Is This A Shill?

[Rob Jarratt]

I'd look at the bid history if I could, but I don't seem to be able to see
it at all. It looks as if the item has been set as a Buy It Now at my top
price, even if I use a different browser so it doesn't know it is me looking
at the item, I just see a buy in now and no bid history. I am not too fussed
about the item, even though the actual amount is quite small, it is more the
principle that makes me inclined not to buy it.

Regards

Rob

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Fred
Cisin
> via cctalk
> Sent: 01 May 2018 18:11
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Is This A Shill?
> 
> Check the bidding history.
> 
> 1) Is the cancelled high bid absurdly high?
> Is it from a low/no feedback?  (eBay no longer lets you know other bidders
> identities)
> 
> It is not uncommon for a shill to place a single VERY high bid, in order
to
> reveal the full amount of the highest bid.
> 
> Another use for a shill is to bid credible bids to auction-up the price.
> That sometimes backfires when the highest legit bidder gives up, and the
> shill ends up winning.
> 
> 
> 2) How far below yours is the next one below yours?  (Is "and somebody
> else is interested" credible?  or is that just to push you into a quick
> decision?)
> 
> 
> Cancelled because he is a "SPAMMER" is not credible reason.  "scammer"
> might be, although certainly seller's wording, not the wording that eBay
> would use.