EBAY ~ Shill bidding ~ Should I report????

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birchave0

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Advice would be great on this one.
I was bidding on a pair of new boots on ebay, seller had a few of the same sort, different sizes. They are a new seller as they have no feedback, the boots I wanted had no bids yesterday until I became the first bidder.

The auction ended today, I was in the lead my original bid being £80 (the starting bid) until about two hours before the end when someone out bid me.
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I really wanted the boots so i set myself a limit and bid again. Once I had reached my limited I didn't bid again, then got out bid and sloped off in a huff to console myself
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The auction ended and 11 minutes later i got an email from the seller with a second chance offer. i was a bit confused as earlier on i had asked the seller if they had any more of these boots in my size incase I didn't win, they said no.

i emailed the seller and they said the winner didn't want the boots so i could have them at my highest bid which was £134.

There were only two bidders on the boots, me and the winner.
I turned detective,
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and did a search on the winning bidder, it turns out they are based in the same area as the seller, and they also bid on 3 other items they had for sale this morning. i think they have been bidding just to push the price up, I am not a happy bunny!
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I have emailed the seller and voiced my concerns about people who bid and then don't buy, I also said it was unfair for me to pay £134 when if the other bidder had not bid I would have won them for £80, there were no other bidders.
I have not had a reply.

What should I do????

I really want the boots but knowing they could have been mine for £50 less is really sticking in my throat
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Am I being unreasonable?
Should I report the seller or just pay up and get the boots?
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How bl**dy annoying - i think i would not pay anymore than the £80 you had originally bidded. At the end of the day you KNOW that the other bidder was bogus and there were no other bids - so seller either lets you have them for £80 or doesnt sell at all! I bet if you hold out you'll get them for your orignal bid.... x
 
If you reeeeally want the boots, offer them £80, and say that it is your final offer. If they refuse, just find them somewhere else.

Don't forget, if they were bidding them up, they have not got a buyer, so they will have to relist them if you do not take the 2nd chance offer. I doubt they would bid you up twice on the same username, it would be a tad too obvious!!

This kind of thing gives honest ebay sellers a bad name
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thanks guys, they were Ariat Grassmere boots, so no I couldn't buy them somewhere else cheaper, I think shop price is £180.

I know at £134 they are still a good price (they were listed as old stock, discontinued colour) but I still feel like I've been robbed
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I didn't think you could see the identity of fellow bidders on Ebay these days? Definitely sounds fishy to me. And as others have said gives genuine Ebay sellers a bad name.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I didn't think you could see the identity of fellow bidders on Ebay these days? Definitely sounds fishy to me. And as others have said gives genuine Ebay sellers a bad name.

[/ QUOTE ]

At the end of the auction it showed the winning bidders user name, I then did an advanced search which showed all their winning/bidding activity for the last 28 days. just call me Miss Marple
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Still p*ssed off though, it said that this colour black/charcoal was discontinued. Not sure if that is true or if they are just old, dusty stock!!!
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I just look at the Ariat site and it doesn't say black are discontinued.

What size are you after? As there are a few pairs on eBay which currently have low starting prices. Although they are brown
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They are correct, black/charcoal was discontinued last year - which was when i got mine cheap.

Not right, but i would tell them they have been sussed and invite them to honour your original bid of £80.
 
I have contacted the seller, asked them to offer me the boots for my original bid, if they don't do this I will complain to ebay.
I bet I don't get an answer.
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REPORT THEM to ebay!!! Ebay are trying to stop this happening, so report them asap!! dont buy anything from them, this goes on all the time!
 
I think some one has set you up and bid against you to run the price up I'd let them go and search for another pair. Or offer her eighty take it or leave it.
 
having had no response whatsover from the seller I have reported them to ebay. I know I won't get the boots now but I'm just a bit p*ssed off!
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Watch this space, I bet nothing happens!
 
Ebay do take shill bidding reports seriously so you will probably find their shilling account (the buying one) is suspended if the investigation finds enough evidence. They will still keep their selling account.
 
I reported to ebay on Saturday, got a computer generated reply, so just waiting now.
I have done a bit more digging, turns out the seller is listed at a business seller, and has retail premises in the south west, I will say no more. Very naughty really, I'd hate to think how they treat their normal customers
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