posted on May 6, 2001 10:42:56 AM
After paying for an eBay win through Paypal this morning, I discovered that the seller was now NARU. I emailed them right away and asked if there was going to be a problem with me getting my merchandise. Here was her reply:
"I can certainly understand your concern. I guarantee you will receive your
*****. If you check my feedback rating, you will see I have over 65 comments
- all positive!
I was suspended for 30 days for shill bidding. I had one item (not the item
that you bid upon and won) that had very few bids on it so I bid on it
myself, hoping to raise the price. I had no idea there were rules against
such a thing. I have been an ebay member since October 2000 and this was the
first time I had ever done anything like that. Now I know. Obviously, my
suspension had nothing to do with bad feedback or failing to deliver, but I
certainly understand your concern.
If you wish for me to refund your recent payment, I will do so. I am very
embarrassed by my suspension and understand if you no longer wish to complete
this transaction.
Thank you.
************
Well, now I'm not sure what to do. I am very surprised that she was honest and told me about her shilling. But, Is there any way for me to know that she didn't shill on MY auction? If I was cheated I'm not sure that I should complete the transaction. Then, on the other hand, I paid a reasonable price for the item, on the lower end of the average ending price for this item. So, I'm conflicted.
I know some of you here are AMAZING at detecting shill bidders. Is there a way for me to find out which auction or auctions she did this on, just for my peace of mind???????????
posted on May 6, 2001 10:46:16 AM
If you're comfortable with the price you paid for it, and really want the item, I'd probably go ahead and complete the transaction. If this sellers feedback was as good as they said, I would probably be willing to give the benefit of the doubt - although it seems strange that the first time they do this, they would get caught...
posted on May 6, 2001 11:04:21 AM
Thanks, that's probably what I'll do. I guess I'm just weird. I would hate to give money to someone if they cheated me.
jumpinjacko, I think you read my message backwards. I was the one who paid. She was the seller.
posted on May 6, 2001 11:54:08 AM
I had the exact same thing happen to me about a month ago. The seller never explained why they were suspended, but my items showed up about 4 days later. Just as described.
She then asked me to please leave feedback and I had to explain that I couldn't because of her suspension.
posted on May 6, 2001 12:13:46 PM
I agree that if you are happy with the price paid, why sweat it.
If you do want to do some detective work, look up the other bidders on the auction and do a search "by bidder" on each of them including completed auctions. If one of them has been bidding a lot on your seller's auctions I would consider this suspicious. Keep in mind, it could also be legit. It's hard to say without knowing what kind of items they are selling.
posted on May 6, 2001 12:19:39 PM
The fact she was caught seems to indicate she is not an experienced "shiller".
You said you got the item for the low side of what the item usually averaged. So, I don't think you should worry you might have been cheated. To me cheated is not getting what you paid for. I think it is safe to say more sellers get cheated than buyers when it comes to closing prices.
posted on May 6, 2001 12:45:12 PM
(dilemma) Sorry, I can't help myself!
Anyway, I agree with the others that it sounds like you are safe. And what a thing to admit having done! Wow! I give her some points for her "honesty" in telling you what happened. I can't imagine that someone would admit to something like that if it wasn't true! Perhaps the part about having done it for the first time wasn't exactly true, but if that happened to me I certainly wouldn't admit to having done it more times! (I'm not saying that I shill, cuz I DON'T!)
posted on May 6, 2001 01:02:09 PM
Thanks everyone. I guess I'm going to email her and tell her that I would like to proceed with the sale. The item is becoming more and more scarce, since its been discontinued from the manufacturer, so I'd probably have to pay more if I tried to win another.
Thanks Sharkbaby for pointing out my typo. I didn't even realize that in my haste I had transposed my "e" and my "i". Guess that's what I get for trying to type with a 13 mo. old on my lap.
posted on May 7, 2001 01:06:01 PM
Since the seller didn't know the problem with shill bidding, perhaps she used her own ID to bid...that would have been very easy for a potential bidder or browser to see and turn her in.
