Mastro Being Investigated - Article

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Posted By: CoreyRS.hanus

In the end it boils down to how much trust you have in the auction house. Most/all will cite safeguards they implement to assure prospective bidders the practice does not take place. Some will be comforted by those safeguards, other will wonder if they exist or if there are not loopholes around them. The best protection in my view is simply to not make ceiling bids -- to either check if your bid has been topped as the lot nears its close, or in the alternative to request a callback in the event you are topped. Yes, I know this can be inconvenient, and even impractical for those without access to a computer or a phone. And it won't eliminate all questions whether shilling took place. But it will at least increase the risk to the auction house of shilling you up, and increase the odds you won the item at the lowest possible price.