posted on July 5, 2001 05:23:15 PM new
I have a widget up for auction, I was out of town for 3 days (the 4th with my family) and when I come home today and in my email, there was this bidder who emailed me 2 questions while I was gone, before I answer them, he emailed me again, and this is what he said..
HI, I GUESS YOU DONT REALLING WANT TO SELL YOUR ITEM BECAUSE YOU DONT ANWER MY
E-MAILS AND THERE IS SOMEONE CALLED XXXXX WHO IS RAISING THE PRICE SIX
TIME SO IT MAY BE YOU OR SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW AND UPING THE PRICE, I MIGHT BE
WRONG BUT THATS THE WAY YOU MAKE ME THINK.
SO GOOD LUCK, EBAY IS NOTIFIED
HELP!!! I dont even KNOW who this bidder with a zero and a shade that is the winner so far on my widget! I dont want to be kicked off ebays by some nut bidder just because I was out of town! Should I contact safeharbor right away and tell them this bidder accused me of shilling? Please help!
posted on July 5, 2001 05:27:03 PM new
First, I'd politely answer the question he asked in his original email to you, and explain that you were out of town for three days, etc. That will hopefully ratchet down his "nutso level" a bit.
I wouldn't worry much about Safe Harbor having been notified...if he actually did this. IF they even bother to investigate, it will be clear that no shilling is involved. Good luck.
posted on July 5, 2001 06:08:44 PM new
you could post your ebay ID hear and let the pretentious folks here at this forum decide if you are a shiller or even better run it thru their shiller spotter software......just a thought
posted on July 5, 2001 07:25:21 PM new
capotasto-I got the impression the poster was indicating they didn't know the high bidder (with shades) who apparently is the accused shiller....
This goes to point out, potential buyers who bother to email don't like getting ignored! Vacation/holiday/family emergency means nada to these folks---you have an auction up, you better be ready to respond to their questions or they start thinking there is hanky-panky going on!
posted on July 5, 2001 10:56:22 PM new
If you have auctions running it is not wise to not answer emails for a few days at a time when you are away. Not good business since some may have questions before bidding.
What I do when I am away for days at a time is use a Yahoo account and POP3 my 'normal' email account. If where you are staying does not have access to a computer, just stop at a local library, and ask to use their systems. Some require library cards, but nearly all will accomodate travellers.
This can be especially sticky if you have BIN's where people expect an immediate response.
posted on July 5, 2001 11:14:22 PM new
Kinko's also has computers, but now I see there are some Mall's that also have them. That was a good answer snakebait. There are some people that don't realize that there are computers out there for the public to use and they are free. I had a friend who went to London and they have internet cafes and she emailed me from over there free. You never have to be out of touch again.
posted on July 6, 2001 02:44:31 AM new
sulyn1950 is correct, I meant to say I have no idea who the winner is, as she is a zero with a shade, and that fellow emailing accused me of being her. The winner actually emailed me first, so hopefully this transaction will go through.
bustervein, what is a shiller spotter software? Is that something we can access? Sometimes I wonder if I am being shill bidded when bidding one something and 2 or 3 zeros come in to try and raise my bid up..
posted on July 6, 2001 05:26:32 AM new
ironking
there are atleast 2 versions of software where you can enter a sellers ID and it will check bidder history of all their auctions going back a certain amt. of time and list suspected shill bidders...the results are based on the number of bids a buyer makes different auctions..........interesting program but i feel by using this as a sole decider of shilling is crazy, but it will give you an idea of who to do more detective work on.....as for telling you where you can find this SW, well i will never tell but i am confident soem of the self appointed auction police that post and lurk here will provide a link for you
posted on July 6, 2001 06:04:12 AM new
I'm often away from my auctions at weekend horseshows. I've even had a few occasions to be gone the entire week the auctions were running.
I post (in advance of my description & in a different color) that I'll be out of town that week & unable to answer questions.
So far, everyone's seem to understand that & I've not had any problems. I also keep my "me" page updated (not that anyone looks there..but if they did, the information would be there).
When I'm gone for a REALLY long time, like a month at a time, I shut my auctions down in enough time to everything handled before I leave. The rest are handled by my husband. Maybe eventually he'll tire of answering questions & buy me that laptop I've wanted!
