[R-390] auction scams

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

Thomas W Leiper wrote:

> On Tue, 30 Jul 2002 23:09:48 -0500 (CDT) "Jim Shorney"
> <jshorney@inebraska.com> writes:
> ...
> > I've done it either way, and it really doesn't matter a whole lot.
> > ...it is probably best to go with the proxy system and let the
> > chips fall where they may.
>
> If there is a snipe bidder (like me) those chips will
> fall my way every time. And all I will have to pay
> is one bid increment more than the most you were
> willing to pay...which is worth it if I want it. I only
> use the proxy if I am not going to be around, and
> when I do I bid at least 50% more than the sane
> price if I really don't want to lose. But a clever shill
> bidder can detect your limit without busting it and
> push you all the way to the top for nothing. That's
> why I almost NEVER proxy bid.

I agree completely. Proxy bidding is fine if you can't be there or don't
mind paying an extreme amount for an item to insure you win. All it
really does is allow others days to pick away at your bid and, at the
very least, drive your bid higher than you'd have likely paid if you
sniped. It isn't difficult to look up a high bidder's previous auctions
and get an idea how they bid. All that bidding early does in make the
seller more money while costing the high bidder more. If I bid from work
here, I bid in the last couple seconds(possible with a T1 line), from
home with dial-in usually the last 10. I bid as much as I'm willing to
pay, but only at the end of the auction. As you say Tom, if you really
want something, just bid a huge amount. This works with proxy too, of
course - you just end up paying more generally than if you waited. A
good friend here refers to sniping as 'bottom feeding', but I've tried
to explain that bottom feeders only get the crap left over that know one
else wants. Snipers generally get what they're shooting at.

As far as being scammed, I've only had one incident, and that was on the
very first item I sold. My fault for posting feedback first. User has
since been removed from ebay for ripping off others(he tried to
blackmail me for a refund and the item, I chose the negative feedback
instead and responded to my feedback and his), but ebay will not remove
the negative feedback despite his obvious guilt. I do think they need to
be more responsible for what goes on there, but that will never replace
self-responsibility and common sense on the user's part.

On the upside, I've had good luck dealing with list members here and on
other lists (except for the one crook in 6-Land), and encourage others
to do the same. To me, it seems preferrable to sell to or buy from those
you communicate with regularly and have a good idea about
character-wise. Plus you don't have to give a slice to a big company for
the priviledge, although a yearly donation to Al Waller is a good idea.

73 de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ