eBay: Bidders' Identities Protected

[Buythatcard]

While checking out listings on eBay, I like to check the bidder history to make sure nothing fishy was going on. I came across a listing, and all of the bidders information were listed as "private listing - bidders' identities protected".
I then checked out the Sellers's other listings and every single one of their listings had the same thing.
Bidder names are already protected from the public so the only thing this really hides is whether the bidder has made multiple bids on the item. It also hides their feedback. It hides their bid retractions also.
My thoughts is that it only stops others from seeing all the shilling that is happening. I feel that eBay does not care and just wants to protect their bigger earners.
I don't want to be the one to put out the Seller's name but I will say that they have been mentioned in this Forum more than any other.

I would love to hear what others think the reasoning behind this is.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[oldeboo]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

I would love to hear what others think the reasoning behind this is.

$$$

[rjackson44]

Originally Posted by oldeboo

$$$

Agree

[upstateNYmilb]

I was kidding on a 1950 Big League Dutch Mele from PWCC...and the only other bidder was one of these private id's. Sounds like BS, especially since it was a PWCC listing.

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[Buythatcard]

As a Seller, I would not even know how to hide my bidders' identities. Not that I would ever do that. I wonder whether you need to get special approval from eBay to do this.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally, I thought it was used for porn on Ebay

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Originally, I thought it was used for porn on Ebay

I guess it's now used for shilling too.

[toledo_mudhen]

Been noticing this more and more over the last several months - WTF!

I can't believe that "someone" hasn't stepped up and built an eBay competitor.

Been on eBay since June 1, 1996 and it has been swirling around in the bowl non stop since then.

Just needs to get finally flushed!

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

I guess it's now used for shilling too.

People getting screwed!

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

Bidder names are already protected from the public so the only thing this really hides is whether the bidder has made multiple bids on the item. It also hides their feedback. It hides their bid retractions also.



Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Are bidder names protected when Blowout can identify buyers/sellers/cons with investigative work?

I'm no advocate of all the fishyness on ebay, shill bidding, bid cancellation (a seller canceled my bid for the first time this week), etc. But ebay's previous discrepency wasn't that great. And their name attachment to every Blowout forum is an embarrassment. I know exactly why they did this. They built a brand and they're maintaining their brand - right or wrong.

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[UKCardGuy]

I'm curious, are there any legitimate reasons why a listing would need to have Private Bidding turned on?

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

I'm curious, are there any legitimate reasons why a listing would need to have Private Bidding turned on?

Only to protect something that is shady.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Not to defend PWCC but do you know bidders identities in any other auction? I won't bid with PWCC regardless because they have consistently demonstrated their lack of ethics, but you don't get to see bidder information anywhere else, do you?

[Throttlesteer]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Not to defend PWCC but do you know bidders identities in any other auction? I won't bid with PWCC regardless because they have consistently demonstrated their lack of ethics, but you don't get to see bidder information anywhere else, do you?

No, but most auction houses have a vetting process to assign a bidder number. Thats not the case with Ebay.

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Not to defend PWCC but do you know bidders identities in any other auction? I won't bid with PWCC regardless because they have consistently demonstrated their lack of ethics, but you don't get to see bidder information anywhere else, do you?

Atleast when the bidders identity is not blocked, I am able to see that a bidder has x many retractions. I can also see if this bidder is bidding up all the other items in a Sellers auction. Now, that it's set to private, it's anyones guess.

So, it's not the actual identity of the bidder that I am concerned with. This has been hidden for over the past year or so.