To try to be clear from my standpoint in as few words as possible.
I don't even see it as a shilling issue for the most part. To me it's a perception of shilling that is damaging, along with a strategic interference in auctions that more often then not, drive prices down, rather then up.
Shilling and bid retractions in the Ebay world, is a much different animal then those same concerns in the auction house world, IMO.
An auction house has one on one control of every aspect of their bidding experience. You decide whether they are trustworthy or not, based on their individual reputations.
Then I see broad statements about Ebay.........and "Ebay" is not trustworthy. I stay away from "Ebay", because of this experience and that experience with nameless bidder, seller, buyer, consignments house, etc......
It should be broken down into all the individual sellers on Ebay on a case by case basis, but a lot of collectors don't want to be hassled with that, so we all get painted with the same brush........and as a result business suffers.
The company Ebay itself is responsible for much of this. In their pursuit of buyers and bids, along with the illusion of now anonymous bidding, they have encouraged this behavior, when at one time it was penalized. Essentially telling bidders they can retract or cancel a transaction any time they want.
It's now up to individual sellers to police this behavior, but even those who do, are affected tremendously by those who don't. Whether it's to continue misguided shilling practices, or it's triggering the desperation train of thought that "any bid is a good bid"........if I let this guy f*#k with this auction, he might spend more money on my next auction.
It becomes just as maddening as my shoddy attempt to make my point in "as few words as possible".
