OT: Interesting Bidders

[samosa4u]

Back in 2016, when prices were being manipulated, Brent posted the following statement on here:

Yes, I do believe this hobby is getting pushed hard by a limited number of collector/investors. Not sure exactly how many heavy investors there are, but I’d say the people most responsible number more than 10 and probably less than 30.

These guys, today, are known as "the buyer's club." I do have a few friends who know who these guys are, but they have never disclosed any of their names to me, and to my knowledge, nor have they been outed on a public forum before.

So, the market is on fire again, with basketball leading the way. Last night I decided to do a little investigating and I wasn't happy with what I saw.

Here is the bid history of the PSA 5.5 Bill Russell rookie card:

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/143682541084?item=143682541084&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

You can clearly see two bidders pumping the card up. So, I decided to look at the PSA 6 Bill Russell rookie:

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/143682541086?item=143682541086&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

It appears that the same guys are pumping that one up too.

Let's look at the Wilt Chamberlain rookie in PSA 7:

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/402361542494?item=402361542494&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

I see purple star (748) bidding again. There seems to be another user who has joined in on pumping this card up.

George Mikan rookie:

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/143682540841?item=143682540841&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

There is purple star (748) again. Turquoise star (145) has joined in this time. Blue star (94) retracted his bid of $14,858 USD.

Oscar Robertson rookie:

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/143682541749?item=143682541749&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

Once again, there is purple star (748), turquoise star (145), and wait, blue star (94) is back too.

The number of bid retractions are also disgusting:

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/402259452907?item=402259452907&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/402331923565?item=402331923565&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565

I could go on and on here, but I feel like I don't need to. You guys can clearly see that none of this is normal. If this isn't market manipulation, then what is?

Ranj0dh Dhill0n

[MikeGarcia]

..is this the kind of thing which E_bay wishes reported to them ? Or to the ''seller " ?

..

[samosa4u]

..is this the kind of thing which E_bay wishes reported to them ? Or to the ''seller " ?

..

What good will that do?

[Republicaninmass]

I wont watch pwcc auctions or bid on them

I dont quote or use pwcc prices

Plenty of others will get swept up in the madness, just like before. If they get shilled, it is probably the best thing, as the card doctors are still dumping.


The sad part is, people will leave the hobby after getting burned

[Arazi4442]

It will never, ever happen but it would be nice if eBay showed which auctions were actually paid for.