Question on hidden bidder names

[smontanaro]

(Not sure what category this really belongs in.) I understand why eBay hides bidders' handles. Shouldn't the displayed handle of the highest bidder match the handle of that bidder in the bid history though? Note that only I (smontanaro) and one other bidder (a***a) have bid on this item, but a***s is listed as the highest bidder.

I realize it's not difficult to suss out that a***a and a***s must be the same person in this simple case. Still, what if there are more than two bidders with a complicated bid history? Maybe there really are bidders whose handles are obfuscated as a***a and a***s. How would someone know who's who?

[disneyshopper]

You will see the winning buyer's user ID when the auction ends.

Usually the bid history displays the feedback number of each bidder, so you can tell who is bidding if the masked ID happens to include the same letters.  Maybe on a mobile device that feedback numbers are not displayed?

[eburtonlab]

@smontanaro 

If you are interested in more detail you should view the bid history using a desktop browser.

When eBay began obscuring bidder usernames, initially eBay displayed the first and last letters of a bidder's username and the rest was obscured; then eBay used random characters from the username as the first and last letters; finally eBay seems to just use random characters whether they are actually in the username or not. The obscured names change from page to page so that there is no definitive way to connect one to another, other than looking at a detailed bid history or comparing feedback numbers.

Try viewing a bid history page of an item you are bidding on. You can click on any obscured username to see that user's 30 day bid history. Copy the item bid history page URL into a private or incognito browser window (or else sign out of the account and reload the page). Once you are no longer signed in, you will be able to see how your username is obscured, and you will be able to check your own 30 day bid history by clicking on your obscured username; normally clicking on your un-obscured username just takes you to your profile page. Once you can see your own 30 day bid history, sign back in to eBay in another tab and then reload your 30 day bid history page again to see further details of your bidding history.

[soh.maryl]

Not sure why anyone except the seller needs to know who's who.

And, if there are two identical bids, the earlier bidder is the winner.  

[7606dennis]

If memory serves, eBay started camouflaging ID's because some people were messaging other bidders with offers, bombarding them with spam offers for similar merchandise.

Actually, it is common practice at a live auction for bidders to be issued bidding numbers which makes it easier for the clerk to record the winning bid.  The identity of the bidder is not divulged to fellow bidders so unless they are already acquainted with or know their fellow bidders by name, all they know is the bidder's number.  Frankly, I could be standing next to you and bidding against you and you wouldn't know who I am other than the bidder number I've been assigned.  Unless, of course, I introduced myself.

[bkb1942]

Years ago when real names were not hidden sometimes someone would come to these boards and make a nasty remark about a buyer or seller.Then another poster would contact that person and they would come to board to defend themselves. A big todo would go on. Kind of entertaining.

[woodland_gnome]

An ID alias is supposed to be the same for each user at any time for the same type of page (e.g. any bid history you look at it is supposed to be the same), but are not the same across different pages (e.g. the alias is different on the seller's feedback profile than it is on a bid history) unless it's the same by coincidence (of the same characters being randomly chosen from the characters in the actual user ID in independent randomizations).  The Bid History Page and the page you get to when you click the ID alias there have been treated as different for at least the past several months, don't know why (they used to use the same alias).