bottlebugs
Well-Known Member
I had the opportunity to let my wife watch a shill in action on FeeBay.
I saw an auction, which I rarely participate in, for an item I already have.
My one and only bid was what it should have sold for. If I won - great!
The first thing I looked for was a low starting bid and a low shipping cost.
Bingo found one. Next I look at the seller and his/her/bots feedback
profile. Low numbers mean new member. Then I look at the other auctions
for relists. Got em. Even found some on another vendors site. Noted that.
About an hour before the close of auction watchers start to show up. Where
were they six days ago. Busy shilling someone else I guess. I used to go to
auctions and participated with some veterans out there. I learned all the tricks.
Once the item is "on the block" the workmen I watched set up the auctions
start to crowd the stage. That's why you show up early. You can watch all
the players. The shills are usually family members not involved in the initial set
up. In the case of FeeBay its the same vendor under an other username. Let
the timer run out and watch the flurry of shill bidding. After the dust has settled
you can look at the bidder IDs and their feedback profile. How many real
collectors have feedback in the thousands? I don't know any. You'll see auto
bids in penny increments out bidding real collectors. If you back away the
item miraculously shows up under another one of the shills account IDs.
I saw an auction, which I rarely participate in, for an item I already have.
My one and only bid was what it should have sold for. If I won - great!
The first thing I looked for was a low starting bid and a low shipping cost.
Bingo found one. Next I look at the seller and his/her/bots feedback
profile. Low numbers mean new member. Then I look at the other auctions
for relists. Got em. Even found some on another vendors site. Noted that.
About an hour before the close of auction watchers start to show up. Where
were they six days ago. Busy shilling someone else I guess. I used to go to
auctions and participated with some veterans out there. I learned all the tricks.
Once the item is "on the block" the workmen I watched set up the auctions
start to crowd the stage. That's why you show up early. You can watch all
the players. The shills are usually family members not involved in the initial set
up. In the case of FeeBay its the same vendor under an other username. Let
the timer run out and watch the flurry of shill bidding. After the dust has settled
you can look at the bidder IDs and their feedback profile. How many real
collectors have feedback in the thousands? I don't know any. You'll see auto
bids in penny increments out bidding real collectors. If you back away the
item miraculously shows up under another one of the shills account IDs.
