Bwahahaha! I'm sick!!!

[Vin DSL]

I don't know what it is, exactly -- boredom, or whatever -- but I've become addicted to boosting prices on eBay...

This has gotta be the sickest thing I've done in recent memory! Here's the game...

Pick a POPULAR item -- and look at the 'Completed Listings'. Let's say X has a selling range of $100-$200 during the last month, and there's 31 current bids on X... but someone looks like they're going to get X in 11 minutes for $56. You go in and bid $100, sit back, and watch the fur fly...

Dude, this is soooo much fun, I can't hardly stand it!!!

The coup de grace comes when you skirted death, once again, by doubling the purchase price, with NO intention of buying product X, and gloat over the ruse by studying the 'bid history' afterwards -- $56, $57, $60, $67, $80, $95, $101... all in 10 minutes -- after sitting at $56 for the last 4 days.

If sellers do this, it's unethical -- and they'll probably get kicked off eBay, if they're caught -- but if 'buyers' do it, it's perfectly acceptable! Go figure...

I know one of these days I'm gonna get bit in the butt doing this, but who cares? This is priceless... more exciting than buying lottery tickets, if you will!

Of course, there's much more to playing this game, like watching the counter closely, during the last 20-30 minutes, to see how many 'snipers' are sitting there with you, but that's all part of the fun!

Anybody selling a POPULAR item on eBay? Let me know...

[Rebel007]

To be honest I think you deserve to be banned from Ebay for this practice, if the seller has not put a reserve on the item, then its his own fault, but you are costing innocent people money, so yes I agree with the title of this thread!

I have lost money because a reserve wasn't set, so I have been on both sides of this scenario, prior to reading this thread I had a lot of respect for you.....

[the_ancient]

prior to reading this thread I had a lot of respect for you.....

why?

[Rebel007]

why?

Insanity perhaps?

[Jaded]

EBay Policy
Using eBay
While using the Site, you will not:
manipulate the price of any item or interfere with other user's listings;

It may not be your item, but you admit you have NO intention of buying the item. By bidding the item up, you may convince others not to bid more, thereby preventing the sale (or do you intend to buy the items you "win"?)

[Spathiphyllum]

Vin, does your employer not give you enough to do? Or your spouse?

[Vin DSL]

To be honest I think you deserve to be banned from Ebay for this practice, if the seller has not put a reserve on the item, then its his own fault, but you are costing innocent people money, so yes I agree with the title of this thread!

I have lost money because a reserve wasn't set, so I have been on both sides of this scenario, prior to reading this thread I had a lot of respect for you.....

Evidently I didn't phrase this the right way...

This all started because I was bidding on an item, while talking to a friend...

He asked, "How do you know [the item] works?"

I said, "You don't -- that's the gamble."

"So, what do you do then?"

"You leave negative feedback for the seller."

"Will that make a difference?"

"Maybe. That's all part of the gamble too."

I said, "Look, it's like buying a lottery ticket. How do YOU know you're going to win?"

This guy roared with laughter, and couldn't stop. He had tears coming out his eyes. That was like the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

I quipped, "Well, isn't that true?"

Anyway, don't get me wrong -- when I said I have no intention of buying something -- I didn't mean to say that *if* I win an item, I won't pay for it. If I accidentally win an auction, I'll take my lumps and pay for the item! I'm NOT going to stiff the seller!

That's all part of the gamble too, no? I've just taken 'the gamble' to a new level...

The way I look at it, the only ppl getting 'hurt', if you will, are snipers -- and they deserve it!

[Ron]

To be honest I think you deserve to be banned from Ebay for this practice, if the seller has not put a reserve on the item, then its his own fault, but you are costing innocent people money, so yes I agree with the title of this thread!

I have lost money because a reserve wasn't set, so I have been on both sides of this scenario, prior to reading this thread I had a lot of respect for you.....

I don't think he's cost anyone anything; (an)other buyer(s) were willing to pay more than they were bidding, and the seller surely won't mind.

Anyone ever sell anything using Craig's List?

[Gwaihir]

I don't quite see the problem either, as long as Vin is a good boy and follows through on the purchase commitment of whatever might land in his lap accidentally. If it really tends to go at twice his bid, that shouldn't be a problem. Just relist it and sell it again.