ebay finds that PWCC engaged in shill bidding?

[Peter_Spaeth]

The email sure looks real. Of course if it isn't I'll delete it.

As one of the world’s largest marketplaces, eBay has policies in place to protect our buyers and sellers. eBay was founded on trust, and we work every day to ensure a fair and positive experience for the entire eBay community.
Recently, it was determined that individuals associated with a trading card seller, PWCC, have engaged in “shill bidding,” which is prohibited on eBay. As a result, eBay has restricted PWCC’s selling privileges and listings, effective today. eBay’s policies and standards were designed to ensure a trusted marketplace where our community can transact with confidence. If we determine that a buyer or seller is not acting in good faith, eBay takes this seriously and takes action. Our customer service team will work directly with anyone who has a question about a recent PWCC transaction [link].

eBay is the destination for buying and selling trading cards - built over 25 years with our passionate community of collectors and sellers, as partners, on that journey. Trust is the cornerstone of eBay, which is why we felt it was important to share this information with our community. We assure you that eBay will continue to take actions to deliver on our commitment.

eBay sent this e mail to you at XX about your account registered on eBay.com.

eBay will periodically send required e mails to you about the site and your transactions. Visit our Privacy Notice and User Agreement if you have any questions.

Copyright © 2021 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. eBay and the eBay logo are trademarks of eBay Inc. 2145 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125.

[vdad1981]

I received it as well … not sure what it means for past purchases.

[ZiggerZagger]

Got it too. Wow….

[theuclakid]

Peter, I got the email too....about time some action was taken regarding the shill bidding

Bruce Perry

[Leon]

Dunno but a quick ebay search turns up almost 700 results..and they listed as recently as yesterday. Of course it could be a Today policy..

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...acat=0&_sop=10

.

[ejharrington]

Yup, just saw this.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Leon

Dunno but a quick ebay search turns up almost 700 results..and they listed as recently as yesterday. Of course it could be a Today item...

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...acat=0&_sop=10

.

That has to be a fraction of what they had?

[scooter729]

There are at least 18,000 PWCC auctions running at the present moment....

[Leon]

Originally Posted by scooter729

There are at least 18,000 PWCC auctions running at the present moment....

Yes there are. I guess my search was flawed .

This should be interesting...

[marzoumanian]

This is huge, in my humble opinion. The evidence had to be overwhelming for eBay to take such action. Rock my world. Peace.

[mrreality68]

Have not gotten it but Wow

Let's see what the next steps/fall out might or might not be

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by Leon

Yes there are. I guess my search was flawed .

This should be interesting...

They don't list "PWCC" in the subject line of every listing any more, so that search only showed the cards that got an extra special sticker for being from their special consignors....

[nickers]

I got it as well and am awaiting a call back from Ebay, do you think they'd have to credit winner bidders a portion of what was paid?

[Jcosta19]

I was as excited as everyone else when I read my email and even started a thread right at the same time as Pete (locked now).

But is this confirmed to be a legit email? I haven't gotten one in my eBay messages.

There is also a link to a page to discuss if you have had concerns about recent purchases. Is that link legit and to an ebay secure page?


Smells like a phishing scam to some degree.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[ullmandds]

run...run...empty the vault!!!!

[bobbyw8469]

Now, do they mean PWCC engaged in shill bidding or the members that use their services engage in shill bidding?? There needs to be a distinction. If it is the latter, that is like blaming a casino for allowing card cheats to frequent their establishment.

[Aaron Seefeldt]

I too got the email. Not good by any means

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

Now, do they mean PWCC engaged in shill bidding or the members that use their services engage in shill bidding?? There needs to be a distinction. If it is the latter, that is like blaming a casino for allowing card cheats to frequent their establishment.

Individuals associated with PWCC is the language.

Might mean they were using employee accounts to run stuff up?

I don't know of course, but I've said for years the way PWCC items jump up so fast out of the starting gate was strange.

[Johnny630]

They have known for years, sadly this is a big nothing burger. As always nothing will change, nobody will be held accountable it’s 2021.

[Fuddjcal]

I didn't get it but my buddy just called me a told me about it.
I'm shocked

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Individuals associated with PWCC is the language.

Might mean they were using employee accounts to run stuff up?

I don't know of course, but I've said for years the way PWCC items jump up so fast out of the starting gate was strange.

100% this

[Jcosta19]

I've read unconfirmed reports on Twitter and blowout of vault listing getting pulled and inability to list from the vault.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[IndyDave]

I received the e-mail as well. I had purchased a card from PWCC last month.

The only link in the e-mail takes you to an eBay page that takes you to a page where you can click on a link to have eBay call you. Says wait time is 53 minutes (up from 17 minutes when I looked about 45 minutes ago). That page opens up with my user information including my cell phone number

The e-mail passes all the anti-phishing lessons I've had to take with my company.

I can't wait for a call back while I am at work, but will probably ask for one sometime over the next few days. Imagine they are getting deluged now.

My card cost enough for me to invest the time to find out what is going on.

[ZiggerZagger]

I agree with Peter it looks and sounds legit. Still waiting for wider confirmation though.

However, the email came from “ ebay@reply5.ebay.com” which troubles me.
Other eBay missives have come from “ebay@ebay.com”

Got the popcorn popping, waiting to see this one play out!

[Leon]

Maybe, hopefully, the FBI investigation is paying some dividends in putting pressure in certain places. I never got the email but don't doubt what everyone is talking about.
.

[Carter08]

I agree that eBay probably knew about it and its hand is being forced by an outside entity like the government doing an investigation. I called to ask about a large item I purchased a few months back just to see if they could tell me if I was up against a shill. End price was fine with me but it was trending so low and I feel like the seller had a fail safe in place. I also saw pwcc auction a Goudey Ruth two months in a row and couldn’t help but think they had a shill accidentally buy it.

At any rate, not sure if she’s right or actually knows all the details, but the eBay customer service rep said they are removing pwcc from the site completely and that will take some time to do. This was just a customer rep but that’s what she thought was happening.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Carter08

I agree that eBay probably knew about it and its hand is being forced by an outside entity like the government doing an investigation. I called to ask about a large item I purchased a few months back just to see if they could tell me if I was up against a shill. End price was fine with me but it was trending so low and I feel like the seller had a fail safe in place. I also saw pwcc auction a Goudey Ruth two months in a row and couldn’t help but think they had a shill accidentally buy it.

At any rate, not sure if she’s right or actually knows all the details, but the eBay customer service rep said they are removing pwcc from the site completely and that will take some time to do. This was just a customer rep but that’s what she thought was happening.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

I know there were a couple of high level ebay executives who were at the National. Wondering if there were a lot of complaints that led to this action. The timing after the National seems to add to the theory.

[Brian Van Horn]

https://ludkinsmedia.com/pwcc-restri...shill-bidding/

[D. Bergin]

If Ebay just curbed bid retractions and cancellations, this problem would go away tomorrow.

If this e-mail is legit, it's Ebay throwing one of their biggest clients under the bus to shield themselves from their own negligence and malfeasance.

With advance apologies to one of my favorite posters on NET54, it's like Jose Canseco ratting everybody else out, for the drugs HE provided or turned them on to, and then acting like he's somehow the hero in all of this.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

If Ebay just curbed bid retractions and cancellations, this problem would go away tomorrow.

If this e-mail is legit, it's Ebay throwing one of their biggest clients under the bus to shield themselves from their own negligence and malfeasance.

With advance apologies to one of my favorite posters on NET54, it's like Jose Canseco ratting everybody else out, for the drugs HE provided or turned them on to, and then acting like he's somehow the hero in all of this.

There are potential problems beyond retractions if in house shills are bidding on items.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

If Ebay just curbed bid retractions and cancellations, this problem would go away tomorrow.

If this e-mail is legit, it's Ebay throwing one of their biggest clients under the bus to shield themselves from their own negligence and malfeasance.

With advance apologies to one of my favorite posters on NET54, it's like Jose Canseco ratting everybody else out, for the drugs HE provided or turned them on to, and then acting like he's somehow the hero in all of this.

BTW, Ebay is still providing that drug to whoever wants or NEEEEEEDS it.

You get a bid retraction, you get a bid retraction, you get a bid retraction............................EVERYBODY gets a bid retraction!!!!

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Carter08

I agree that eBay probably knew about it and its hand is being forced by an outside entity like the government doing an investigation. I called to ask about a large item I purchased a few months back just to see if they could tell me if I was up against a shill. End price was fine with me but it was trending so low and I feel like the seller had a fail safe in place. I also saw pwcc auction a Goudey Ruth two months in a row and couldn’t help but think they had a shill accidentally buy it.

At any rate, not sure if she’s right or actually knows all the details, but the eBay customer service rep said they are removing pwcc from the site completely and that will take some time to do. This was just a customer rep but that’s what she thought was happening.

a normal customer and they would just shut you down with No recourse. Maybe you'll believe me next time when I tell you it's all A "BILLION DOLLAR FRAUD"...Probably Multi Billions. I tend to think they are on a time out, maybe.

[MINES_MINT]

I just got off the phone with eBay and they are telling me that the email is "NOT LEGITIMATE". Apparently the source is not an official eBay email account, so I would avoid any and all links associated with the email.

I'm interested to see how PWCC responds.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by Carter08

I agree that eBay probably knew about it and its hand is being forced by an outside entity like the government doing an investigation. I called to ask about a large item I purchased a few months back just to see if they could tell me if I was up against a shill. End price was fine with me but it was trending so low and I feel like the seller had a fail safe in place. I also saw pwcc auction a Goudey Ruth two months in a row and couldn’t help but think they had a shill accidentally buy it.

At any rate, not sure if she’s right or actually knows all the details, but the eBay customer service rep said they are removing pwcc from the site completely and that will take some time to do. This was just a customer rep but that’s what she thought was happening.

If it was a fake email, then who did you talk to? If a real customer rep, did they not have a clue and were just speculating? Bizarre.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Carter08

I agree that eBay probably knew about it and its hand is being forced by an outside entity like the government doing an investigation. I called to ask about a large item I purchased a few months back just to see if they could tell me if I was up against a shill. End price was fine with me but it was trending so low and I feel like the seller had a fail safe in place. I also saw pwcc auction a Goudey Ruth two months in a row and couldn’t help but think they had a shill accidentally buy it.

At any rate, not sure if she’s right or actually knows all the details, but the eBay customer service rep said they are removing pwcc from the site completely and that will take some time to do. This was just a customer rep but that’s what she thought was happening.

This is the post that makes it seem that someone got confirmation from Ebay, but in reading it sounds like it was from some time ago and not today.

[Carter08]

Jim Nonkes: I spoke with a rep today as the email had a link that linked to eBay’s call back feature. Not sure if she knows what she was talking about but, from my perspective, she seemed to know about what I was referring to and said they are removing them.

[Zan]

Just got off the phone with my rep at PWCC. There will be no September eBay auction, and it will take them 4-6 more weeks to get their own platform for auctions up and running. PWCC and eBay are separating

[Jcosta19]

Just to recap -
We have someone who claims to have spoken with ebay, and that they confirmed the email and even think that PWCC will be banned completely.

We also have multiple people who have spoken to ebay and claim the email is not legitimate.

We also have someone who spoke to PWCC who stated they are canceling upcoming auctions and separating from ebay.

Crystal clear.
Did I miss anything?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[sportscardpete]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

Just to recap -
We have someone who claims to have spoken with ebay, and that they confirmed the email and even think that PWCC will be banned completely.

We also have multiple people who have spoken to ebay and claim the email is not legitimate.

We also have someone who spoke to PWCC who stated they are canceling upcoming auctions and separating from ebay.

Crystal clear.
Did I miss anything?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

To quote Greg Popovich:

"Do you know anything at all" - reporter
"I know two sides of an isosceles triangle are equal" - Greg

[glchen]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

Just to recap -
We have someone who claims to have spoken with ebay, and that they confirmed the email and even think that PWCC will be banned completely.

We also have multiple people who have spoken to ebay and claim the email is not legitimate.

We also have someone who spoke to PWCC who stated they are canceling upcoming auctions and separating from ebay.

Crystal clear.
Did I miss anything?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Justin, I believe the first statement is incorrect. Reading through this thread, no one has said that they spoke with ebay, and ebay has confirmed the email.

For the second point, two people have spoken with ebay, and the ebay representative has responded that the email is fake.

For the third point, Zan said he spoke with PWCC, and PWCC said that they are separating from ebay.

[Jcosta19]

Originally Posted by glchen

Justin, I believe the first statement is incorrect. Reading through this thread, no one has said that they spoke with ebay, and ebay has confirmed the email.

For the second point, two people have spoken with ebay, and the ebay representative has responded that the email is fake.

For the third point, Zan said he spoke with PWCC, and PWCC said that they are separating from ebay.

Read post #36 in regard to my 1st point. Although I guess they did not mention confirming the email, its certainly implied based on the conversation.

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[Eric72]

Originally Posted by glchen

...no one has said that they spoke with ebay, and ebay has confirmed the email...

Additionally, I don't recall seeing anyone confirm they received the message in their eBay account.

I've only seen reports of receiving the info via email.

If anyone has gotten the message [B]in their eBay account[B], please chime in.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Additionally, I don't recall seeing anyone confirm they received the message in their eBay account.

I've only seen reports of receiving the info via email.

If anyone has gotten the message [B]in their eBay account[B], please chime in.

I did receive the e-mail outside of ebay but not in my ebay inbox, that seems suspect to me too.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I did receive the e-mail outside of ebay but not in my ebay inbox, that seems suspect to me too.

Casey, who is the "sender" of the email???? Like the phyiscal email address it came from?

[Johnny630]

EBAY IS CYA themselves, that'ts it.

[insidethewrapper]

I think doing any business to avoid ebay fees can get you suspended. If they refer customers to their web site to avoid fees etc. This could be reason enough to be suspended. Maybe they have enough customers now to avoid ebay altogether.

[toppcat]

What's in the message header data? That should indicate where the message was sent from.

[packs]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

I think doing any business to avoid ebay fees can get you suspended. If they refer customers to their web site to avoid fees etc. This could be reason enough to be suspended. Maybe they have enough customers now to avoid ebay altogether.

Wouldn't you need the prices to be public enough that it raises the price of every subsequent auction though? That's the beauty of doing your business on a platform like eBay. Not saying people don't get their pricing lines from other sources (like major auction houses), but it's eBay that is the most common reference for commonly sold cards, right?

[Flintboy]

I wonder if this news made Probstien sit up in his chair?