posted on January 18, 2002 09:24:21 PM
I heard an explanation that this feature allows pre-screened and qualified bidders to be the only bidders allowed on a sellers aution. This type of Private Auction would be only for high end items and rids the auction of the nusiance factor of prankster bidding or uninformed bidders that do not realize the importance of the high end auction item.
posted on January 19, 2002 01:51:23 AM
<WHY DO SOME LISTINGS HAVE ALL BIDDERS SAY PRIVATE?>
When a seller lists an item for auction, he has the option of making it a "private" auction.
This means that the I.D. of the bidders will not be shown to the general public, only the seller. Other than that, it is a normal auction, anyone can win.
It was intended to be used by people selling pornography and sex toys. This way people wouldn't know who the bidders were so more people would be willing to bid.
However, anyone can have a private auction. Almost all of mine are and I sell games. I would get frustrated when people would retract their bids. A lot of people watch for a game to get a high price. Even before the auction is over, they offer the high bidder a copy of the game for a little less. The high bidder agrees and retracts his bid.
I had times when a game got up to $50-$100. Then people started retracting their bids until it got down to $20.00. This would happen once a month or so. Now that my auctions are private and no one knows who my bidders are, it never happens.
I make more money. Ebay makes more money. Auction Watch makes more money.
posted on January 19, 2002 04:10:39 AM
I was refering to certain very exclusive eBay auctions where bidders must be okayed by the seller before they can bid.
The main problem with the regular Private Auctions for the bidders is that they can not see who else is bidding so they can determine if a possible shill bidder is jacking up the bid price. I've been using eBay for over 4 years and I would not even consider bidding on a Private Auction because of this fact alone. I suppose a few bidders have no problem with the format and I can see sellers side of having bid retractions ruin the regular auctions.
Most buyers of eBay porn have established a special account for those purchases so their ID doesn't have to be hidden. There are very few if any of the Private Auctions in the porn section of eBay.
posted on January 19, 2002 12:47:41 PM
I'm not sure this is the answer to your question, But in the section where you can block bidders there is also the option to preapprove bidders. I am not sure but I believe if you fill in the perapproved section the bidders on your list are the only ones allowed to bid on any of your auctions. This may be what your seeing.
