New private bidder rules for sales on ebay.

Lee · 25th June 2007, 10:02 PM

I do not know how long they have been doing this on US auctions, as I am not a very regular ebay bidder, but they are doing it now.

I must sadly opine that Ebay, despite having gotten so many things right at the start, is now 'losing its way.'

Unless one believes he or she can trust the integrity of a particular seller, I believe this hiding of the names in the bidder history pretty much wipes out the 'transparency' of this marketplace.

Personally, this policy will definitely cause me to hesitate to go very far beyond an 'obvious bargain bid level' on an ebay auction.

Ferguson · 26th June 2007, 02:27 AM

Some time back I went to sniping only. Unscrupulous collectors could search by my username for what I was bidding on without doing the legwork themselves, and snipe me at the last moment. Now my only bid is in the last few seconds. Ebay isn't perfect, but it's still the best game in town.

Steve

Bill M · 26th June 2007, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

Some time back I went to sniping only. Unscrupulous collectors could search by my username for what I was bidding on without doing the legwork themselves, and snipe me at the last moment. Now my only bid is in the last few seconds. Ebay isn't perfect, but it's still the best game in town.

Steve

Exactly the same reason I use a sniper!

Lee · 26th June 2007, 03:19 AM

I remember Ewart Oakeshott of European medieval sword fame telling me that as his reputation grew, he had to use a barker and could give no item any more attention than others at auction previews...

VANDOO · 26th June 2007, 04:55 AM

I ALSO DISAPROVE OF THIS HIDDEN BIDDER POLICY AS IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR A CROOKED SELLER TO SHILL BID ON HIS OWN ITEMS. PERHAPS EBAY DID IT BECAUSE SOME SELLERS KEPT GETTING NEW EBAY NAMES TO PLACE SHILL BIDS AND IT WAS TAKEING UP EBAYS SPACE FOR BUYERS. IT ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOGNIZE A FRIEND AND POSSIBLY BOW OUT WITHOUT RUNNING UP THE PRICE ON HIM OR TO SEND HIM A CONGRADULATION IF HE WINS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO SEARCH FOR ALL ITEMS A BUYER IS BIDDING ON ,THAT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE EARLY DAYS OF EBAY FOR ME UNTILL I CAUGHT ON TO WHY SOME PEOPLE WERE FINDING EVERYTHING THAT I HAD JUST FOUND BY HOURS OF SEARCHING AND LOTS OF LUCK AND TAKEING IT ALL AT THE LAST MINUTE . THIS CAUSED PEOPLE TO START WAITING UNTILL THE LAST MINUTE TO BID, FREQUENTLY CHANGEING THEIR EBAY NAME OR GETTING SNIPER SOFTWARE. IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE NEWER PROGRAM FOR WATCHING ITEMS WITHOUT BIDDING, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN STILL SEE ALL THE BIDS A PERSON HAS MADE OR WHAT HE IS WATCHING NOW, AT LEAST I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

RECENTLY I HAD PLACED THE FIRST BID ON CHARLES NAGA SWORD AND COULD SEE WHO WAS BIDDING AND THEN WHEN I LOOKED AFTER THE AUCTION HAD ENDED ALL THE BIDDERS WERE THEN SECRET

THAT WAS A NEW ONE ON ME.
IT WENT FOR MORE THAN I EXPECTED BUT THEN MY SENSE OF WHAT SOMETHING IS WORTH TODAY AND THE AMOUNT I CAN AFFORD HAS PRETTY MUCH REMOVED ME FROM TODAYS LEVEL OF COMPETICIAN, I USUALLY ONLY GET WHAT NO ONE ELSE WANTS . SO I HAVE MOSTLY WANDERED OFF TO OTHER THINGS AND DON'T SPEND MUCH TIME SEARCHING FOR ETHINOGRAPHIC WEAPONS THESE DAYS.

I WONDER IF THE SELLER CAN STILL SEE WHO THE BIDDERS ARE SO HE CAN CANCEL A BID BY SOMEONE HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH?

spiral · 26th June 2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

Some time back I went to sniping only. Unscrupulous collectors could search by my username for what I was bidding on without doing the legwork themselves, and snipe me at the last moment. Now my only bid is in the last few seconds. Ebay isn't perfect, but it's still the best game in town.

Steve

I must have been unscroupulous then! Never tracked what you were bidding on though Steve. Just the people who used to outbid me on occasion & the one or two dealers who hadnt at that time bothered to research the system.

When I realised people folowed my bidding in earlier days, I bid on several junk kukris, They went for loads of money to familar names, who then were upset when they realised they were junk & had been ripped off, one even accused me of shill bidding!

Spiral the unscrupulous.

Bill M · 26th June 2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

When I realised people followed my bidding in earlier days, I bid on several junk kukris, They went for loads of money to familiar names, who then were upset when they realised they were junk & had been ripped off, one even accused me of shill bidding!

Spiral the unscrupulous.

I used to go to live antique auctions and buy furniture and whatever. I first went to antique galleries and memorized dealers' faces. Not being sure what an item was really worth I would bid slightly over the dealers because I knew that they were buying to resell, so I would get a good price if I bid a few dollars over them.

One night in the middle of the furniture auction they brought out about 20 French muzzle loaders. I had little interest in them at the time but had taken a look before the auction and some of them looked really good.

I am also aware that there are waves of bidding in live auctions. An item will come up and everyone goes wild bidding. Often the next item, though a good piece will not receive the bidding it is due.

Up come two dueling pistols. I was near the back of the room, but I noticed they were having a hard time getting a hundred dollar bid. Previous pistols had sold in the thousand dollar range. I perked up and bid a hundred dollars for the pair.

I dealer raised my bid a few dollars. I bid again. He raised. I bid. Finally I got them for only six hundred dollars! Hot damn!

Now I had never even held these particular pistols, but the others were really good. The auction house wrapped everything and I paid and took my spoils home.

Opening everything on my dining room table I unwrapped the pistols. My heart sank. They were so bad. Something that Pier 1 would have shunned.

Well, the nest day I took them back to the auction house. The auctioneer pointed at the "all sales final" sign. I told him that the other pistols were quality antiques, but he did not distinguish these as being modern repros. He point at the other sign that said, "Examine carefully before you bid."

The bottom line was that he did take them back. I was a regular customer.

But the next time I saw the dealer! He had the biggest grin!

So I got caught! I learned a few good lessons about auctions! I held no hard feelings about the dealer. I got exactly what I deserved.

spiral · 26th June 2007, 11:58 PM

Great story Bill!

Spiral

Ferguson · 27th June 2007, 02:39 AM

Spiral, it certainly wasn't you. We don't always agree

, but you are a man of honor.

spiral · 27th June 2007, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

you are a man of honor.

Thankyou.

Spiral

Cogito · 20th July 2007, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

When I realised people folowed my bidding in earlier days, I bid on several junk kukris, They went for loads of money to familar names, who then were upset when they realised they were junk & had been ripped off, one even accused me of shill bidding!

Spiral the unscrupulous.

That's funny. But what would you have done if no one raised one of your bids and you became the winning bidder?

25th June 2007, 10:02 PM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 937	I do not know how long they have been doing this on US auctions, as I am not a very regular ebay bidder, but they are doing it now. I must sadly opine that Ebay, despite having gotten so many things right at the start, is now 'losing its way.' Unless one believes he or she can trust the integrity of a particular seller, I believe this hiding of the names in the bidder history pretty much wipes out the 'transparency' of this marketplace. Personally, this policy will definitely cause me to hesitate to go very far beyond an 'obvious bargain bid level' on an ebay auction.

26th June 2007, 02:27 AM	#2
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Some time back I went to sniping only. Unscrupulous collectors could search by my username for what I was bidding on without doing the legwork themselves, and snipe me at the last moment. Now my only bid is in the last few seconds. Ebay isn't perfect, but it's still the best game in town. Steve

26th June 2007, 03:19 AM	#4
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 937	I remember Ewart Oakeshott of European medieval sword fame telling me that as his reputation grew, he had to use a barker and could give no item any more attention than others at auction previews...

26th June 2007, 04:55 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I ALSO DISAPROVE OF THIS HIDDEN BIDDER POLICY AS IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR A CROOKED SELLER TO SHILL BID ON HIS OWN ITEMS. PERHAPS EBAY DID IT BECAUSE SOME SELLERS KEPT GETTING NEW EBAY NAMES TO PLACE SHILL BIDS AND IT WAS TAKEING UP EBAYS SPACE FOR BUYERS. IT ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOGNIZE A FRIEND AND POSSIBLY BOW OUT WITHOUT RUNNING UP THE PRICE ON HIM OR TO SEND HIM A CONGRADULATION IF HE WINS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO SEARCH FOR ALL ITEMS A BUYER IS BIDDING ON ,THAT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE EARLY DAYS OF EBAY FOR ME UNTILL I CAUGHT ON TO WHY SOME PEOPLE WERE FINDING EVERYTHING THAT I HAD JUST FOUND BY HOURS OF SEARCHING AND LOTS OF LUCK AND TAKEING IT ALL AT THE LAST MINUTE . THIS CAUSED PEOPLE TO START WAITING UNTILL THE LAST MINUTE TO BID, FREQUENTLY CHANGEING THEIR EBAY NAME OR GETTING SNIPER SOFTWARE. IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE NEWER PROGRAM FOR WATCHING ITEMS WITHOUT BIDDING, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN STILL SEE ALL THE BIDS A PERSON HAS MADE OR WHAT HE IS WATCHING NOW, AT LEAST I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT. RECENTLY I HAD PLACED THE FIRST BID ON CHARLES NAGA SWORD AND COULD SEE WHO WAS BIDDING AND THEN WHEN I LOOKED AFTER THE AUCTION HAD ENDED ALL THE BIDDERS WERE THEN SECRET THAT WAS A NEW ONE ON ME. IT WENT FOR MORE THAN I EXPECTED BUT THEN MY SENSE OF WHAT SOMETHING IS WORTH TODAY AND THE AMOUNT I CAN AFFORD HAS PRETTY MUCH REMOVED ME FROM TODAYS LEVEL OF COMPETICIAN, I USUALLY ONLY GET WHAT NO ONE ELSE WANTS . SO I HAVE MOSTLY WANDERED OFF TO OTHER THINGS AND DON'T SPEND MUCH TIME SEARCHING FOR ETHINOGRAPHIC WEAPONS THESE DAYS. I WONDER IF THE SELLER CAN STILL SEE WHO THE BIDDERS ARE SO HE CAN CANCEL A BID BY SOMEONE HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH?

26th June 2007, 11:58 PM	#8
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Great story Bill! Spiral

27th June 2007, 02:39 AM	#9
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Spiral, it certainly wasn't you. We don't always agree , but you are a man of honor.