posted on March 9, 2001 06:34:33 PM new
Has anybody noticed that the auctions that have lots of bids are also filled with bidders with no feedback. I checked the city and state on some of these and they match the sellers. This sure looks suspicious especially if it is a small town.
No wonder Yahoo auction says they are getting more bids and sales. Some sellers are starting it at one cent and bidding it up themselves.
posted on March 9, 2001 08:36:38 PM new
I beleive that Yahoo always had this problem with shill bidders as I witnessed many seller's with the same things listed and living in the same city bidding on each others auctions a few times. As for Yahoo saying the number of bids being placed are up, that was bound to happen and shows nothing as to the success of Yahoo's decision. I have 7 items listed right now with a total of 42 bids on them as I started all the auctions off at $0.01 and $1.00. The only problem is that only one of the items is going for its real value so far with less than two days to go. So bids really mean nothing it is the bottom line and if seller's are not exceeding their bottom line than it is goodbye to Yahoo. Yahoo can try to spin the numbers till they have everyone dizzy, but reality will set in some time.
posted on March 9, 2001 10:12:40 PM new
It's just common sense to figure out you can start the auction at under $10, pay $.20 listing fee, then shill bid the item up to your real minimum, rather than pay $1.50 listing fee for your true minimum. If you do this on ePay, you risk having the shill win and having to pay FV fees. On Yahoo if the shill wins, there is no penalty and one can relist for another $.20
I don't condone it and don't do it, but it's not too hard to figure out it's being done by others to a large extent.
posted on March 11, 2001 11:57:58 PM new
I've noticed this myself. One seller has a sell through of about 90%. She has the same 2 or 3 bidders who have bid on hundreds of her auctions. How likely is that? One of these people bids (usually the opening bid)on almost every item.
We sell similar items, every bit as nice and our prices are better but our sell through sucks! I noticed when reading her feedback that she's not the fastest shipper or easiest person to get along with.....
It really irritates me that people like this are getting multiple bids and good prices on their auctions while ours languish.
[ edited by outoftheblue on Mar 11, 2001 11:59 PM ]
posted on March 12, 2001 06:56:47 AM new
I don't think the shill bidding is doing much for them other than saving some listing fees. What is likely happening is the shill is winning some of these auctions.
True an unsavy buyer may bid after the shill, thinking an item must be worth a lot if it's getting multiple bids, but if you have the same item, surely they will see yours too.
The real problem is that Yahoo doesn't get enough traffic in the 1st place and that the recession is creating more lookers than bidders in the 2nd place.
posted on March 12, 2001 12:57:42 PM new
well, one thing to keep in mind is that she may actually have repeat customers. Also, she may have more flexible terms, like being willing to sell internationally. Once I sold an item for approx 10 times what all the other sellers on Yahoo were asking for the same item. The winner lived in Australia, and none of the other sellers with that item listed were willing to sell internationally. That customer has returned to win 4 or 5 more things from me, and people may think he is my shill because the only feedbacks/won auctions he has so far are from me. Just something to think about...
I am not saying no shills exist on Yahoo because I am sure they do, but I still believe in "innocent until proven guilty". I also believe that if you think something smells fishy, don't bid. That's simple enough, ya know?
