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New Bidders...Happen to You?

RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited December 2001 in General Discussion
For some reason, whenever I find a good item and I bid on it, a "New" user without any feedback appears out of no where and outbids me. This has happened to me three times in as many bids. Each of these auctions were 7 or 10 day auctions and all of them had over half of their time gone, i.e; 3 or four days to go and none had bids until I bid on them. Within two hours I was outbid by someone who had just registered and had no feedback, etc. Doesn't this seem a little strange? I wouldn't want to have to suspect that the possibility of "SCHILL" bidding was going on because that couldn't happen could it? But then I'm just a dumb old gun collector who likes to buy another nice old Colt from time to time.....how would I be able to tell?
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Comments

  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Any bets on how long it takes admin to close this.
    when all else fails........................
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  • RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would hope they would take it in the proper context and "take a look at the possibility." I'm just a little perplexed here. Once,....even twice,....maybe, but three times? Same exact thing? Coincidence? I hope so!
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have $5 on tomorrow by noon.
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  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    $5 on midnight tonite
    when all else fails........................
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  • OrphanedcowboyOrphanedcowboy Member Posts: 351 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would be willing to be that Ranchero is right, but I say at least by 6:00 am for my $5, had it happen to me, no bids early, I bid my max, then all the sudden get an email saying your outbid, wait a couple of days and bid, in an hour, I am outbid again, and it seems they only go a couple of dollars above what my max was, then when I raise my max it happens again, ticks me off
    Orphanedcowboy@msn.com www.texdeer.com
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  • RosieRosie Member Posts: 14,525 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The easy way is to bid and move on. Lifes to short. There is more guns than you have money i would bet so go on to the next one. Rosie
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  • RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ....But then again,.....could be this "Old Man" just has "Sometimer's." "Sometimes" I can remember how to bid, "Sometimes" I can't......This could be one of those times.........
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  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    last year I bid on a car on ebay, it had a real low price and no reserve. at the last minute it got bid up. Two days later the seller emailed to see if I still wanted the car, seems the bidder(with no feedback) never followed up on it. My guess is they have people bid the auction up for them to get more $$ out of you. Funny how auctions with super low starting bids and no reserve alawys * bid up at the last second.
    when all else fails........................
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  • COWBOYKIDDCOWBOYKIDD Member Posts: 239 ✭
    edited November -1
    The one thing I see that is strange is that sometimes the same bidder out bids himself geeez go figure that one out. I've seen the same person place a bid day after day.Either he has more money than sense or has that sometimers. just forgets he bid on it lol. Im looking at a couple auctions pretty hard but still have a few days till they close..I have my fingers crossed. Kidd
    Politicians Love Gun Control
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  • 22WRF22WRF Member Posts: 3,385
    edited November -1
    Poooof
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You guys sure it wasnt me? Sometimes I am guilty of bidding at the last minute, and yes, on purpose, hopeing that maybe someone is on the can for about 15 minutes and will be too late. I do have a whopping 1 feedback rating though. I lose a lot.
    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    There was a guy on eBay who had won about 50 expensive auctions in a couple months, but still had a feedback rating of zero. Since feedback is given for prompt payment and a good transaction, I got to wondering why none of his sellers had posted feedback -- had he simply bought their merchandise back for them, or were none of these auctions completed? I asked eBay security to look into it and he got all upset for "my" terrible behavior, called me on the phone, made a stink. But guess what -- he paid nobody, and as his feedback went down into the minus range he lost his eBay membership, convinced them to give him one more chance, and lost it a second time. I still don't know if he was a shill or just addicted to bidding prices up. The worst of it was that he was one of those last minute snipers, so you wind up bidding against him and if you win paying more than you would have if he hadn't been screwing around. Beware of those with no feedback until they earn your trust one way or another. Don't bid against an unknown quantity unless you keep control of events to your satisfaction. There are kids who like to bid on auction sites with no intention of buying anything -- sort of virtual vandalism. Then there might be members with more than one ID & email address, and then there might be friends who bid on each others' stuff. These are all auction sites' headaches, because members won't stick around long if they keep getting stuck.I try to stick with those with good feedback from other good feedback members.
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  • AntiqueDrAntiqueDr Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Of course, the other side of that coin is that you aren't born with positive feedback. Everybody starts at zero.
    We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Ask us about Shepherd Scopes!Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com
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  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well it looks like I lost $5 on this, it's past midnight.(admin will probably leave this alone just to be funny)
    when all else fails........................
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  • adminadmin Member, Administrator Posts: 1,079 admin
    edited November -1
    Amen, AntiqueDr! GunBroker.com spends a huge amount of money bringing in fresh retail-minded buyers to bid on your items.Before you dump on newbies but keep in mind that every single one of you was a newbie at one time. I am sure none of you would have liked to have been treated badly simply because it was your first bid.Shill bidding is virtually non-existant here; doubly so now that each and every non-paying bidder is manually reviewed as part of the new Non-Paying Bidder System. If sellers shill bid and win their own items they get stuck with the fees, plus they get the boot.eBay's lack of something like our 15 minute rule has trained bidders to wait until the last minute to bid because their system encourages sniping. The vast majority of bids are placed either on the first day of the listing or the last.
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  • Matt45Matt45 Member Posts: 3,185
    edited November -1
    Admin- I am still waiting for a response...1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,POOOOOOF!
    Reserving my Right to Arm Bears!!!!
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm with AntiqueDr on this, I've sold to many "Newbies" without a problem, then I've had a few with several A+'s dump on me ... GB's always relisted at "No Charge" (I commomnly use Featured & Showcase auctions, as well as Icon's & Counters) and they've credited my account for final value fee as well ... just post appropriate feedback and move on!
    GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • YankeeClipperYankeeClipper Member Posts: 669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here's my story: Drew your own conclusions. 4 days into the auction I put the min. bid on a gun, no movement untill 8 hrs.to go.I dropped out when the next bid was more than I wanted to spend. Low and behold the seller wrote back. I have another one exactly like that one and I will sell it to you for the amount of your last bid. What would you do if you were me?
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  • RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If there was 2 or more of these made initially, and you really want one at your price, this would be your chance to buy it. But, if you are not sure of the integrity of the seller, you might be getting more than your wanted or expected. Another one of those "Let the Buyer Beware" deals! Let us know what happens.
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  • sandman2234sandman2234 Member Posts: 894 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yankee C. Meets your price? and I stress your price... buy it. If not, let him eat it.
    Have Gun, will travel
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  • mudgemudge Member Posts: 4,225 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've had sellers contact me after the bidding was over and say: Your bid was within XXX dollars of my reserve. Do you want to bring your bid up to my reserve and take the gun?"My reply is, always: "Your reserve was within XXX dollars of my highest bid. Do you want to bring your price down to match my bid?" Never gotten a reply.Mudge the haggler
    I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!
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  • Mr. LoboMr. Lobo Member Posts: 538 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have been buying through this site for over one year. I just checked my ratings just for fun. Guess what I found...NR. I have never had any trouble nor caused any trouble. I do like to wait till things get hot at the end of an auction. I guess it is the excitement of the bid.
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  • turboturbo Member Posts: 820 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Now you see why I don't stay up an watch the late nite bid closures.But then again, if I want something bad enough I will put my "highest willing to buy it for" price in the bid window and let the bidding and brawling go on behind the seens, while I'm doing something else.If it sales for a higher price, I usually feel bad just for a little while.Till I find another deal to bid on...
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  • salzosalzo Member Posts: 6,396 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    MUDGE- Thats Good. Do they come down to your price?
    Happiness is a warm gun
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You know, I only have one feedback posted on myself, but I have bid on and won several items. Also, and I am sure some of you can relate, there are a lot of purchases that occur to due becoming familiar with sellers and having a personal relationship via email, but they cant post feedback as a seller unless an auction has been won. Some of the dealers/sellers will work with you on a personal basis to give you a better price than on the auction site, provided you are courteous, honest, and a model buyer. This most frequently happens when dealing with dealers who have more than 1 of the item which is up for auction, and unadvertised. A little old fashioned politeness can be just the ticket to getting the price you want, too bad the dealer cant post a feedback on you, though. So buyers, dont sweat the feedback, and sellers, well just keep on selling, each transaction is a new experience, and I promise that at least I wont bring a bad name upon our group of board members. Buyers, drive the seller nuts with GOOD questions, they usually understand and welcome them. If they dont answer ALL of them or you dont feel they are forth coming with the answers, or quick enough in the reply, or just dont have that warm fuzzy for the deal, DONT BID. Ask the questions before bidding, and ask during the bidding also. You must be sure of what you're bidding on to prevent regret when you win, if its not what you wanted when you receive it, its usually your own fault. Save your emails of questions to and from the buyer, if you get something that is in direct conflict with what the buyer said in response to one of your questions, then you have a leg to stand on when resolving the conflict. I have personally never been burnt on any of the auction sites, because I practice what I preach. Good luck buyers and sellers.
    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have never been sure I was being shilled, some bidders do seem to like to wait until the last hours, probably in hopes the bidding will not go over their max. I place my maximum bid and let auto bid do the rest. If it goes over that, good for the seller and good for the buyer. Since I know it all, I just figure it was overpriced. I do not bid on reserve auctions, but after watching a rifle through two auctions not sell, I e-mailed the seller and asked if he would tell me his reserve, so that I might see if I could buy it if it did not sell. He did. I figured it was $200 to high, and thanked him kindly. I have a couple of times thought I was being shilled up on the price, so I bid with them another $20 or so and let them have it.
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  • RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes, but this brings up an entirely different matter. "High Reserves" I think I will start this out on a new thread because they aren't alike to me......
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,078 ******
    edited November -1
    Here is what I have found out lately:You "sell" your item, but the high bidder fails to complete the deal. When this happened in the past, I was able to contact the second-highest bidder and see if he wanted it.Can't do that anymore. Only option is to relist. If you try to contact anyone but the high bidder, you get a page saying that this is not possible due to members abusing the system.Ok. So who has been abusing the system?Fess up now.This is not a criticism of admin at all, because you can get a relist credit, and I can see how the contact system could be used to make off-auction sales where there are no fees.I just tried to use it to ask a bidder a question, and found it had changed.
    Certified SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of the General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the premier gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net Jesus is Lord!
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  • 7mm_ultra_mag_is_king7mm_ultra_mag_is_king Member Posts: 676 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    NUNN I can see why they set it up like that , I'v had it happen several times on ebay where those "great deals" get mysteriously bid up just over your max bid then the seller contacts you to buy it. I cant prove it but I know there are several sellers out there who either have multiple user names( this can be done with multiple email adds, my isp gives 5 addresses with the account) or they have freinds or co workers at their store bid them to the price they want hoping to get the buyer to keep bidding. I "shop" on gb for a deal I cant get at wally world or the dealer, I'm not paying full price on here only to have added expenses and wait involved when I coulda just went down the street and got the same deal with less hassle. I dont mean to offend the honest dealers and sellers but it has happened to me many times and now I'm gun shy. I think the idea gb has about relisting is great as it should keep a muzzle on the dishonest sellers, that could also be why alot of times on gb the starting price and resrve is set high.
    when all else fails........................
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  • mudgemudge Member Posts: 4,225 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sal....Nope! Never even replied to my e-mail.Mudge the haggler
    I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Of the many auctions successfully won on this site, *********** and Ebay, I've been shilled only once by $25-50 on a Colt Lightning rifle and when you think of it; how meaningful is this- 5% on somethong you really want?
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  • YankeeClipperYankeeClipper Member Posts: 669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've had a sellers contact me when the item didn't reach the minimum and ask me IF I want it for my last bid, and I see no problem with that, but to suddenly have 2 items new in the box made in the 60's? Come on now, I was born at night; but not last night.
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