Would You Pay For An Item Knowing It Was Shilled?
 

Bid on a card that isn't really anything special, but I love oddball stuff for my Dickey collection. Watched someone bid it up in 50 cent increments until they stopped. No one in their right mind would want this card, so I looked into it.

Bidder has almost 200 bids with 96% with the seller - started looking into other auctions and it's clear as day. I told the guy I wasn't paying him, as he's clearly a shiller. Get the demand letter today for payment from eBay.

What should I do, as it's clearly not about the money? I've never not paid for an item and I don't want a buyer strike. I also know eBay doesn't give two craps about shilling and wants their money, so they won't side with me. However, I work hard for my money, and don't appreciate a $1.99 card turning into an extra $4.25 out of my pocket. Any advice is appreciated!

[url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/R-A-Dickey-2015-Bowman-Paper-Silver-Error-No-Name-Logo-91-499-722-/331653364858#ht_2610wt_1124]R A Dickey 2015 Bowman Paper Silver Error No Name Logo 91 499 722 | eBay[/url]

Yes and you will get a strike if the seller goes through. The bidder does look like a possible shill, but could be an over zealous bidder who does not understand the bidding process. Generally a good shill would have outbid you then retracted and rebid right under your max he just determined. That 96% is bothersome especially with that many bids.

If it was a 1.99 card why did you bid more than 1.99? Thats one reason I snipe to avoid any chance of my bid getting shilled.

I would still buy the card, but not buy from the seller again and report every one of the auctions he has shilled, after I received the card. Especially on a $4 card.

[QUOTE=shrevecity;9877918]Yes and you will get a strike if the seller goes through. The bidder does look like a possible shill, but could be an over zealous bidder who does not understand the bidding process. Generally a good shill would have outbid you then retracted and rebid right under your max he just determined.

If it was a 1.99 card why did you bid more than 1.99?[/QUOTE]

It's just my personal collection and I bid $7.43 - didn't bid like $100 on it - so the guy stopped at almost the perfect time - the shill account almost won the card, which I was hoping would happen. If you bid 193 times, and 186 are with the same seller, I don't think that's an overzealous bidder.

[QUOTE=mjohnatgt;9877921]I would still buy the card, but not buy from the seller again and report every one of the auctions he has shilled, after I received the card. Especially on a $4 card.[/QUOTE]

Makes sense - I really can't stand people - eBay is in the garbage...

I am not defending shilling, but at the end of the day, shilling or not, buyers should not bid if they didn't want the card at that price they were willing to bid up to.

Just my 2 cents

[QUOTE=Dickey SuperFan;9877897]I work hard for my money, and don't appreciate a $1.99 card turning into an extra $4.25 out of my pocket. [/QUOTE]

First and i don't mean this in a snarky way. Why bid $4.25 on a $1.99 card if you don't think it's worth it?

But as others have said. Just suck it up, but don't bid on any of his items again and report anything sketchy you see.

[QUOTE=edhou1;9877940]I am not defending shilling, but at the end of the day, shilling or not, buyers should not bid if they didn't want the card at that price they were willing to bid up to.

Just my 2 cents[/QUOTE]

Thats how I see bidding bid one time at the very end bid your max you are willing to pay no matter what happens and go on with life.

[QUOTE=edhou1;9877940]I am not defending shilling, but at the end of the day, shilling or not, buyers should not bid if they didn't want the card at that price they were willing to bid up to.

Just my 2 cents[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=smalltown;9877943]First and i don't mean this in a snarky way. Why bid $4.25 on a $1.99 card if you don't think it's worth it?

But as others have said. Just suck it up, but don't bid on any of his items again and report anything sketchy you see.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=shrevecity;9877959]Thats how I see bidding bid one time at the very end bid your max you are willing to pay no matter what happens and go on with life.[/QUOTE]


Fair enough - I certainly understand the logical point in that - it's the other portion of the brain that says, 'if another Dickey collector bids $7.00 and I bid $7.43, I'm willing to pay that much. But if a fictitious buyer drives up the price artificially, I'd prefer not to pay that amount.' I'd imagine anyone would understand that. I've gotten into some fierce battles over Dickey cards, but I know the person bidding actually buys his cards, and that's the breaks - but when some little punk spends all day bidding up auctions, I prefer not to take the reaming he's putting on the buyers... just my opinion.

I absolutely would because if I was high bidder at an auction and it was possibly shilled I still put in the high bid that I was more than comfortable with and willing to pay. Would you have paid that same amount for the card if a seller had a BIN of $7 + shipping??

[QUOTE=duwal;9878055]I absolutely would because if I was high bidder at an auction and it was possibly shilled I still put in the high bid that I was more than comfortable with and willing to pay. Would you have paid that same amount for the card if a seller had a BIN of $7 + shipping??[/QUOTE]

Probably not - you know how bidding can get - where when it's an auction you tend to get a little caught up, as opposed to a BIN where you say - damn that crap is high...

Snipe your highest price instead of bidding early, that lowers the chance of any shilling activity. If it still gets shilled for more than you're willing to pay then so be it.

[QUOTE=edhou1;9877940]I am not defending shilling, but at the end of the day, shilling or not, buyers should not bid if they didn't want the card at that price they were willing to bid up to.

Just my 2 cents[/QUOTE]

I agree. I don't even look to see if anything I bid on is shilled. I bid what I'm willing to pay and just move on. Win or lose.

Yes I would pay.

You high bid the card fair and square at auction, and somebody still thought it was worth $7.00.

Even if that 'somebody' was the seller.

[QUOTE=Andy5;9878272]Snipe your highest price instead of bidding early, that lowers the chance of any shilling activity. If it still gets shilled for more than you're willing to pay then so be it.[/QUOTE]

Yeah in this particular instance the auction ended right before 6am and I bid at 4:15 am - didn't think anything of it at all...

[QUOTE=Gmrson;9878357]I agree. I don't even look to see if anything I bid on is shilled. I bid what I'm willing to pay and just move on. Win or lose.[/QUOTE]

That's fair - less stress and I understand that - I'm just always amateur eBay detective because I know when something looks fishy. But you're right...

[QUOTE=YuppieMonkey;9878523]Yes I would pay.

You high bid the card fair and square at auction, and somebody still thought it was worth $7.00.

Even if that 'somebody' was the seller.[/QUOTE]

True - I want to start valuing my '89 Topps now... any takers?

Yes, shilling is a part of ebay.

[QUOTE=kairi-2008;9879982]Yes, shilling is a part of ebay.[/QUOTE]

Not true, the vast majority of sellers do not shill. There is a lot of manipulation and other childish bidding that would look like shill bidding to some, but the seller has no control over that.

Sportcards is actually one of the safer categories for this type stuff new electronics from China and Japan are the most heavily shilled items on Ebay. That is where I caught that shiller that had over 80K bids 8000 retractions and 100% with the same seller. Jewelry is another high shill area,

[QUOTE=kairi-2008;9879982]Yes, shilling is a part of ebay.[/QUOTE]

Not if people were more smarter with their bidding strategies.

[QUOTE=shrevecity;9880049]Not true, the vast majority of sellers do not shill. There is a lot of manipulation and other childish bidding that would look like shill bidding to some, but the seller has no control over that.

Sportcards is actually one of the safer categories for this type stuff new electronics from China and Japan are the most heavily shilled items on Ebay. That is where I caught that shiller that had over 80K bids 8000 retractions and 100% with the same seller. Jewelry is another high shill area,[/QUOTE]

Agree, the vast majority are good.
But shilling is still a part of ebay.

[QUOTE=Andy5;9880520]Not if people were more smarter with their bidding strategies.[/QUOTE]

But they're not smart, so, sadly shilling is a part of ebay.