snaw's got new work from home now!

[swamp]

Complete non-story.

Expect to read in next week's Sunday Times that water is wet.

[The Lone Gunman]

<not 100% sure here>

I think part of the problem is ebays pricing policy, and the sellers greed obviously.

If you want a fixed reserve or initial bid price then you have to pay ebay a percentage. Sellers dont want to take that risk if the item doesnt sell so they set low or no reserves and open price then get their mates to bid the price up.

[Lucifer Box]

Indeed, TLG. There are charges for setting a reserve so obviously eBay want you to do so and the seller doesn't, especially on high value items.

However, bricks 'n' mortar auction houses have been doing this since auctions were invented in the form of ghost bids. Does this mean this age-old practice is now illegal too? Bizarre.

[The Lone Gunman]

Indeed, TLG. There are charges for setting a reserve so obviously eBay want you to do so and the seller doesn't, especially on high value items.

However, bricks 'n' mortar auction houses have been doing this since auctions were invented in the form of ghost bids. Does this mean this age-old practice is now illegal too? Bizarre.

The practice is and always has been illegal, it is fraud, but proving it is a different matter.

[Lucifer Box]

The practice is and always has been illegal, it is fraud, but proving it is a different matter.

Are you sure, TLG? The article posted seems to say it has only been illegal since 2006.

Everyone who frequents auctions knows ghost bidding takes place and no one seems to mind. If the ghost bids are silly you just stop bidding.

[The Lone Gunman]

Are you sure, TLG? The article posted seems to say it has only been illegal since 2006.

Everyone who frequents auctions knows ghost bidding takes place and no one seems to mind. If the ghost bids are silly you just stop bidding.

You may be right, maybe I just thought it was illegal.