private members

[nreptile]

How come some buyers have their identity protected, how do we know that someone who has upped the price of an item is not the owner or a friend of theirs. All the normal identities are protected by stars so no one really needs to have their complete names redacted.

[scifan57 · Accepted solution]

Buyers don't set this up,it's the result of a seller offering a private listing. This means that you won't be able to see the item number in the buyer's feedback history. It also makes it even harder to detect shilling but doesn't mean that there is always shilling going on in a private listing. Here is a page on private listings.

[scifan57]

Private listings are often used by sellers of adult merchandise,expensive items,etc..

[dmil8030]

Hello 'reptile',

You won't know if the item price is being boosted by the seller and/or relative/friend.  Private listings are the best protection ebay can offer the shiller.

On the other hand, some perfectly honest auctions are set up that way.  'Adult' items, sure, but plenty of innocent things too.  The items do not show up in feedback, only the comments, so if there are a lot of complaints about something, other buyers will not know what to avoid.

Some sellers believe no purchases should be listed in feedback, thinking that everything people buy should be private.  Others do it so that feedback will not provide any clues what their items usually sell for.

Ebay tells sellers <<you should only make your listing private if you have a specific reason>>. Hiding a shill ID may be some sellers' idea of a specific reason and hence many people won't bid on private auctions.  So as with any auction, - don't be shilled up.  And if you truly suspect there is something dodgy about it, - don't bid at all.  There are far too many honest sellers to spend your money with someone who makes you uncomfortable.