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Why do high volume ebay sellers think we believe their lies about shilling their own autctions
- Thread starter David Anthony
- Start date
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Topnotchsy
Featured Contributor, The best players in history?
- Aug 7, 2008
- 9,448
- 176
I'm definitely not looking to "win" since I wish there was an easy way to clean this all up, I'm just not sure what it is...
Dilferules
Well-known member
Too late you won, David Anthony is shipping you his entire collection.
....to put on consignment so he can shill his own stuff.
A_Pharis
Active member
I believe this is common practice in certain circumstances where the auctioning body bids on behalf of a reserve price.
- Thread starter
- #46
David Anthony
Banned
Yall boys wild.
WhatDoesTheFoxSay
New member
- Jun 28, 2014
- 31
- 0
If you took my response to be sarcastic or condescending, it wasn't. But your smarmy response is quite childish.
All I mean is that a good business person finds ways to police it as best as possible. There is nothing fool-proof. Is it a lot of work? Yes. Anything worth doing is, in fact, a lot of work. It is important to find ways to deter it if you want your buyers to know you have integrity.
- Thread starter
- #48
David Anthony
Banned
I agree with WhatDoes 100%. These sellers should at least agree there IS an issue and they will do what they can to fix it!
JEA2880
New member
Completely agree. Like Topnotch, I too have used Probstein and have nothing but good things to say. I have also BOUGHT from him countless times. I'd count myself as both a loyal buyer as well as a seller who consigns with him - and I don't shill in any of these circumstances. Given the high volume he does, his response that he can't help/control it is very accurate.
bigboydsportscards3
New member
- Jan 21, 2010
- 46
- 0
Just an FYI, we rarely sell items on consignment. Used to do it more in the past, but we haven't sold an item on consignment in over a year. And we have never shilled an item!
Terry
Terry
RiceLynnEvans75
Active member
I would like to hear actual, viable, and realistic ideas as to HOW these big sellers can solve the issue of shilling in their auctions. It's easy to sit there and scream and yell to fix the system when it's not your problem to actually fix. Whole other situation to actually do it.
RedSoxSoul
New member
I think anytime one is dealing with the mass public anything can seem like anything & some people will try to scam the system. I have 100% no questions asked refund and know that of the few refunds I've done the buyer bought at the top of the market (which was why I listed it when I did), saw one sell for less a day later, and immediately asked for a refund. As a seller I can block that buyer and move on. If I ever get big enough to consign policing shilling would seem to me to take more man hours than is feasible to make any money consigning. My $.02.
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JoshHamilton
Well-known member
- Aug 7, 2008
- 12,205
- 320
I asked for a solution. You didn't provide one. The best way to prevent it is to prevent it? WELL THEN!
MansGame
Active member
Nothing like a good call out shiller thread. Funny to see BigBoyd in here lol (smack forehead)
mrdallas
Active member
Yeah. When I saw BigBoyd in here I hit my head too... LOL
WhatDoesTheFoxSay
New member
- Jun 28, 2014
- 31
- 0
I don't know why you are trying to goad me but I won't fall for it. I'm not into attempted provoking of a pissing match type discussion, which I am assuming is your intent with the condescending type responses you have given me. I understand that you may be a big fan and supporter of Probstein and that's fine. If you don't mind being shilled (or being the beneficiary), then more power to you. Happy Collecting.
RiceLynnEvans75
Active member
He is sounding condescending because he's asked you for a solution a couple of times now and you can't provide one. One that makes any sense anyway. If you yourself cannot figure out a viable solution, how can you honestly sit there and demand others do it?
WhatDoesTheFoxSay
New member
- Jun 28, 2014
- 31
- 0
Ok, I'll play. I can only state my opinion of suggestions or at least things I would do myself. (And before anyone wants to say "Then why don't you start your own blah blah blah..." I already have a good job and have no interest in owning an auction house)
1. Make it VERY clear that if you or a close friend/relative are highly suspected of shilling your own consignments, you are banned from consigning and blocked from bidding.
2. Make it VERY clear that if you win your own auction or found to have won your own consignments, you are banned from consigning and blocked from bidding. No "safety bids" are allowed. If you want your item to have a reserve, then it should be advised.
3. Randomly choose auctions or choose auctions you believe bidding to be suspect, look at the bidding history and feedback of the bidders. If it strongly suggests shilling, block those IDs that are suspected or probable shilling accounts.
4. IDs must be registered bidders. I believe this can still be done on ebay but I'm not 100% certain.
5. Be forthright if there is an auction customers are questioning. Advise what you have done to look into the situation and your conclusions. Ignoring complaints is bad customer service.
6. Do not allow bidders with less than "X" number of feedback. That will eliminate all of the "0" Feedback bidders and fake accounts.
7. Look at consignor's bid histories on all their auctions. When a bidder has 98% bidding history on a certain consignor's history, you can easily see what IDs they are using to shill their auctions. This is not difficult to do.
8. Make consignors sign an agreement that they will not attempt to alter the bidding of the items they submit. That is actually protection of the consignment business more than anything.
Those are what I thought of from the top of my head. I'm sure there must be more. Is it easy? No. Is it time consuming? Yes. And I am sure that it is seldom that an issue is black or white but all should be handled accordingly. There is and never will be a 100% solution but it is essential to have deterrents if you want to be seen as honest and with integrity.
I "get it" that consignors want shilling to happen. I "get it" those sending their stuff for consignment want shilling to happen. It's more money in their pockets. So, it is easy to ignore it because enough people are willing to put their hands over their eyes and just pretend it isn't happening. Buyers just have to be wise how they bid and use sniping services.
I'm also sure that this is not the first time people have discussed these issues and have offered their thoughts. We have all read the threads whether it be here or another message board. I didn't think it was necessary for me to start listing solutions but there you go. Now have fun ripping apart my list.
WhatDoesTheFoxSay
New member
- Jun 28, 2014
- 31
- 0
And to add...the "system" will never be fixed. There will always be people trying to beat the system. All a person can do is try to make deterrents and attempt to block some of it to the best of their ability. Better to do even just a little than nothing at all.
JoshHamilton
Well-known member
- Aug 7, 2008
- 12,205
- 320
Very well thought-out response
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