Principles vs. Price

[helmets]

Re: Principles vs. Price

This same exact thing has happened to me on football helmets. It happened twice on the same helmet. I did not accept the second chance offer either time as I was pissed. I sent an email to the seller and stated if he didn't bid on his own helmet, perhaps it would sell. He stated that the winning bidder did not follow through on his bid, yet the second chance offer came fairly soon after the auction ended - both times. It finally sold "again" recently, and I am waiting for it to be relisted again.

[David]

Re: Principles vs. Price

Ask the seller for the list of the bidders, ala take digital photo of the screen where the bidders are listed (bidder id's are shown for the seller). If there was no shilling, I believe most sellers would comply as there's nothing to hide.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Principles vs. Price

The second chance offers are the second highest bid, so if you are shilling, you are getting the maximum bid of the "real" highest bidder.

[joelsabi]

Re: Principles vs. Price

I have just come into a situation where an item that I was bidding on was in a "Private" auction with all bidders identities hidden. I knew the whole time (due to past conversations I have had with the seller about the item) the price he wanted for it. Plus there had been a reserve price auction on the item previously and reserve was never met and it was offered to me at the price the seller wanted for it. So he put it up this time with no reserve but "private" auction. I knew this was ripe for some shill bidding.

So I put in a bid just below what I knew he wanted to get for the item. Sure enough I was outbid at the very last second, and sure enough less than 24 hours later here comes the second chance offer. Now, the item is nice, and the price is probably fair enough, but I am 99% sure that the seller bid this thing up or had someone do it for him. Do I buy this item, or do I refuse on principle alone? My gut says don't buy it. But I really would like to have the item...

not sure what price is given for second chance offers.

if its at the winning bid price, i would wait for it to be relisted.

[corsairs22]

Re: Principles vs. Price

It would depend on how hard it is to get another one from someone else. If it's rare, I would disregard the seller's tactics and focus on the fact that the price is "fair enough." If it's likely that I can get another one later for a better price or at least a similar one, then I would hold off. Mark

[Jags Fan Dan]

I have just come into a situation where an item that I was bidding on was in a "Private" auction with all bidders identities hidden. I knew the whole time (due to past conversations I have had with the seller about the item) the price he wanted for it. Plus there had been a reserve price auction on the item previously and reserve was never met and it was offered to me at the price the seller wanted for it. So he put it up this time with no reserve but "private" auction. I knew this was ripe for some shill bidding.

So I put in a bid just below what I knew he wanted to get for the item. Sure enough I was outbid at the very last second, and sure enough less than 24 hours later here comes the second chance offer. Now, the item is nice, and the price is probably fair enough, but I am 99% sure that the seller bid this thing up or had someone do it for him. Do I buy this item, or do I refuse on principle alone? My gut says don't buy it. But I really would like to have the item...