Gunbroker and "ghost bidders.."

FoghornLeghorn · October 4, 2021, 08:03 AM

Internet legend has it that a seller advertises a product on GB but nearing the end of the listing, it hasn't brought what he expected.

He can't simply cancel the listing. (Can he?)

So, he creates a false GB identity and raises the price. The listing runs out and he hasn't lost money on the actual sale of the gun.

But, he still pays a GB fee?

I'm only asking because I'm bidding on a particular gun and now that it's about to expire, a "NR" bidder raises the price to an unrealistic level. It might not be the seller. But it might be.

It just doesn't seem worth it. Unless he can claim the "winner" never followed through?

kenny53 · October 4, 2021, 09:30 AM

I would think either the seller or the sellers buddy could drive up the price. On the other hand I was selling some things on E bay and was every disappointed is the bids until the last twenty minutes and the offers soared. Auctions are a funny thing and people can get caught up in the bidding and end up paying more then the item is worth. Good luck in your bidding.

ballardw · October 4, 2021, 10:41 AM

The general term is "shill" bidding. And Gunbroker has a policy about it:
https://support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-...icate-Accounts

stinkeypete · October 4, 2021, 11:40 AM

Contact the seller. If that bidder is a troll and doesn’t pay, maybe the seller will accept your offer. While it’s good to be wary, it never hurts to talk to a seller on the telephone, voice to voice.

Logs · October 4, 2021, 06:34 PM

Seller can end auction before it ends. Buyers can also back out pretty easy on GB so you have to be careful. I have had a few NR buy stuff with no issues, but I bet there are some trying to scam.

If you are a seller you don't want to have a 2nd account to bid because you will be charged fees and it takes about a month to get your funds back after filing for a non-paying bidder.

ATN082268 · October 4, 2021, 07:55 PM

It is pretty easy for someone's friend to drive up the price on an online auction and almost impossible to prove. If that friend somehow wins the auction, they just don't pay and the item is listed again.

BornFighting88 · October 5, 2021, 05:57 AM

Not that I have ever wanted to, nor do I ever plan to. But I don’t understand the ease of backing out of a GB bid. Every single time I place a bid on something, they make a fuss over the fact that it is a binding contract that you agree to pay if you win. Blah blah blah, won’t bore you with the knowns.

Care to explain??

October 4, 2021, 08:03 AM	#1
FoghornLeghorn Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Posts: 961	Gunbroker and "ghost bidders.." Internet legend has it that a seller advertises a product on GB but nearing the end of the listing, it hasn't brought what he expected. He can't simply cancel the listing. (Can he?) So, he creates a false GB identity and raises the price. The listing runs out and he hasn't lost money on the actual sale of the gun. But, he still pays a GB fee? I'm only asking because I'm bidding on a particular gun and now that it's about to expire, a "NR" bidder raises the price to an unrealistic level. It might not be the seller. But it might be. It just doesn't seem worth it. Unless he can claim the "winner" never followed through?

October 4, 2021, 10:41 AM	#3
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,411	The general term is "shill" bidding. And Gunbroker has a policy about it: https://support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-...icate-Accounts __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

October 4, 2021, 11:40 AM	#4
stinkeypete Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2010 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,292	Contact the seller. If that bidder is a troll and doesn’t pay, maybe the seller will accept your offer. While it’s good to be wary, it never hurts to talk to a seller on the telephone, voice to voice. __________________ My book "The Pheasant Hunter's Action Adventure Cookbook" is now on Amazon. Tall tales, hunting tips, butchering from bird to the freezer, and recipes.

October 4, 2021, 06:34 PM	#5
Logs Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 1999 Location: BLUEGRASS STATE KY USA Posts: 1,780	Seller can end auction before it ends. Buyers can also back out pretty easy on GB so you have to be careful. I have had a few NR buy stuff with no issues, but I bet there are some trying to scam. If you are a seller you don't want to have a 2nd account to bid because you will be charged fees and it takes about a month to get your funds back after filing for a non-paying bidder. __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER

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October 4, 2021, 09:30 AM	#2
kenny53 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2015 Location: My back yard Posts: 971	I would think either the seller or the sellers buddy could drive up the price. On the other hand I was selling some things on E bay and was every disappointed is the bids until the last twenty minutes and the offers soared. Auctions are a funny thing and people can get caught up in the bidding and end up paying more then the item is worth. Good luck in your bidding.

October 4, 2021, 07:55 PM	#6
ATN082268 Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2013 Posts: 975	It is pretty easy for someone's friend to drive up the price on an online auction and almost impossible to prove. If that friend somehow wins the auction, they just don't pay and the item is listed again.

October 5, 2021, 05:57 AM	#7
BornFighting88 Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2021 Posts: 455	Not that I have ever wanted to, nor do I ever plan to. But I don’t understand the ease of backing out of a GB bid. Every single time I place a bid on something, they make a fuss over the fact that it is a binding contract that you agree to pay if you win. Blah blah blah, won’t bore you with the knowns. Care to explain??