[Filthy]

I am NOT speaking of any company specifically, in regards to this thread itself...but I can comment about first hand experiences in regards to 3rd party marketplace sellers/resellers.

I am in the E-Commerce business, and spend a fair amount of time with my clients who are the 3rd party sellers on sites "like" Ebay, Amazon, Wal Mart. com etc... I have seen it with my own eyes, in a Brooklyn basement, a room with 10-12 guys on computers, that are all making listings, bidding, manipulating, sales, rankings, etc. These guys in one room would also have anywhere between 5-10 different storefront names each, otherwise anywhere between 100-150 different usernames/storefronts, buying/selling/making transactions all day everyday on each others accounts, all under the guise of different people all around the world. Bidding up auction pricing, shill bidding hundreds of auctions, and manipulating any given market. Between the group, they can build what looks to be a reputable storefront, with great ratings, without any product or money ever exchanging hands. These guys burn thru about $2-$3 million per month, and for the most part...aren't even touching the product. They are literally being paid to manipulate the market. The manufacturers of these goods "act" like they absolutely hate it...yet wont do anything to stop it, because those same "ghost" transactions/company fronts, are the same ones building the ratings....in tern, get people to buy a product...that otherwise wouldn't ever show up on anyone's radar. Whether it be sporting goods, vintage collectibles, electronics, or home goods...the manipulation of auctions, and market pricing happens, and happens ALOT!!!