Is this shill bidding or am I missing something?

emerald_starcat

Was watching an item and forgot to bid then noticed it was re-listed straight away. It had 4 bids on the original listing. I go to check who the highest bidder was and get this:

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBidderProfile&mode=1&item=121132660815&aid=h***h&eu=&bidtid=1103855321002&view=NONE&ssPageName=PageBidderProfileViewBids_None_ViewLink

So the highest bidder had bid on 31 items from this seller and not bidded on any items from any other sellers.

Tempted to bid but will I get outbidded by the same buyer?

TrickyWicky

emerald_starcat wrote: »

Tempted to bid but will I get outbidded by the same buyer?

Almost certainly.

campdave

emerald_starcat wrote: »

Tempted to bid but will I get outbidded by the same buyer?

If you want it, what have you to lose?

soolin

Sometimes I wish I could remember the log in to my throw away eBay account so I could message the seller with 'nice attempt at a shill mate..but you're not supposed to actually win your own stuff'.

iammumtoone

definitely shill bidding. Its up to you if you want to bid, the seller wants to sell (otherwise they wouldn't list it) but they will have a price in mind (the amount they bid themselves). People shill bid to avoid paying correct the listing fee and to get more people interested in the item.

Personally I would report it.

George_Michael

soolin wrote: »

Sometimes I wish I could remember the log in to my throw away eBay account so I could message the seller with 'nice attempt at a shill mate..but you're not supposed to actually win your own stuff'.

I've just done this.
Just for interest, I think the shill bidder could be this person:
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/kath_shop1

The right feedback score, plenty of activity with the seller in question and both living in Doncaster.

emerald_starcat

George_Michael wrote: »

I've just done this.
Just for interest, I think the shill bidder could be this person:
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/kath_shop1

The right feedback score, plenty of activity with the seller in question and both living in Doncaster.

How did you find the actual ebay account?

I really want the dress but I'm not going to pay over the odds for it, I buy on ebay to get a bargain, I never pay more than I should

George_Michael

emerald_starcat wrote: »

How did you find the actual ebay account?

Boredom!

I'm stuck at work with nothing to do and have plenty of time to play on the computer.
All I did was to check the feedback score of the possible shill bidder (224) then go back through the sellers feedback history looking for someone with the same score.

This isn't definitely the shiller, but there is a good chance it is going by the number of feedbacks left between then and the fact they are both registered in the same town.

George_Michael

Reply from the seller.

I'm sorry what is a shill bidder? I have a lot of regular buyers who buy from me and collect the items. Who are you?

I've responded asking why the items "won" by their regular buyer always get relisted very shortly afterwards.

Ralph-y

but if you used a sniping tool / bis last second, would this not stop or even partially stop the shilling ?


Ralph:cool:

emerald_starcat

Ralph-y wrote: »

but if you used a sniping tool / bis last second, would this not stop or even partially stop the shilling ?


Ralph:cool:

Good thinking, unless they have put a high max bid