What are all the reasons you might have a person/entity bid on your behalf?

[batsballsbases]

On Vacation and the wife doesnt want you near a phone or computer!

[HRBAKER]

You've had a very public disagreement with an AH and they have banned you from bidding.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

You've had a very public disagreement with an AH and they have banned you from bidding.

Nah, that would never happen.

[Leon]

How about...

It's a live auction and the FBI is sitting with you at your table and you don't want them to know you are bidding on an item. (I hear my phone ringing now )

[drc]

My mom has an eBay account but is 72 and isn't savvy with the process so once in a while has me buy stuff for her on eBay on my account. I swear it's all on the up and up when I win wool yarn for her.

I suspect there are some well healed collectors who aren't into bidding at 3am or are not familiar with bidding, so have someone do it for them. I think there are some very well healed collectors who have others do the whole buying process.

If it involves fellow collecting relatives, I can see a brother bidding for a brother or something like that. Maybe they want to combine shipping costs.

Jeff's is a good one, and I have no doubt has happened before. I also imagine there are collectors who are in the doghouse with an auction house and isn't allowed to bid.

If you are in good status, I don't buy #i (I mean letter i?). You would want an auction house to know you're a big bidder with lots on money, because then you will get favors and considerations from them.

I can imagine the sales tax avoidance, but that doesn't sound like a wise idea. You don't want to go to jail because you have a taste for baseball cards. If you are a busy seller too, you can get a state business/tax/reseller license and not have to pay sales taxes for stuff for resale. And I'm talking legally.

In conclusion, in summary and upon quiet reflection while gazing upon the sunset, I can see both legitimate and dubious reasons for having someone else bid for you. Anything I listed where I was involved is cataloged under legitimate.

Yes, I know there is no sunset at noon. Quit being so literal. I was being rhetorical.

[glchen]

On ebay, if the seller does not ship to Canada or international.

[drc]

Canadians. A shifty sort. The only question is is there a law a Canadian doesn't break?

[mcgwirecom]

Some people like to buy and re-sell. When on someplace like Ebay it's easy to go check what a seller has bought. If you see that he bought an item last week for $20 and now is asking $200 you may feel you don't want to bid on it.