Is Something Fishey Going On

[Colin 009]

I'm bidding on something on ebay, and have been out bid by someone who's been a member since March 04 and has never bought or sold anything, is this a sting, to up the bids to get the most money.

Here's the bid history :http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=7583937994

[pritch]

It really is impossible to say. Yes, shill bidding does happen on ebay, but it's also entirely possible that the chap just hasn't used his account for several years, and now he genuinely wants an item.

[the loon]

as huw says. I would be more than likley though to think possible price hiking scam.
Maybe worth reporting to ebay but dont see they could prove it eithr way

[paul_humphreys]

I would say so, the sort of thing I have done in the past. I have a mate who has 3 ebay acounts.

The best way of uping the price is bid on another acount to just below the reserve.

[Edge]

I would say so, the sort of thing I have done in the past. I have a mate who has 3 ebay acounts.

The best way of uping the price is bid on another acount to just below the reserve.

Anychance of warning us who your mate is? so we dont get stung! :D
I placed an immediate highest bid on a dog guard that started at 0.99p, my bid was £35, when i looked at the list of bidders just before bid ending, ebay had obviously been bidding for me and my name was all up the screen and looked as though i'd been just adding bid after bid.

[Bulli]

im sure it does happen, why would ebay allow 3 accounts from the same Ip address...doesnt make sense and surely makes this kind of thing possible. If this is the case then it would be easy to prove.
Borders on a different note...I never bid till right at the end, otherwise if someone else is intrested they can slowy increase bids...doesnt mean they will outbid you but it does mean you may pay more.

[Edge]

That is true Bulli, and i did infact get outbid in the end. I will take your advice and now only bid in the last minute or so. CHEERS. :D

[Jas278]

I can see why your upset...............after all its a BEER cooler  8)

[Baby_Rhino]

why would ebay allow 3 accounts from the same Ip address...doesnt make sense and surely makes this kind of thing possible.

My mum, dad and myself each have an ebay account and use the same internet connection.... thats why!

[paul_humphreys]

My friend has 2 for him self and 1 for work. But all you need is a friend with a ebay a/c if you want to drive the price up.

Paul

[Bulli]

Yes Baby rhino ...but surely you wouldn't bid on something your mum was selling would you? That would be easy to check surely and hey presto bids on same item from same address...kicked off ebay BINGO!

[Rangie3.0LtrDan]

The problem is Ebay dont check unless someone reports the listing for shill bidding.

[Sheddy]

I never bid during the auction, I always look at the item, decide what my maximum would be and then use www.esnipe.com as a proxy bid service.  It bids in the last 6 seconds of the auction so I don't get caught in a bid war.  the other bonus is that if I am outbid, its too late for the red-mist to take hold and for me to re-bid above my persoanlly pre-set maximum!

[MuddyMachine]

and then use www.esnipe.com as a proxy bid service.  

Any more details, how much do thay charge ect

[Sheddy]

This'll tell you m8

http://www.esnipe.com/Fees/

[DiscoveRay]

This one's free:

http://www.auctionlotwatch.co.uk/lotsnipe.html

Ray

[muddymart]

this also can happen so beware !
i sold an item on ebay last year, a petrol chainsaw to be exact. and at £122 , echo top of the range, check arrived, cleared ,then i posted the item boxed,receipt,warranty card,oil,(this is in september)
A few weeks later the guy says he hasnt got it??
I emailed him saying why leave it 3 weeks? no answer.
He threatened me with police action, so i just left it to him,having lost the proof of postage (royal mail standard parcels) i knew it was his word against mine.
November the chainsaw arricved back at my house, in a box,used and dirty.
4 days after the new year, the police came and asked me to go to the station saying i had obtained property by deception? i gave them the chainsaw, and i have to go back to see what the result is.

when i asked him to pay through paypal he didn't want to , now i know why.
from my experience now,and having a couple of hours in the cells im coming off ebay and only dealing with people i can really trust.

[jiffyman]

I'm never doing cheques again. If they want my stuff, I'm only going with Paypal. Much safer. Plus I always wait for the last 30 seconds to bid myself.

[Baby_Rhino]

this also can happen so beware !
i sold an item on ebay last year, a petrol chainsaw to be exact. and at £122 , echo top of the range, check arrived, cleared ,then i posted the item boxed,receipt,warranty card,oil,(this is in september)
A few weeks later the guy says he hasnt got it??
I emailed him saying why leave it 3 weeks? no answer.
He threatened me with police action, so i just left it to him,having lost the proof of postage (royal mail standard parcels) i knew it was his word against mine.
November the chainsaw arricved back at my house, in a box,used and dirty.
4 days after the new year, the police came and asked me to go to the station saying i had obtained property by deception? i gave them the chainsaw, and i have to go back to see what the result is.

when i asked him to pay through paypal he didn't want to , now i know why.
from my experience now,and having a couple of hours in the cells im coming off ebay and only dealing with people i can really trust.

That's awful!

But whenever i sell an item valued over £20 I send it recorded delivery (and charge the buyer for it!) as that way its royal mails fault if anything goes wrong.

[landybabe]

Would be nice if sellers all accepted postal orders too.
I know buyers have to pay a bit extra but its the non paypal users
best way of sending payment (recorded, obviously).
Couple of extra days for a seller to be sure of getting their money shouldn't be that difficult.
When I've sent Po's in the past I've understood that I'm gonna have to wait a couple of days longer than I would have if I'd used Paypal. Don't expect sellers to post goods out just because I say I've sent payment.
Patience is a Virtue    :)

[robbie]

why would ebay allow 3 accounts from the same Ip address...doesnt make sense and surely makes this kind of thing possible

We have 3 accounts here, Me, My missus and my son, all from the same IP..... I certainly wouldnt want to pick up there auction bills!! ;)

[v8kenny]

Don't think there was any funny business - the buyer who outbid has bid on three beer coolers over the last week all with different sellers
One ended on 23/1, one on 28/1 and yours on 29/1
He either has a pub or likes his beer a LOT............. :shock:
You only need a different email address to open a second account and it is quite a common practice if you post on ebay forums to protect your main ID from possible retaliation if you happen to upset someone with your opinion

[UDTrev]

Whilst we are on the subject of funny business being carried out on Ebay, have you guys seen this ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-HILUX-SURF-V8_W0QQitemZ4606926312QQcategoryZ10428QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is the first auction, take note how the buyer and seller are similar - not that I am accusing if you know what I mean ..........

Oh look, it's offered again at a HIGHER price buy it now only sale

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-HILUX-SURF-V8_W0QQitemZ4608711601QQcategoryZ10428QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem






Trev

[Bulli]

Does look suss..well at least they will have to pay their fees, LOL

[Colin 009]

been off-line over the weekend and just come back on,

 to find 2 emails via Ebay from people offering me the chance to buy/bid on the same type of item I was bidding on in the first place.

Has anyone come across this sort of thing before.

[dew1911]

Usually scams, approach with care.

[Bulli]

defn people trying to avoid paying ebay fees, if they have plenty of feedback then should be genuine but you never know