Odd bidding behaviour?

boombap

Hi,

I am selling a bag on auction on my private account and have just checked the auction's progress.

The current highest bidder joined a month ago and has a feedback of zero. I've done a quick look at the other auctions they're currently bidding on and it looks a bit fishy to me. A link to see this bidding data is:

http://cgi6.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBidItems&userid=designershoes2&completed=0&all=1&rows=50&sort=12&_rdc=1

Does this look odd to you?

I don't want to be one of those people who are overly suspicious of 'newbies' as we've all been one once but something just doesn't add up here.

S.

soolin

Nothing at all shows for me on that link so I've tried Goofbay and that doesn't show anything either:

designershoes2
Total Spend: $0.00Items Won: 0%

boombap

Thanks for your reply Soolin. Looks like I must have posted a dud link only relevant to my log-in details. Doh!

Using the advanced ebay search it shows up that the buyer is the current highest bidder on 37 auctions for vintage leather bags. Yep, they could be a collector but considering they've only been a member since 19 Aug 10 it just seems odd. OH thinks that perhaps they indend to be the highest bidder on a igh number of auctions and although not actually pay hope that some sellers will send the goods out..can't see it myself to be honest!

TUS

Or maybe they are thinking that if they get outbid on some, they may win some others.

Your call, but i'd leave their bid and see if they pay.

elaina79

Check their feedback for seller vs buyer ratings.

Jaxb_2

elaina79 wrote: »

Check their feedback for seller vs buyer ratings.

That would show nothing :

squee wrote: »

Hi,

The current highest bidder joined a month ago and has a feedback of zero.

bluedog

I had a similar thing happen recently with a pair of boots.

Basically, the bidder had a feedback of 1 and like the op, I try not to be overly suspicious of newbies for the same reason that we all had to start somewhere.

They won the boots but didn't pay. Neither did they respond to my email nor the invoice I sent, so quite happily took them through the NPB process and they still didn't respond to any of it. I've always given benefit of the doubt as I've had unexpected problems happen (a totally genuine case of being admitted to hospital for over a week & no internet access ...) so add a few days grace.

However, I didn't look at the bidding history until the feeling they weren't going to pay washed totally through me (:o)- lesson learnt. They had bid on about 5-6 pairs of similar boots.

What really bugs me though is the only feedback choice open & allowed is positive! I would like to think that the other sellers have done the same thingin going through the NPB process and get this pain stopped. I have my settings against those with strikes on them so it obviously hadn't been done up to then.

boombap

Yep BlueDog, it is a pest that only postive feedback can be left for deadbeat bidders.

Thankfully the curious bidder was outbid at the end of the auction. I've got a few more vintage bags I want to flog so will probs but them in the blocked list.

Cheers for your responses all,

S.

Jigga

A couple of weeks ago I got ‘done’ by a clown who won my auction for an iPhone, didn’t have any feedback and had only just registered.

So, no payments made, after 3 messages from me, one came back saying ‘Canne pay, sorry’ so it was a case of waiting four days for them to pay before you can open up a dispute and then a further four days until you are allowed to close the case to reclaim your final sellers fee - £23 in my case. By the end of this time period, four other sellers had had their time wasted by this non payer as displayed by the feedback left (all positive, of course, no other choice), but in all fairness to Ebay, I sent them an email about this member and they had the account terminated the following day.

RoseRed

As a seller I think we should be allowed to leave negative feedback if we have gone through a NPB strike. Of course this would be sensible and when it comes to treating sellers fairly Ebay are anything but.