Was I Shilled??

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I haven't bothered to read this whole thread because frankly I'm stunned that there could possibly be so many opinions on this one. If you cannot see a shill bidding scenario here, with all respect, you are a fu&$@g idiot.

How about you read the whole thread then, before calling someone a fu&$@g idiot?




What you guys are saying is one newbie bidder, placing a snipe bid in a single auction is a definite shill bidding account...........and if you don't believe this, you are a f*%&ng idiot?

Every other bid in their history is for a "Buy It Now"!

[rainier2004]

How does everyone conclude the guy w/ 0 feedback set a snipe? The bid was entered with 7 seconds left...that how I do it and dont belong to a snipe service. If it were a snipe is that relevant and how? Thanks to anyone for some help here...

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

How does everyone conclude the guy w/ 0 feedback set a snipe? The bid was entered with 7 seconds left...that how I do it and dont belong to a snipe service. If it were a snipe is that relevant and how? Thanks to anyone for some help here...

I'm using snipe as a generic term for a last second bid. Not necessarily that he used a sniping service to put the bid in.

[calvindog]

Dave, I don't need to read the whole thread. I understand that clucking hens like to see a conspiracy behind every shadow in order to make things more interesting for them on this forum. God forbid one just looks at the facts as laid out without trying to be counter-intuitive. It's a shill. The only way it could be more obvious would be if the underbidder's ebay name was BILL MASTRO. But I understand the reticence of some posters here to call a spade a spade -- many here think that shill bidding is ok as long as you don't pay more than what you wanted for a card.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Dave, I don't need to read the whole thread. I understand that clucking hens like to see a conspiracy behind every shadow in order to make things more interesting for them on this forum. God forbid one just looks at the facts as laid out without trying to be counter-intuitive. It's a shill. The only way it could be more obvious would be if the underbidder's ebay name was BILL MASTRO. But I understand the reticence of some posters here to call a spade a spade -- many here think that shill bidding is ok as long as you don't pay more than what you wanted for a card.

Why do you think it's obvious?

The timing of every other bid in that history indicates a "Buy It Now", because the seller didn't even have any auctions running at the time those bids were placed.

Is it simply because it's a "0" feedback bidder?

[camlov2]

Looking at the other items for sale in the last few weeks I can't put together 15 items that make sense. I don't understand the bidding on Buy-it-now items but I also don't understand any connection between this Babe Ruth album and the rest of the sellers items (except 3-4 yankee cards).

I would guess shill, would be interesting to revisit this buyers info in a couple weeks. (and also see if any feedback ever appears).

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by camlov2

Looking at the other items for sale in the last few weeks I can't put together 15 items that make sense. I don't understand the bidding on Buy-it-now items but I also don't understand any connection between this Babe Ruth album and the rest of the sellers items (except 3-4 yankee cards).

I would guess shill, would be interesting to revisit this buyers info in a couple weeks. (and also see if any feedback ever appears).

They sell oddball International tobacco and trading cards.

There doesn't have to be any other Babe Ruth or Yankee connection.

I know lots of collectors who have very eclectic tastes and don't pigeon hole themselves into a particular category.

Murray's Cards have been around for decades. I'm sure they have plenty such customers.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Many here think that shill bidding is ok as long as you don't pay more than what you wanted for a card.

+1 (Do I recognize it is fraudulent behavior according to the law and our societal expectations? Sure. Do I care when it happens to me? Not in the least. Consider me blissfully ignorant.)

[calvindog]

And the perfect fraud victim.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by calvindog

And the perfect fraud victim.

+1

I try not to bid more than I should but I should also get a good buy if no one else bids legitimately. Hell yes I care if I am shilled. If someone doesn't want to sell an item for a lower than they want amount then there are legitimate ways to do that. Shilling isn't one of them.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by calvindog

And the perfect fraud victim.

What can I say? I like being fraudulently induced to buy baseball cards at prices I am comfortable paying. You can fraudulently induce me into that kind of racket all day and all night. I'm not looking for bargains based on some puritanical expectation of an auction format. I'm happy to pay what the seller wants me to pay, if I'm happy with the price. Most of the time there is a big fat sticker in a grocery aisle. Sometimes the seller plays games. Never have I paid money involuntarily.

On this one, I think it is pretty evident that a new guy joined ebay in order to buy some of this guy's BINs, and then he saw this album at auction and was interested in bidding.

The only way you can prove that this was a shill based on the objective facts that we have today is if you can explain all the prior BIN purchases. If you are ignoring the prior BIN purchases you are not willing to engage in a serious discussion on this topic. Period.