23 Feb
2006
23 Feb
'06
1:55 p.m.
From: "Dan" <ragooman at comcast.net>
Lurker here,
Just keep in mind that as with any other business(and auctions) there's
always a shill to artificially inflate the bidding for an auction. eBay
is notorious for this as they have absolutely no precautions(nor
security) against this. I know because I've found how this done very
easily, anyone who has access to internet can do this. The seller can
easily just as well have numerous eBay screenames/accounts and bid
against his own auction to drive up the price(and act as his own shill).
So what looks like an act of stupidity is easily just a ploy by the
shill to aggravate you into bidding more for his/their product. eBay has
no type of screening whatsoever to prevent this type of thievery. Just
be forewarned.
=Dan
---snip---
Hi
Most shill's can be noticed by looking at the buyers records.
If they have a lot of buying from the same seller, it is a good
chance that they are a shill. Also a quick check of the sellers
feedback will often find several shill names.
Ebay doesn't seem to do much more than warn the seller when
they are notified. This is even when it is obvious shilling.
Dwight
23 Feb
23 Feb
2:10 p.m.
Most shill's can be noticed by looking at the
buyers records.
If they have a lot of buying from the same seller, it is a good
chance that they are a shill.
And what about some of us sellers and buyers that have built up good
relationships with multiple repeat sales? Hmmm????? Your blanket statement
covers much more than you think.
The best way to detect a shill is to...well, you can't. That is the
problem. Too many perfectly valid and honest auction players can look like
shills. The best bet is to know they will always be there, but not in the
numbers that people think, and just be prepared to fall victim at some
point. After all, you were willing to spend that money, right? Other than
the feeling of being ripped off, there really is no loss to you. Move on
with life, then think about the times that you won something for far less
than what was expected..
Ebay doesn't seem to do much more than warn the
seller when
they are notified. This is even when it is obvious shilling.
I have never been hassled for shilling (I have been asked, but have
outright refused, even from friends), but I know that Ebay will warn once,
then BANG - suspension. Getting back on is a major pain, and can take
weeks, or even months. It is real, and it happens.
William 99.6% Donzelli
aw288 at osfn.org
2:19 p.m.
Few people who were with eBay back in the early days (I've been with them
for about 8 years) realize how drastically the environment has changed.
I recently asked a question on one of their discussion fora and was deried
as being hopelessly naive. The general attitude was that eBay was a shark
tank and that it wasn't for everyone, particularly the warm-blooded (wonder
how that squares with eBay's current advertising?).
What would have been called abuses now seem to be the normal way of
operation. For example, I was told that I was a pollyanna because I'd only
had one user ID. Some of these guys go through user IDs like jellybeans.
Shill bidding? It's not shill bidding if a group of folks have an
"understanding"--such collusion is nearly impossible to prove. AND THESE
FRANK ADMISSIONS WERE BEING MADE ON AN EBAY-MODERATED FORUM!
Bottom line: treat eBay as if it were a fly-by-night flea market run by
thieves where you aren't actually allowed to inspect merchandise, only
photos of it. Ask lots of questions and never show your hand. Bid what
you're willing to pay and not a penny more. Trust no one.
Cheers,
Chuck
4:48 p.m.
From: "Dwight Elvey" <dwight.elvey at amd.com>
Most shill's can be noticed by looking at the
buyers records.
If they have a lot of buying from the same seller, it is a good
chance that they are a shill.
Not always the case, I sell quite a bit of Commodore equipment & I have
regular buyers (in fact one guy has bought 28 items from me in the last four
years). In the same vein, there are sellers that I have bought many items
off because they have what I want, and they are reliable.
The statement is way too broad.
cheers,
Lance
// http://landover.no-ip.com
Classic machines, classic software //
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