posted on October 30, 2000 10:33:11 AM new
Maybe I'm worrying for nothing over good fortune. What do you think?
For nearly the entire time I've been on ebay, I've had one customer whom I can only describe as a patron. She's bought more of my quilts than I can count, and she bids on nearly all of them too. She always leaves pos FB (not that it counts after the first one). She pays promptly. She is, in my estimation, every seller's dream.
Except that she's bid on nearly all my stuff, and I'm a bit concerned some might think her bids are shills!
Yeah, I know, shut up and enjoy my good fortune. Is anybody else tempted to wring their hands over this sort of stuff?
posted on October 30, 2000 10:44:30 AM new
Has she bid on other peoples stuff, and won? Does she have feedback from other sellers?
I don't think someone is shilling if they bid on multiples of the same type of item from one seller. I get concerned when they bid on a bunch of different items from one seller, but they are completely unrelated.
If she's bidding on stuff from other people too, I wouldn't worry. To me it just says she has confidence in you as a seller.
posted on October 30, 2000 10:46:40 AM new
If it were me, I wouldn't sweat it. I figure the netcops are going to think whatever they want, regardless of what I do, and based on the feedback I get, I doubt my buyers would be too concerned.
posted on October 30, 2000 10:49:50 AM new
I've had the same problem... or good fortune that looks like a problem. I had one buyer place outrageous bids on all my auctions at one time 15 items... it looked so much like shilling that I wanted to report myself to SafeHarbor. He won 14 of the auctions and paid obscene amounts on a couple items, all of the items sold for more than I'd dream of paying.
One buyer would bid on my items before they would appear in the listings... clearly he had my seller's list bookmarked. It looks bad, but it never has caused me to get a email from a buyer expressing suspicion so I guess all is well. It probably helps that the regulars that look like shills on my auctions have rather high feedback... if it was a zero feedback I'd be very uncomfortable about that.
HDQ: I entirely changed my listing practices to try and insure that I receive NO multiple bids on multiple auctions from loyal customers who used to get into bidding wars on my mdse.
Also, I have NEVER given my Userid to anyone in RL other than my attorney, my dh, and that's IT!
I am genuinely horrified when anyone from my region of the country bids on any of my auctions, as I have seen what can happen to eBay sellers by people who do not have access to the full line of shill-investigating tools.
I made a post about this last night over at eBay, which seemed to have astounded Toyranch.
posted on October 30, 2000 12:33:24 PM new
HartCottageQuilts
I have had the same thing many a time,its one of the reasons why I dislike all this talk about shill bidding.
People all too easily jump too conclusions without knowing all the facts.I have even been accused of having shilled accounts because of such folks.
I have regular customers who I have their address memorised or their names once I see them bid as they have bid so many times.
I have one who rarely wins anything but bids on lots of my items.
Sometimes I wonder again if someone is going to come to the wrong conclusion based on what they see.
But in any business what you want is repeat business they are the most important of all and people need to realise that you get the same with ebaY sales too.
posted on October 30, 2000 12:37:17 PM new
Isn't shilling to raise the price on an item. She wants to win. No shilling here.
Do the happy dance.
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Just a thought, how much is she making on your quilts?
[ edited by sissyclarke on Oct 30, 2000 12:40 PM ]
posted on October 30, 2000 12:44:35 PM new
HCG..if you are really worried do this..make a copy of the checks she uses to pay for your items; if she pays through paypal print out the notice of payment from paypal or billpoint if she uses that. Keep the insurance reciepts. In other words, keep a paper trail to prove she has in fact bought these items from you.
If any of the busybodies report you to safe harbor you will have proof that she is a legitimate customer who just happens to LOVE your quilts.
posted on October 30, 2000 12:46:45 PM new
No, sissyclarke, she's not shilling. But she bids so often, I'm concerned some paranoid bidder might think she is.
As far as her making $ on my quilts - she's a collector (with plenty of disposable income, bless her), although she tells me she's given several as gifts, and fortunately she likes to give gifts!
Frankly, though, if she's reselling them for a profit, I'm delighted. I still make more on ebay than I would on a consignment site (40% of the take to the site? No thanks), and the idea that my pieces would sell elsewhere for more is flattering I know that a Boston gallery picked up one awhile back, but I don't know if they've resold it or for how much.
posted on October 30, 2000 12:50:30 PM new
I think any of us with faithful customers should be concerned, HCQ. It seems the vigilante frenzy has begun and will attempt to stamp out any perceived wrongs in its path.
Heck, some of these amateurs can be provoked without a history of repeat buyers. The high bidder on one of my auctions last week received an emailed warning that the auction was being shilled.
It wasn't, of course, but the self-righteous SOB that sent the email thought it was because the bid history showed one of the bidders had bid multiple times. He obviously failed to do any further investigation, because only 5 minutes' worth would have proven how off the mark he was.
Of course, Safe Harbor needs full headers, which I can't persuade my bidder to send for fear of getting in the middle of this, so I'm out $100 and the wannabe whistle-blower is off scot-free.
posted on October 30, 2000 12:55:30 PM new
Surely this customer bids on items from other sellers too. Her feedback is probably much higher than a shiller's would normally be, reflecting auctions won from other sellers. I'd say you're very lucky to have her as a customer. Send her my way...
posted on October 30, 2000 12:59:13 PM new
fountainhouse
Sorry too se hear that happened to you but it has happened to me as well.On more than one time.I think people forget that you can have honest sellers on ebaY and do not need shill bidders.
In fact I actually look for specific items that will keep a repeat bidder coming back for more.
I think wow so and so would like this and up it goes and off they bid sometimes they win sometimes they do not.
posted on October 30, 2000 01:55:39 PM new
HCQ - I wouldn't worry about it. It's great that you have such a loyal customer, and who cares what others may think. Most of the stuff I buy now is from a group of about 6 sellers. I trust them explicitly and we have developed terrific business relationships ...
btw, it's starting to get cold up here - do you ship your quilts to Canada yet
posted on October 30, 2000 03:51:29 PM new
Nahhhhh....don't worry about it. I should know, I have the same situation. I have a tranny that's bought umpteen pairs of stiletto heels, girdles, and bras from me for his collection. I've memorized his address by now. I don't sweat it. There might be an isolated person who thinks "shillbidder? Hmmm" but I think the majority of people don't notice or care---otherwise, you n' I would have a lot fewer bids.
posted on October 30, 2000 04:08:07 PM new
Thanks for the reassurance, kids. I'm not so concerned about a SafeHarbor complaint, amy, since our biz transactions are well documented, but in scaring other bidders away.
OTOH, if they're not going to bid as high as she does, they're not going to get the item anyway, so...why am I worried?
Guess life is just too peaceful around here.
BTW, VeryModern's gift book arrived today, and despite my better instincts I have spent most of the afternoon poring over it. (She sent it as a totally unnecessary, but greatly appreciated, "thank you".) I keep telling myself it's "research". Uh-huh, like surfing the AW boards is "networking" Having a great time - thanks, VM!. BTW, if any of you are quilters, you MUST see this auction lot, and I'd recommend emailing her for her ebay ID and taking a gander at her listings.
He won 14 of the auctions and paid obscene amounts on a couple items, all of the items sold for more than I'd dream of paying.
Do the happy dance. 
[ edited by sissyclarke on Oct 30, 2000 12:40 PM ]
Having a great time - thanks, VM!. BTW, if any of you are quilters, you MUST see this auction lot, and I'd recommend emailing her for her ebay ID and taking a gander at her listings.