Bid Rigging
If a sell and a bidder are caught bid rigging is that an automatic expulsion offence? celse
0
-
I have submited my imformation to GunBroker. 0 -
That is called "schill" bidding, and most likely cause for termination of the accounts. Schill bidding, is where two accounts(can be the same person, or two different people), conspire to run up the bid.
It depends on what you mean, as to bid rigging. Lots of time it happens that a bidder will contact a seller to get a "bottom line"...then the auction closes prematurely. The selller must pay posting fee's. If there are any bids on it above any reserve, then the seller also pays a final value fee. But if it is just for stopping an auction early, even if it has bids above a reserve, that might not be considered an offense.
But for the most part, for the correct answer, contact the customer service on the auction side.
Best0 -
I will be more specific. No 09/17/2013 Nine minutes before auction ends a bidder goes over my bid and wins. Two weeks later the seller re-list said gun(10/01/2013). I contact seller and ask why it is being re-listed? The reply is "non paying bidder". On 10/02/2013 the seller gives the non paying bidder positive feedback?? Mean while I request more pictures on re-listed gun. On 10/03/2013 after receiving pictures I make a bid on the re-listed gun. About 2.5 hours after placing my bid the non-paying bidder from the first auction runs up my bid by almost $700.00. Over $200.00 more than the non paying bidder won the same gun sixteen day ago. It is worth noting that a non paying bidder, gun, like this will often sell for less not more money the second time around. I have witness this before. I call it the poisoned Well theory. Is this not a Smoking Gun???? 0 -
Contact support with this [B)] 0 -
In auction sales like on GB.com the usual technique for rigging bids is called "shill" bidding.
That's where the seller either himself via a second account, or via a second party, bids on his own auction to drive up the price. With actual open-air type auctions this is sometimes called "phantom bidding", with the shills being "phantoms" who bid to drive up a price, then disappear.
Sometimes this tactic works, because people can get caught in "auction fever", but it can also backfire and end up costing the seller a legitimate/fair price sale. It depends on how much interest there is for the item in question.
Sometimes sellers will jump in with a late shill bid to try and prevent what they think is a "steal", where due to limited interest a buyer might get an unusually good price for an item.
Done "properly" its hard to detect shill bidding, but there are some clues its going on. GunBroker claims to have proprietary ways to detect this activity.
I don't really know what GunBroker.com's actual policy is on this but they certainly do reserve the right to terminate accounts for people caught doing it (or for any other reason they choose), and I bet they have done it in individual cases.
Here's the written rule:
quote:
http://www.GunBroker.com/User/SiteRules.aspx
3. Bid Manipulation. Bid manipulation of any kind is expressly forbidden. A seller may not place bids or arrange to have bids placed on his behalf. Shill bidding is not allowed and may be a violation of law. Shill bidding means placing a bid, or asking a third party to place a bid, in order to create an artificial bidding war. Buyers may not communicate with each other in order to manipulate the final purchase price of an item.
If you think you know of a specific instance where this is going on, or even just suspect it, I'd contact the site administrators and let them know of your concern.
EDIT quote::Originally posted by celse
I will be more specific. No [sic] 09/17/2013 Nine minutes before auction ends a bidder goes over my bid and wins. Two weeks later the seller re-list said gun(10/01/2013). I contact seller and ask why it is being re-listed? The reply is "non paying bidder". On 10/02/2013 the seller gives the non paying bidder positive feedback?? Mean while I request more pictures on re-listed gun. On 10/03/2013 after receiving pictures I make a bid on the re-listed gun. About 2.5 hours after placing my bid the non-paying bidder from the first auction runs up my bid by almost $700.00. Over $200.00 more than the non paying bidder won the same gun sixteen day ago. It is worth noting that a non paying bidder, gun, like this will often sell for less not more money the second time around. I have witness this before. I call it the poisoned Well theory. Is this not a Smoking Gun????
What you describe is highly suspicious and I'd contact GB administration with your concern.0 -
There is such a thing as "poisoning the well", but it is a debating technique.
In order to get credit for fees, the seller must post FB, which management reviews. If the NPB had a good excuse, & paid the seller all fees in order to preserve his FB record, that could account for the fact that he left good FB.
But, you don't get 2 bites at the same apple. It sounds like you have a reasonable complaint, & I will be watching for an update.
Neal0 -
Persistent violators should not be just banned from the website, because many times they just use another fake persona to get right back on again. I think the auction websites should take serious consideration in turning these folks over to law enforcement for fraudulent activities (wire or mail fraud), conspiracy and theft (from buyers and the auction house of services). 0 -
Have you contacted Customer Support? No one here in this forum has anything at all to do with the auctions so no action can or will be taken on this end. If you want to get something done specificlalythen CS is the only venue. 0 -
celse,
From the GB Posting Guidelines:
Complaints or criticism about GunBroker.com, its staff, its policies, or any buyer or seller on that site. If you have a problem with an auction transaction use the auction feedback system and/or contact tech support.
These types of complaints are handled by the Auction side not the forums.
Best.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
9 comments