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What is a "private bidder'
What is a 'private bidder" and why are they allowed to drive up the price of an item. I have participated in several auctions where a "private bidder' buys nothing, and only bids the price of an item up, usually right before the end of the auction. Why is this allowed? Is it a stand in for the owner to get a higher price for the item? Is it some sort of financial scam? I don't withdraw bids once made but when I see a "private bidder" only driving the price up, can I withdraw?
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eburtonlab
Mentor2 years agoAnyone that bids on a private auction is a private bidder -- including you. The seller determines which auctions are private. Though all eBay auctions provide some privacy for bidders, private auctions have some additional privacy features such as the title of the auction being hidden in the seller's feedback.
Anyone that bids on an auction "drives the price up". That is how auctions work, and how the winner is determined. The highest bid wins. In the case of a tie, the earlier bid wins. In a no-reserve auction, the winner pays up to one bid increment above the second highest bidder's maximum bid amount, regardless of how high the winner actually bids.
If you are worried about shill bidding, wait until just before the end of the auction to place your maximum bid. Many bidders do the same, so you should expect some bids at the end of an auction.