Shilling??

[isle_k]

I've clicked & clicked following E-bays "helps" till I'm viewing in circles.

I suspect a seller of "shilling", they list item's and often it's nothing but hidden bidders, no "winner" of an auction, give it a day or so and the item get's re-listed for auction.

How do you report to E-Bay? Don't tell me click "report" on the page of the item because in all the drop down list's there is no option for shilling, unless a different term is being used.

E-bay's search & help's are so convoluted to follow sometimes. Why can't there be a simple straight forward "report shilling" button/option. Ugh.

[isle_k]

Any help appreciated. Feel free to dumb it down as far as directions go lol

[pocomocomputing]

In listing -> Report the item

Listing Practices -> Fraudulent Listing Activities -> Seller is using other accounts to inflate item price

[pocomocomputing]

Post the item number so that others can check the listing and offer their opinion if it is a case of shill bidding. You may be mistaken.

[secular-humanist]

It is open season, sellers are allowed to have multiple accounts THAT INTERACT with each other. Sellers also use what I call "fluffer accounts" that purchase cheap items in order to boost feedback scores above 98%.

I've reported and reported this to no avail, eBay protects their sellers.

eBay has gotten rid off the ability for buyers to interact to protect themselves from corrupt buyers, try contacting a fellow burnt buyer and watch your account lock up within a day or so. See my thread eBay's Dirty tricks (see also linkedin) before it is purged / censored more. eBay also has limited the information you can find out about the buyer and limited it to the last 30 days. Sellers with multiple fluffer accounts cycle through them so they do not to trip alerts. Sellers are a very adaptive at cheating. I've contacted eBay about one seller who was caught red handed doing this, eBay suspended one of their accounts (and promised to suspend all of that seller's accounts) for a few hours then eBay (brace yourself) reinstated the seller account with a bonus "Trusted Seller Status Icon". Then warned me and threw in some screws into my account, like fake log off, unknown error messages, message blocking etc..

PS If you call eBay and they promise to call you back or put you on hold if you complain about this abuse. From many months of experiences they will not call you back, if on hold then forget it, over an hour only to be deadlined.

Speaks volumes of eBay integrity

[secular-humanist]

Set up alert!

do not post the seller's ID or item number. The mod nazis will ban you.

[reallynicestamps]

and often it's nothing but hidden bidders,

All bidder names are now anonymized, although you can see your own.

no "winner" of an auction, give it a day or so and the item get's re-listed for auction.

Well,yes. If the item does not sell, the seller is allowed to relist it.

Remember that the point of shilling an auction is to force the buyer to pay the highest possible price. If an item does not sell, it was not shilled. If the seller has a single enthusiastic buyer who wins most auctions, the auction is probably not shilled.

A good sign of a shilled auction is retracted or cancelled bids.

[isle_k]

Thanks for taking the time for input and advice, I really do appreciate it.

I spent a great deal of time reading a lot of other posts and comments, as well as speaking with a trusted seller (not using e-bay messaging etc),  as much as I truly think this seller is "shilling", I've become very wary of lodging a complaint.

There's a number of buyers who've had to deal with unnecessary hassles after they thought they were doing the right thing by reporting some wrong doing.

My intention isn't to harm/hurt anyone, but i completely disrespect underhanded practices all motivated by greed.

In general reply to a couple questions/comments. How can an auction take place with bids galore, it ends, but no winning bid is posted and give it a few days it ends up re-listed--i get the email that it's been re-listed. Theres no reserve not being met either.

To me, It's fishy, and my gut tells me i'm right about some shady business going on.

So i'll simply write off that seller.

But no buyer ....or seller, should have to feel wary of unnecessary or unwarranted  repercussions for doing the right thing.

I've read so much from both sides of the aisle, buyer & seller, that i hesitate even posting ...and it's a really ugly feeling to have.

Thank you again for the time you took in replying.

Have a lovely day.