Question about detecting shilling

[Bridwell]

I tend to be skeptical of "second chance offers". I usually review the other bidders and if it looks suspicious, I won't accept the offer just as a manner of principle.

[T206Collector]

If you bid in ebay auctions without using a free sniping service, you are inviting shilling. The best way to avoid it on ebay is to snipe. It is a major factor in so many peoples' decision to snipe, which in turn has led to more BINs than auctions.

I have never once considered whether I was being shilled in any auction. Because I dont bid more on any item than I am willimg to pay for it, I view shilling as the same thing as a hidden reserve. And I have never paid more for an item than it was worth to me.

I really believe that if you're worried about shilling on ebay, that you don't really have a good plan when it comes to bidding on ebay.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

I really believe that if you're worried about shilling on ebay, that you don't really have a good plan when it comes to bidding on ebay.

Not worried, just wanted to know how to detect it, since it's written about so often in posts. And I generally feel I have a pretty good plan when it comes to eBay.. though "good' should be used as a relative term and is different for everyone. I've had some pretty nice wins, but also don't ever intend to flip or re-sell cards. I generally don't bid freely on the items I'm really serious about, for those I do the wait and watch... no snipes needed, just an iphone/callandar reminders or an alarm, and 3G. When those final seconds come, I know my price... am rarely willing to exceed it, but often times am pleasently surprised. That said, I try not to take it too seriously.. it's a hobby, it's fun, it's still a nice rush to win, and I love the cards and the game.

[ls7plus]

Perhaps this is a bit beyond the original context of the thread, but shill bidding certainly is not limited to e-bay--it occurs with some of the major sportscard auction houses, who shall go unnamed here. You are 99% sure it's occurred when you set a max bid so you won't have to stay up 'til 4:00 am, and amazingly, you find that you've been "cha-chinged" very late and very quickly through a significant number of bids right up to, but not over that max bid! The way to avoid being "ripped off" is just as other posters have noted: simply bid only what the item is worth to you. Then, even if these shennigans occur, you've still gotten your money's worth personally. We can't always get everything we want a bargain prices, although it is nice when we can.

Regards,

Larry

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Because I don't bid more on any item than I am willing to pay for it, I view shilling as the same thing as a hidden reserve. And I have never paid more for an item than it was worth to me.

What he said.

[ls7plus]

Exactly!

Larry