Shill Bidding on eBay

[kingoffootball]

I find it disappointing how many people are dismissing this with 'you got it for a price you were willing to pay'. I consider that to be effectively condoning attempting to deceive people.

 

[brocklanders023]

The whole point of ebay is not about paying the maximum you are willing to pay but getting a fair price. I may be willing to pay £10 for an item, but in a fair auction I would rather pay £5.

Imagine going out to buy a t-shirt from Gap only to find its in a one day half price sale when you get there - do you then say 'Oh, I was going to buy this at the full price, so you can keep the extra money'? Not a chance, so why should you have to give that money over to a seller on ebay engaged in illegal practices?

This. There's a huge difference between getting caught in a legit bidding war and paying top price and having the price pushed up by the seller. Can't believe how many on here seem to think shill bidding is ok. makes me think they wouldn't be against doing it themselves :evil:

 

[Rampage]

I find it disappointing how many people are dismissing this with 'you got it for a price you were willing to pay'. I consider that to be effectively condoning attempting to deceive people.

Agree.

 

[cce]

I'm not saying it's ok. I'm saying it happens.

And that if you paid more for an item that it's worth, that's still your fault.

 

[sylus]

I find it disappointing how many people are dismissing this with 'you got it for a price you were willing to pay'. I consider that to be effectively condoning attempting to deceive people.

Agree.

effectively nothing....there are two issues within this thread and opinions are clear on both. Shill bidding when suspected/found out should be reported.

However until they found out/suspected shill bidding had taken place they were happy to bid that amount to win the item. If your not happy to pay that amount....don't bid to that amount.

I hope that clarifies the differences

 

[lewisfoto]

Markwoo

I don't think anyone was disagreeing that you were wronged or that the seller's behavior is anything other that dishonest at best and illegal at worst. But take heart, Ebay almost always sides with the buyer in a dispute so take it up with the company.


Steven

 

[Neil]

I find it disappointing how many people are dismissing this with 'you got it for a price you were willing to pay'. I consider that to be effectively condoning attempting to deceive people.

Agree.

effectively nothing....there are two issues within this thread and opinions are clear on both. Shill bidding when suspected/found out should be reported.

However until they found out/suspected shill bidding had taken place they were happy to bid that amount to win the item. If your not happy to pay that amount....don't bid to that amount.

I hope that clarifies the differences

I don't think it does...

I get what people are saying about the "willing to pay" thing - but I think it's something of a misnomer. "willing" is perhaps euphemistic, in the scenario suggested, it's probably the most they are prepared to pay - ie worst case scenario for actually winning it, the absolute max somebody is prepared to pay. It rather assumes that that's the figure people would be happy with - I contend that's probably far from the case, normally - it may be the most they'd be prepared to pay to not lose the auction, but they'd be more happy, and "willing" if you will, to win it for less, especially if that less is the real world winning price at auction end, not artificially inflated by interfering in the market, in some ways, analagous to behaviour that in more substantial markets may potentially result in jail time, being somebody's bitch, and spending the next 5 to 10 being referred to as "Mavis".

 

[markwoo]

I don't think it does...

I get what people are saying about the "willing to pay" thing - but I think it's something of a misnomer. "willing" is perhaps euphemistic, in the scenario suggested, it's probably the most they are prepared to pay - ie worst case scenario for actually winning it, the absolute max somebody is prepared to pay. It rather assumes that that's the figure people would be happy with - I contend that's probably far from the case, normally - it may be the most they'd be prepared to pay to not lose the auction, but they'd be more happy, and "willing" if you will, to win it for less, especially if that less is the real world winning price at auction end, not artificially inflated by interfering in the market, in some ways, analgous to behaviour that in more substantial markets may potentially result in jail time, being somebody's bitch, and spending the next 5 to 10 being referred to as "Mavis".

I was not going to say anymore as it seemed that my 'moaning' was getting some people's backs up and I've only just recently joined and would rather have started my experience here in a more positive manner (with all things seized up and rusty to be honest)...however, the point made by Neil is spot on. Much better put than I could ever hope to do so.

Due to the nature of the bidding process there are swings and fluctuations. Some weeks you might just snap up bargain after bargain, way under your max bid...others not. This is sort of factored into my max bid estimate, in the knowledge that there is a pretty good chance that if you overpay slightly on one auction you'll make it back on another. This goes out the window if shill-bidding is occurring. What if every auction you bid on the same was happening and you ended up paying your max bid or close to on each one...over a fixed period my total outgoings could be doubled. You expect to occasionally pay close to your max or even miss out on the occasional auction - but not artificially...

 

[kingoffootball]

I find it disappointing how many people are dismissing this with 'you got it for a price you were willing to pay'. I consider that to be effectively condoning attempting to deceive people.

Agree.

effectively nothing....there are two issues within this thread and opinions are clear on both. Shill bidding when suspected/found out should be reported.

However until they found out/suspected shill bidding had taken place they were happy to bid that amount to win the item. If your not happy to pay that amount....don't bid to that amount.

I hope that clarifies the differences

The OP didn't say anything about how much he was happy to pay, it was all about shill bidding.

 

[sylus]

and yet when the auction happened they did bid that amount and no one else made them do that..are we agreed on that?