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Online auctions and bid rigging/shilling.
Afternoon folks. I source through many different channels, but estate sales and online auctions are my bread and butter.
When auctions switched from in person auctions to online auctions, it became much harder to source, stuff people would often turn their nose up at is now sometimes selling for close to retail.
Since many of these auction places do not offer shipping, I found it rather suspicious that stuff that used to either be passed on or sell for next to nothing sharply increasing in price.
With any auction, one can expect antiques, collectibles, coins, etc to always sell well, but random, weird off the wall stuff wouldn't. Often most people didn't even know what half this stuff was.
It's very hard to prove it, but I am rather convinced that most of these places are inflating the bids. I used to put in a max bid early so I didn't have to sit through a several hour online auction, but noticed I was winning items at or within a few dollars of my max bid, which is suspicious in it's own right.
But again, if this fraud is taking place, how can it be proven? Almost all online auction places, primarily through HiBid and Proxibid, will mask the user ID of the bidder "to protect privacy".
This means the auctioneer or the seller of the items can easily make an account and run these items up. In fact I even called Proxibid and they admit it takes place, but I guess they won't do anything to stop it since they probably make a lot on the fees?
I've noticed and been keeping track of the items that sell at sky high prices, and none of it ever ends up on eBay or other places. The only other alternative I can think is hoarders buying this stuff, because there are too many user ID's and too wide of a variety of stuff for one person to be buying that all, such as a business.
I'm curious if anyone else here sources through online auctions and what their thoughts are on this?
jski36
·1 year agoI am presently bidding on numerous lots online.
After checking this morning I found that two lots I bid on are only one lot. And that an item was moved making it appear as though they were separate.
Oddly nobody has tried to bid them up. But they have on other lots. None of the lots have any real retail value except as is. Yet others either through ignorance or rigging are bidding up others.
I can only suggest the auction company made a mistake at first glance. Or it was deliberate and others who are bidding up are employees of the auction firm. Knowing that the two lots are one and the same
kh-laura
·1 year agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
redlinear
·2 years agoAt a live estate sale: You have to be there. You snoop through box lids filled with knick knack stuff that's to be auctioned as a small "lot". The lot is going to go for $5 or less...IF, nobody else found that hidden treasure in it.
Half the people forgot it was this Saturday, and some had plans come up and they couldn't attend.
Quite a few went for that one or two big things, and when they sold...they went home.
While others just got tired of standing and waiting and left early also.
At an online estate sale:
Several pics of EACH item, or each small LOT is spread out to where everybody looking can see what's included.
Auction's held (go live) in the evenings when everybody is home and can bid.
No auctioneer confusing the newbies.
The speed of it doesn't confuse the newbies. (when time runs out with a bid in the last minute...here we go again for another 3 minutes).
The flat out going, going, gone ultimatum doesn't confuse the newbies. They have all the time in the world to ponder their next increment.
Increments aren't whatever you yell out. They are a set amount. So, it's going to go at least that much higher each bid.
Bidders have a computer right in front of them when bidding. THey can see what each item is selling for on eBay.
They know what they can pay as they are bidding.
You go pick up the stuff whenever is convenient for you within a week or so after the auction.
As a general rule? The little goofy knick knack stuff sells for far more on-line auctions than it does in person. No shill bidding needed.
BUT, if there is any shill bidding going on? It's family. It's not the auction company. They want that stuff gone. They sure don't want to end up with anything left over...except money.
soh.maryl
·4 years agoWhy would you care whether items ever end up on eBay or other auction venues?
Why is it suspicious to you that you are winning auctions at a price a little lower than your max bid?
If there is an item I really want that starts at $20, but I want it badly so I bid $100, if I am the only bidder, I will pay only $20. Or, let's say you are the other bid and you would bid $30. I would still win but not pay $100. Hard to understand why that would seem suspicious to you. Or am I misunderstanding your message?
computer-repairs-and-more
·2 years agoThe answers you give are saying that all the people on the ebay and other online auction sites are actually honest, this is a laugh big time, I have done it all the different ways and find that when you find an honest auction it is considerably lower, always! You guys are kidding yourselves if you think people do not shill bid this stuff up, usually the ones defending auctions are the biggest shill bidders, not trying to trash on auctions but seriously dont kid yourselves!!