eBay auctions with ZERO feedback bidders

[VR6ofpain]

I have always wondered and avoided auctions where all, in not the majority of bids were placed by users with zero feedback. I am convinced that it is simply bid shilling. They are there simply to push the auction price up, but never stay in for the final bid...and if they do happen to win, the seller connected with them, will not post negative feedback and just relist the item, hoping to sell it the second or third time. Just seems too suspicious.

I was looking at some SR-325's but I won't bid on them anymore, because all except 1 bid have been made by ZERO feedback users. One of them just created their account this month, which I am not sure is more or less suspicious.

What is your take on this type of situation?

Also note they are brand new, but the box is gone! His instructions:
NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES.ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

 

[Duggeh]

There are enough sellers on ebay that one, if one has the patience, can wait until a seller who is not a complete fraud or jackass appears with what one wants. I've learned the hard way about bad ebaying back when I was new.

 

[plainsong]

I can understand the thinking, but I'm glad that those ebayers who had a nice and newly serviced reel-to-reel tape deck, and two aluminum take-up reels were willing to take a chance on the account I created for mom. That was also a zero-fb ebayer, and I can tell you she is no fraud.

But isn't there a first time for everything? You don't start ebay with positive feedback. Doesn't anyone remember starting out and having zero fb? Or were we all born with 100% good fb and at least 50 buys or sells?

The point is, not ALL zero fb bidders are frauds or shills. Just watch the patterns, and give a noob a chance.

 

[kramer5150]

That doesn't bother me as much as zero feedback sellers.

Ebay... guilty until prooven innocent. SHILL bids are highly likely.

Just place your max bid with 5 seconds left in the auc, and hope the shiller cant counter-bid in time. Dont get in a bid-war with a shill bidder and exceed your max price, and you'll be OK.

I wouldn't pay more than $150 for those cans. The only thing special about them is the cosmetics of the black aluminum earcup (which IMHO DOES look good). Dollar for Dollar, I would rather buy a used MS2 than a used SR325.

Garrett

 

[VR6ofpain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 I wouldn't pay more than $150 for those cans. The only thing special about them is the cosmetics of the black aluminum earcup (which IMHO DOES look good). Dollar for Dollar, I would rather buy a used MS2 than a used SR325. Garrett

Ya, that is why I never bid on them and don't plan to. I am thinking of seeing if someone would trade a used MS2 for a used HF1.

 

[Edwood]

Yup, avoid shill bidding scum.

 

[JahJahBinks]

Well, I never used ebay before. What if I decide to sell something? I mean you have to start with 0 feedback to start with right?

 

[Zorander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JahJahBinks Well, I never used ebay before. What if I decide to sell something? I mean you have to start with 0 feedback to start with right?

You can always buy some cheap stuff to boost your feedback.

 

[ken36]

All of this business is one great reason to buy and sell on the head-fi forums. We trust each other.

 

[braillediver]

“All of this business is one great reason to buy and sell on the head-fi forums. We trust each other.”

A Famous person once said “Trust, But verify”.

When I’m buying on eBay or anywhere I do as much research on the Seller as possible.

On eBay I will also research the other Bidders- my competition. If the other Bidder \ Bidders have too many negatives or numerous withdrawn bids I will not pursue the Auction since I don’t feel they are serious.


An informed consumer is our best customer.

Mitch

 

[Snake]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 Ebay... guilty until prooven innocent. SHILL bids are highly likely.

I'm going to have to agree on that one. I'm really beginning to hate eBay, and I've only traded there a total of 19 times over almost 4 years.

To get burned out after dealing with so few people tells me that the place...sucks. I am beginning to avoid dealing with any type of individual - if I want something, I only want to buy it from an "established" eBay "retailer". Even selling things, my very first item, is turning into a headache.

I'm learning to treat eBay as just another web store and completely and utterly forget that it's an "auction" place. Between shill, stupid overbidders (paying more used than the equivalent of new), scammers and just plain "morons" it isn't worth my headaches.

Caveat emptor.

 

[JaGWiRE]

What do you guys think of sites specifically designed for selling stuff, like audiogon, canuckaudiomart, redflagdeals (for Canadians), and even head-fi? On redflagdeals there is no feedback system so you need to use heatware which I haven't bothered signing up for, but I really am curious what you guys think of these methods. I have dealt with several guys on RFD in real life or by shipping stuff and been relatively safe. If you find somebody whos sold several items before and your dealing with products <$50, it's generally safe from my experience.

 

[nomdeguerre]

I notice when I sell random things on ebay, most of the people bidding early on have 0 feedback (with a new account symbol), and on the last few days people with feedback start comming on to bid

 

[Hirsch]

I usually sell here rather than eBay. However, if I sell there, I do ask bidders with less than 10 feedback to contact me prior to bidding (and have my eBay settings set accordingly). I'll accept the bids, but I want to know that there's a real person interested in my item at the other end of it, who understands the binding nature of his bids.

We all started with zero feedback.

It's also an error to be too trusting even here. Investigate, talk to the other guy, check feedback here and elsewhere, and practice safe buying and selling practices. Nothing is certain, but you can minimize risk. Head-Fi is large enough that there are all kinds here. At one time, Williamgoody was a respected member of the community (see stickies in For Sale areas).

 

[spraggih]

it's kind of close to home that you started this thread because I have never bought or sold on eBay ... YET...

I do not like eBay too much because
1) the search engine does not seem to handle fuzzy word matches
2) shill bidding
3) sniping
4) shipping costs (they are usually astronomical on eBay, relative to Amazon or Head-fi)

So since I have zero feedback and the like, if I saw an item I liked I would bid but I would never sell on eBay as I doubt anyone would trust me... so I would sell my items through my sister who loves eBay.

One question for the posters: If a person in Head-fi says they have no feedback here but their eBay account is 'xyz' is there anyway to confirm the connection between the two? i.e., that who they say they are on eBay is true?