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Weblog
Bidding Scam last modified: Saturday, December 10, 2005 (11:00:30 PM) Pricing is usually relative in my opinion because people will only pay what they think something is worth. But in reality there is a thing as a pricing market for every series that tends to go up and down.
About a week ago I had stumbled across an auction that I didn’t think would go very high and I shared my feelings with a fellow collector who agreed and wasn’t going to bid on it. Today, I look in shock at the amount of bids this auction has. Curiosity killed the cat, so I looked at who was bidding. Everything looked normal until the collector I shared my feelings with was on the bidding list. With even more curiosity, I asked the fellow collector to see if possibly feelings had been changed. Much to my surprise and annoyance the response was that the collector had bid because “they” were trying to help the person out and it was a nice thing to do. “They” also made the comment that it worked in the seller’s favor because someone was still going for it at a higher price. So, I asked if “they” were just raising the price of the auction but not really wanting the cel, and yes was pretty much the answer. This seriously upset me because “they” were raising the overall market price for this particular series as well as making someone pay more than they might if “they” hadn’t bid. Someone could have actually gotten a cel at a cheaper price. The collector’s only justification was that it has happened to “them” and that it helped the seller. This is beyond ridiculous and shouldn’t happen. What this collector is doing is ruining the pricing for the rest of us. I am so mad that this is happening that I thought it appropriate to inform the community. Thank you.
The market is already inflated. Whether it is one bidder or one hundred, the law of supply and demmand rule. As I collect Sailormoon cels, I''ve come to expect that the price for the cels I go after will always be high. While this is likely due to the type of cels that I tend to bid on, I speculate that there is also a lot of "vengeful" bidding - Where one bids a much higher amount than they would consider because, by jacking up the price, they can do some damage to the rival''s pocketbook. In this hobby, I''ve come to expect that anger, resentment and jealousy is just bit and parcel with the collecting game. Not that it bothers me - concerning some people, I find hateful words more complimentary than anything else. As for the person this is aimed at, there may be more to this issue than you or I would care to mention here. My advice is to keep an open mind - not everyone is out to get you...well, at least I''m not.
"That" person you are referring to is known by quite a few for doing exactly that - purposely raising the prices of cels because of another person bidding on it. A few more people have become aware of "that" person''s tactics, and I''m sure it won''t be long before more people realize it too. By purposely raising the bids on auctions, "that" collector is putting "themself" into a hole that is only getting deeper. I''m sorry that this situation has upset you, and that it was only recent you found out. Unfortunately "that" person has been doing it for quite a while, and won''t stop, but at least more people are starting to realize and also agree that it is rediculous and inhumane at what "that" person is doing. By raising the overall market price purposely, "that" person will meet many many more enemies in the community. And for saying that this had happened to "said" person before, makes "that" person just as bad (actually even worse) than the ones that quote/unquote "did" that to "them. I doubt it''s being done to help the seller, otherwise the seller wouldn''t have listed a BIN price or even a reserve price. It''s just another excuse to cover up "that" person''s tactics, and in doing so just dug that hole deeper. It might be wise to see what can be done through auctions to make sure "that" person doesn''t do this to others, including keeping documentation as proof and sending them along to the auction companies. Hopefully this will come to an end soon, and the ones that actually enjoy the love for this hobby can get back to *market prices.*
What people don''t realize is that its also against the law. Sadley it cannot be proven but its morally and ethically wrong which in my mind stands out above everything else. You don''t know everyone that could have considered bidding, in your quest to "hurt" someone else, may have put an innocent out of a cel they could have afforded because of your unjust actions. Its just sad and wrong. nikki n (midnightdance)
I have to agree with Midnightdance, SME, and Cutiebunny in this situation. You are all right. It''s unfair and illegial; and, it needs to be reported. It ruins a multitude of potential bidders chances to get a cel from a particular series at an affordable price. However, I do understand that certain series may be delivered at a higher price tag and I have come to expect that--probably, due to my taste. A good thing to believe right now is your alright and no one I know of is out to get you too. Believe me "what goes around comes around"--that kharma will bite that bidder in the butt and I know that you will benefit from it someday soon.
Augh, I HATE that! I was trying to get an Escaflowne cel some time back, and the person bidding against me only bid to see how much they could push without winning. Well, they won it, and they had to bite the bullet and pay over $100 bucks for a cel not worth $50. I think the thing that sucks the most is when someone asks for double or triple what they paid for it. I trust Asylum-Anime because Curt doesn''t charge much more than he pays, and that''s honest. The sad thing is, once you put something up for auction on a public site, it can go for whatever the public will pay for it. The cycle continues until the price is crazy (aka: DBZ cels). I know I had a Belldandy transformation cel for auction one time with a BIN of like... 60 bucks. Someone bid, and it ended up going for double. I felt bad, but there was honestly nothing I could do about it. And the people bidding weren''t doing it to "help", so, I guess it''s a different story. Either way, I''d give you some tylenol if I could. This sort of thing can give a headache in no time. Are we not allowed to say on here who the person is? I seem out of the loop here. Mind if you note me and let me know who it is so I can keep and eye out? -Stargazer''s Delight
Shill bidding is never a good thing. Pity this individual is grossly ignorant of how their actions harms the community as a whole. The only person to really benefit is the seller, everyone else thereafter stands to be harmed by the outcome of this seemingly helpful act. *shakes head and looks for a Economics for Dummies" book to lend our uneducated community member.* In truth it would be of far greater help if you could post the actual name of the user so more people can be aware of this problem and avoid interacting with them. |
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