Quote:
Originally Posted by bobfreedman
Paul, I run the software for most of the major sports auction companies and I can say that after reading all of your posts that you don't know what you are talking about. None of the companies that use my software can see the max bids therefore they cannot shill or bid up items.
Also, If you think that it is safer to bid on eBay, where you do not know whom you are buying from, than an auction company, then you are not being very truthful. Most of the auction house DO accept returns where and when appropriate.
You cannot compare eBay prices to AH prices as well as well, they operate differently and most of the big bidders will never bid in eBay and place their trust in knowing who they are bidding with at the AH's. not to mention that your example does not take into consideration that the person who is selling the item is no longer bidding on the item so you lose one of the competing bidders that drove the price to the level that it sold at.
Those are the facts.
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I should believe you why?
And I didn't say it was the AHs themselves doing the shilling (though anything is possible) so get your facts straight.
Finally, AHs make their own rules, rules that support their interests first and foremost. On ebay, sellers have to all play by ebay's rules, rules that actually protect people on both sides of the deal. Maybe I can return an item with an AH if its NAD? Maybe?! Are you serious? You pay with check, MO or wire transfer for a reason with AHs ... it's so the buyer has zero leverage if something goes wrong.
CW,
All you need to make an AH account is a credit card. So you can shill as much as you want during a run of auctions, not pay for anything, and the worst that happens is your account is blocked.
Next auction just sign up with a new CC or get your friend to.
The point of transparency is to protect the buyer during the auction, and give everyone useful information after.
I know it strikes a nerve to dare challenge an institution that many have bought into and others have spent ludicrous amounts of money in. But the reality is that many premium cards have been bought from AHs only to take a dive when sold elsewhere ... there are countless examples and I have provided a few. So for those who have dropped serious cash in an AH setting, you've done so in an arena where you may have been shilled and you will never know - that's why there isn't as much confidence in the prices of cards that are acquired this way - and one of the reasons they sell for less when not in the same AH setting.