Sunday Times of London discovers shill bidding
Last weekend The Sunday Times of London reported that shill bidding is widespread on eBay. This really isn't breaking news -- the New York Times revealed shill bidding to the world when it delved into my eBay activities back in 2000.
In fact, shill bidding is probably less of a problem now than it was then. eBay has developed new techniques to combat it, and increased penalties for those caught.
But obviously, it still happens. What's most interesting about this story is that an undercover Times reporter got one of eBay UK's biggest sellers to admit to it on tape. There are links to the recordings on the Times website above the story.
If you never want to be a victim of online auction bid rigging, follow these simple rules: Decide how much you're willing to pay for an item and then place a single bid for that amount (don't get into bidding wars). If you can, bid on an auction at the last possible moment, so no one can react to your bid. If you do these things, you'll never pay more than you should.
3 Comments:
Ah... yes. Shill bidding.
I was busted by eBay once for shill bidding and my account was suspended for an atrocious 7 days.
The funny thing was that I had not actually done anything wrong... not really. My sister, whom lives several states to my right, bid on and subsequently paid for and received a painting that I myself had painted and offered for auction on eBay (I'm an artist you see). I never contacted her or requested that she bid, but she wanted it for her blank wall and payed me properly for it via Paypal...shipping and all...much to my delight and surprise.
Next thing I know her account and mine have been frozen by the Big Bay. My rebuttal to them was that they should have a messaging system which sends out words of warning to any and all relatives (or people with your same last name) not to bid, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, on your relations' stuff.
Looks like the shill bidding crack down isn't always 100% fair. Bollox.
Strange how they knew you were siblings. Even if you had the same surname, they'd need more proof than that.
I suppose along with vigilant enforcement come innocents ensared.
Holy shart... I typed "payed"... it must have been a long day.
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