?

An unpaid item strike can effect you though. I have my seller preferences set not to allow people with 2 unpaid item strikes. Others have theres even more strict so it could effect you. If you get too many ebay can suspend you

Cordy

cyberbob wrote: »

If you are happy with the price whats the problem?

As above, I would have been happy with the price if it was genuinely what other bidders would have paid, but to have to pay nearly twice as much because someone has been dishonest is a different kettle of fish.

Call me old fashioned, but I don't like being scammed!

Hintza

Well why bid so early? Bid high bid late then shill bidding will not affect what you pay.

(Having said that I would be annoyed too )

Cordy

Yes, that's a lesson I've learned for the future. IF I ever use eBay again....!

Strapped

If you report the item and eBay pulls it, then you will not have to complete the transaction (as I found out recently myself).

Maysie

click on the auction page for the item and go down the page to find report this item then report it there. you get a few words to explain so just put bidder has % of activity on different item with same seller suspect shilling. If you can get some other people to report the other items as well it may hold more weight. to many offences reported at the same time will probably get them suspended if they are a small seller.

mrbadexample

Email the seller, and tell them you no longer wish to go through with the transaction due to the blatant shill bidding on this and their other auctions.

See what they come back with.

JimmyTheWig

You need to think about what you want to achieve.
I can't imagine you will be able to get the item for less than the price the auction ended at. You could ask the seller, but I doubt eBay will do anything about it.
So I think your choices are to buy the item for the stated price or to not buy the item at all. There is little point in cutting off your nose to spite your face, so decide what you want to happen. Then that will narrow the field of your options to proceed.

Premier_2

Cordy wrote: »

Yes, that's a lesson I've learned for the future. IF I ever use eBay again....!

If you don't ever wish to use ebay again, then getting a npb strike isn't going to affect you is it?