Shill Bidding?

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Posted By: Tom L.

I was high for awhile on this particular Old Judge (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8805198857), but the bidding is starting to look a little questionable. One bidder with zero feedback pushed the price up, while another with zero feedback is now high bidder. (See http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=8805198857). Does this appear to be shill bidding, or is it just coincidence?

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Posted By: anthony

my guess is yes, both those guys have been longtime members since yesterday... unless they happened to see the press release from robert edwards auction on the crazy money these old cards were bringing and wanted in on it... but i doubt it

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Posted By: andy becker

i would say the likelihood of two bidders with zero feedback competing for an old judge is not good. i would stay away.....

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Posted By: jackgoodman

Be Afwaid, be wery afwaid.................

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Posted By: Bill Todd

I don't think it's any coincidence that the auction is for a "Griffin C.F." card and the current high bidder is "griffinc1."

Bill

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Posted By: T206Collector

...but if you put a bid on an ebay auction prior to 20 seconds before the close of that auction, you only have yourself to blame for this kind of "ratcheting up" shill bidding. Why anyone would put a final high bid on ebay prior to 20 seconds before the close of that auction is still beyond me...

Save yourself some money next time and maybe even win a card at a good price -- use an auction sniper.

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Posted By: Glenn

Interestingly, I sold some James J. Braddock items a couple of months ago to a bidder named jbrad. No coincidence there either -- turns out his name actually is James J. Braddock and he's the grandson of the champ.

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Posted By: Tom L.

What kind of crap is that? Shill bidding is illegal, no matter when you place a legitimate bid.

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Posted By: Glenn

prior to the last 20 seconds

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Posted By: T206Collector

"What does this shill bidding have to do with the issue of snipe bids in the last 20 seconds."

Granted, shill bidding can take place at any time in an auction, even as a late high snipe designed to eat away at a proxy bid's high price. But you only have time to ratchet up, like one of the shill bidders in this auction, if you have a high proxy bid made with lots of time before the close of an auction.

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Posted By: T206Collector

"Shill bidding is illegal, no matter when you place a legitimate bid."

Agreed. And so is getting robbed in a subway when you are walking around with a visible rolex or an open wallet full of cash. It is illegal to steal from you under these circumstances, but you could have protected yourself a little better.

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Posted By: andy becker

it is a shill. no question. what t206 (hi paul) is saying is that by bidding before the auction has run it's course, the bidder is exposing himself to these tactics.

not all bidders agree, some prefer to place their bids and "scare" everyone off. others prefer to snipe.

i use both tactics. i will bid early for a card that is already close to my price level....i will hope that my level is higher than others.
i also will snipe at items i do not want to loose....items that show up infrequently.
both stategies have their merits, by sniping you have a better chance to win an item, imo.
but sniping can also cost you more money....if you set a high snipe and someone else sets a high snipe, then you run the risk of "overpaying".

there is no right or wrong, just personal preference.

in this case, there is a least one shill bidder....which is obviously one too many.

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Posted By: Chris

Mike Griffin was my great grandfather. We have been looking for one of his cards for quite some time. I placed a max bid with ebay and they did the rest. My exicited sister started to bid against me not knowing how the process worked. The card will remain in the family. Sorry guys no shill.

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Posted By: sagard

Ahhhh... The rarely used "shill yourself" technique.

Congrats on the win.

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Posted By: Bob

LOL! Congratulations on winning the card. Amazing how many people put their names in on ebay and hit search and wind up in the vintage card section. I have sold cards to descendants of at least 4 big league players whose cards were in the Obak and caramel card section.

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Posted By: pat

"Ahhhh... The rarely used "shill yourself" technique."

sagard-- thats too funny. i actually broke out in laughter.

great.

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Posted By: dan bartenbaker

everyone knows,or should know that shill bidding does exsist. it's not fair but it is going on. dan