Oops, your shill bidding got a little too carried away

[lighthousekeeper]

Of course we suspect shilling bidding from time to time, especially with certain sellers, but it's good when it happens so obviously that we're left with absolutely no doubt.

Case in point:

1968 Topps #7 NL ERA Leaders PSA 8 (auction ending today), ravenously bid now up to $125.00
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-...T/363316230824


While other BIN options are available for less than half that price:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-...8/373318199433 $50

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-TOPPS-...T/303921245111 another for $50

For the record, my personal price point for this card is $40.

They violated the first rule of shill bidding: maintain reasonable doubt.

* Edit: and for those "buy the card not the slab" folks, that highest priced card kinda does seem like the slightly inferior one too

[bobbyw8469]

Well...Mr. 85% SHOULD be left holding the bag on this one. The market is crazy right about now though, so I am not placing any bets.

[Johnny630]

It’s my prediction that, The Party Will Be Coming to the End Shortly.

[Fred]

Just curious - are you thinking there are (2) shill bidders in the subject auction link? I would figure that people all have a "price point" and can find a lower priced comparable card with a quick search.

I bid on a few items with the subject item seller and have been fortunate that the items I've bid on didn't appear to be shilled. Keep in mind, I usually don't bid on post 1950 higher grade cards.

[darwinbulldog]

Most people haven't done this, but I've accidentally bid more for a card in the heat of auction (and won unfortunately) than the BIN price for a comparable item that was already sitting on eBay. A few times probably. And substantially more on one occasion last year.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

It’s my prediction that, The Party Will Be Coming to the End Shortly.

It has to, this is just insane.

As far as shill bidding. I haven't bought from any of the top eBay scum in a long long time. It used to be if you wanted to see some serious shill bidding you could ask them a question and mention you are VERY interested in the item. It would magically get several new bids.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by Fred

Just curious - are you thinking there are (2) shill bidders in the subject auction link? I would figure that people all have a "price point" and can find a lower priced comparable card with a quick search.

I bid on a few items with the subject item seller and have been fortunate that the items I've bid on didn't appear to be shilled. Keep in mind, I usually don't bid on post 1950 higher grade cards.

Not sure if there are 2 shill bidders, but 2 bidders on that item do conspicuously seem to love one seller in particular. Also adding to the shenanigans is a bid retraction at $130, which occurred before the unrealistic run up.


I've also gotten caught up in the heat of bidding and ended up bidding slightly higher than a BIN option, but this case is 250% higher than the BIN options, and also the heat-of-the-moment overbids I would argue happen in the few minutes/seconds before hammer time, not a day before close.

[bn2cardz]

It could be the tandem bidding scam where the under bidder cancels when the auction is about to end leaving the high bid just above $30.

[Frank A]

Originally Posted by bnorth

It has to, this is just insane.

As far as shill bidding. I haven't bought from any of the top eBay scum in a long long time. It used to be if you wanted to see some serious shill bidding you could ask them a question and mention you are VERY interested in the item. It would magically get several new bids.

I don't know how insane it is. I decided to go to walmart and but a box of new cards. Thought it might be fun to open on. Guess what. They now keep them behind closed doors, and it's one box per person. I thought I was trying to buy ammo. Target gives three boxes per person. Both were sold out. Seems the Hobby is really alive and well. Crazy times.

[Bobbycee]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

It’s my prediction that, The Party Will Be Coming to the End Shortly.

I don't know about shortly, but I wonder myself that this ride can't continue. What do you think would end the ride shortly? I do think Biden's new Federal tax increase on the wealthy could curtail this ride, but that tax increase won't happen until 2022.

[JK]

I'd note that the high bidder has 0% feedback and 84% of his bids with this seller.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by JK

I'd note that the high bidder has 0% feedback and 84% of his bids with this seller.

I'm a little confused by this. The high bidder has a feedback number of 5565 but it does say "Feedback: 0% Positive". What does that mean?

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I'm a little confused by this. The high bidder has a feedback number of 5565 but it does say "Feedback: 0% Positive". What does that mean?

I believe that feedback is calculated in 12 month intervals. All of this "bidders" activity must be recent, therefore no feedback has been left in that time frame.

Just a guess.

Quick search shows that bidder is also in on other 1968's. He is either the consignor, or he's very passionate about 1968's.

Or..

Also, look for last minute cancellations to see if it's the crater the auction theory listed above by another poster......which I have my own suspicions about.

[lighthousekeeper]

Another suspicious example:

1968 Topps Phil Roof: a very abundant common card. In fact 3 PSA 9s all sold in the past couple months: average sale price $16. This card in PSA 9 is so abundant, sellers can't get rid of them. I should know, I've got some. At this moment, there are 12 (!) different PSA 9 copies of this card available BIN selling for under $40, just not moving at all:

$17
$23
$24
$24
$24
$25
$27
$27.5
$28
$30
$30
$36

But here comes an auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-...T/384048185877), and the card is now feverishly bid up to $52. Anyone who closely follows '68 cards knows this makes absolutely 0 sense. No bubble talk could even explain it.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

Another suspicious example:

1968 Topps Phil Roof: a very abundant common card. In fact 3 PSA 9s all sold in the past couple months: average sale price $16. This card in PSA 9 is so abundant, sellers can't get rid of them. I should know, I've got some. At this moment, there are 12 (!) different PSA 9 copies of this card available BIN selling for under $40, just not moving at all:

$17
$23
$24
$24
$24
$25
$27
$27.5
$28
$30
$30
$36

But here comes an auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-...T/384048185877), and the card is now feverishly bid up to $52. Anyone who closely follows '68 cards knows this makes absolutely 0 sense. No bubble talk could even explain it.

Look at whom the seller is and the feedback. He draws so many more eyes than the other sellers (possibly combined) so there is that aspect. I know some people don't like Rick and his team but the point I'm making is many people may purchase exclusively from either Probstein or PWCC. And I'll point out they are the two largest EBay card auctioneers so their auctions are publicized by EBay as well.

Rich

[Bill77]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

But here comes an auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-...T/384048185877), and the card is now feverishly bid up to $52. Anyone who closely follows '68 cards knows this makes absolutely 0 sense. No bubble talk could even explain it.

Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is the card trimmed on the top?

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

It’s my prediction that, The Party Will Be Coming to the End Shortly.

Oh God, I hope so. I can't afford anything at these absurd prices.

[Stampsfan]

I wonder if someone is that hard up for fifty to a hundred bucks that they need to shill up a card like that? I get PERHAPS doing it a number of times, but one card?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Stampsfan

I wonder if someone is that hard up for fifty to a hundred bucks that they need to shill up a card like that? I get PERHAPS doing it a number of times, but one card?

People sell $3 forged autographs, counterfeit $20 cards, soak/trim/press cheap cards all the time. Not everyone has a lot of cash and are happy making a few extra dollars. Making an extra $5-$50 per transaction adds up fast when you do it 100s if not 1000s of times. If you have a lot of cash it seems stupid but if you make $25K a year at a job it will greatly improve your life.