Posted By:
davidcyclebackSome high end eBay sellers shill, as Scott says.
An imperfect test of a high end seller is to look at all the auctions, not one or two.
If the seller gets very high prices on one lot, but unexpectedly low on others, that is
indication that the auctioneer is not shilling. If the auctioneer gets unusually, or even
outragiously, high prices on all his lots, that's a suggestion of shilling.
I consigned stuff, some sold well and some sold less than expected. The auctioneer
said to me about one low lot, "The problem with eBay is you can't predict the
prices." That's something an auctioneer who doesn't shill would say.
As normal eBay sellers who don't shill will testify, sometimes a lot will sell
for a lot higher than expected and the winner pays for it. So a high price itself
doesn't prove anything.
I also beleive that to judge if there is shilling, one should look at the pattern
of bidding throughout the auction, not just near the end. Often, shilling
begins early. It is my inkling that comparing between major auction houses
the price/bid levels on day 2 or 3 or 6 is as important as looking at hammer day.
I personally wonder when a auction house has a distinctly different pattern
than the other auction houses.