doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Off Topic - Auction bidding observations

Yes Ed I have personal experience with both sites. Neither site did a thing. I had to go to the post office inspector and the BATF to get real help. In the end it got fixed and one dealer ended up loosing his FFL. The other avoided jail time but not by much. USPS takes mail fraud very seriously.

When I complained with GB I got my account suspended, they fixed their mistake later. Again they only care about the sellers and I explained why. Sellers pay them. If a seller get a ton of complaint they might take action in time. Mostly their attitude it that it is two kids blaming each other for some trivial matter. Work it out or let it die.

I don't know why this thread upsets you so Ed. I don't think it hits too close to home in your case. Is it just a natural tendency to backup other sellers? You do know that Shill bidding happens? Or do you think every auction is free from such system rigging. The ease with which it can be done and the profit it can bring makes the temptation to nudge the bidding along almost too good to pass up.

ky: false news and rep trashing should be discouraged...

what if the information is factual,sharing information isn't trashing anyone if a dealer is less than honest why shouldn't it be discussed.or if dishonest bidding practices are being used then i think it should be discussed.honest dealers are always supported and rec-amended by buyers on sites like this one.

Now ed what is false news here? You just dont want to look at what goes on. I picked ten random recently completed auctions and the same person bid on each of the ones I listed them by auction number so you could see for yourself. Go look them up. It's right there to see. Maybe it is normal maybe not. It is up to the bidder to decide.

Just like when I look at feedbacks I look at the negative posters feedbacks as well. If one person post a bad feedback and has a hundred good feedbacks and no negative ones I take his comments at face value. If he has multiple negative bad ones on him I take anything with a grain of salt.

I did not accuse anyone of anything but I do find it very interesting that number of non winning bids to only one sellers listings. Perhaps this bidder is fixated on this sellers auctions like a stalker. Maybe he finds that seller has the best stuff on GA and only bids on his stuff.

Now what happened to me on GB was real. Auction sites and the internet as a group does have a few sellers who are not legit or try to play games. Perhaps the final bid was too low in their opinion. Perhaps they got a better offer. Or perhaps they are just a price of slick dog shix like one of mine were. One lie or excuse after the other. When the gun does not come, when the tracking number is not correct you start to smell a rat.

ky, mc, et al: seems to me, that if one has an issue with a seller on a commercial site, then one should take it up first with the seller; and than perhaps with the site if harm is done to you...and if in fact harm was done to you and you did not obtain satisfaction from the seller nor the site, then perhaps bringing your problem here for public discussion is appropriate...anything less than that is, well, false news and rep trashing.

Hey Ed. This is like one guy warning another that a girl has a history or is crazy after the first month. Or she has a sister who is nuts. Good warnings to get but ignore it if you want to. From your tone I am certain you never looked at the auction numbers listed and did not see the same guy listed repeatedly. Or better yet pick ten more auction numbers and see if you saw a repeat of the same.

Maybe this bidder bids on every auction the seller has for some reason. Maybe a bottom feeder who is looking for a bargain. Maybe he is the crazy brother. But if I am at an auction and see a fellow in the back bidding on almost every item until the price goes past a point and then always drops out and let's someone else buy the item I am not going to let him run the price up on me. I've seen this in real live auctions and don't play that game.

Amen to that, KY Jon.
When buying foreclosure's, I see it continuously.

Though I do see Ed's point at the dealer reputation level.

But, and it's a big BUT!, it improves market efficiency when these kinds of shill bidders are exposed. And auctions are supposed to demonstrate market efficiency.

Most of the auctions we participate in have earnest money deposits required. So, there is a little less room for shill's. Typically, they fail to file required paperwork within 3 days, and their bid is then rejected.

And of course, the auctioner's then suddenly contact bidder #2.

I always tell them FO. It's principle to me.

I've seen prices collapse over 100k when the 2nd place guy says No! to the scam.

I saw one foreclosure that failed to close because it was a shill bidder. He started bidding at about 375K and kept raising and then dropping out until his last bid was not advanced and he won the auction at 825K. Then he failed to close the deal and the property had to be resold. The price dropped from 800K plus to just over 400K on the resale. We knew what had happened and the second and third highest bidders both refused to take it at their last bid and both refused to bid at the resale.

Not only that but the second highest bidder, who buys and sells a lot of property in the area, explained to the auctioneer that a repeat of that shill bidding might be a very bad idea. Lawyers are cheap and the charge of rigged auctions will damage a auctioneers reputation beyond repair in small towns.

FWIW, I'm glad people here illuminate market anomalies.
If I decide I don't care, no one is out anything, and I take my chance. Occasionally someone just wants something more than I do. It's no biggee to me.

You can't buy them all, and I don't want them all.

Didn't see any 'accusations' in the OP ed.

If your so concerned, email the party and express your concerns. He...or she...can email you back with a viable explanation? Easy peezy.