Bidder Privacy?

[briscogun]

I lost out on an item tonight (real drag, really wanted it, too...), and for some reason I decided to click on the bid history to see what was what (I came way over the top, so I thought, at the last minute and it wasn't enough, so I was shocked and wanted to see the deal.) Anywho, so when I pull it up, its only me and:

Private listing - bidders' identities protected

as the only bidders. Anyone ever seen that? What does it mean?

Thanks!

[bigzig]

It just means the seller had it listed as a private auction.

Some sellers do this to shill.

Some do it to hide the price of the ended listing in feedback so you can't tell what the last item sold for if he had multiples.

Some may just have it selected on accident.

[briscogun]

Originally Posted by bigzig

It just means the seller had it listed as a private auction.

Some sellers do this to shill.

Some do it to hide the price of the ended listing in feedback so you can't tell what the last item sold for if he had multiples.

Some may just have it selected on accident.

That was my initial thought, that it was a shill bid scenario, since it was only me and this one "private bidder". I mean, I came WAY over the top on a last second snipe, and it flashed green for like half a second and then... BAM! "YOU LOST"! I lost? I tripled the bid as a "just in case" because I really, really wanted it. Oh well. I was waiting for that Second Chance Offer of a few bucks less than my highest bid, then I would have known for sure it was BS.

Is there any way to know ahead of time that its a private auction? Can I see that somewhere and just missed it?

Thanks for the info and the response!

[bigzig]

Originally Posted by briscogun

That was my initial thought, that it was a shill bid scenario, since it was only me and this one "private bidder". I mean, I came WAY over the top on a last second snipe, and it flashed green for like half a second and then... BAM! "YOU LOST"! I lost? I tripled the bid as a "just in case" because I really, really wanted it. Oh well. I was waiting for that Second Chance Offer of a few bucks less than my highest bid, then I would have known for sure it was BS.

Is there any way to know ahead of time that its a private auction? Can I see that somewhere and just missed it?

Thanks for the info and the response!

To find out just click the bids before you place your own.

Also, most shillers don't snipe. Not saying it couldn't happen, but it's not common. Chances are if you don't receive a SCO within the first day or two it was legit.