eBay vrs42?

From: William Donzelli <aw288_at_osfn.org>
Date: Sun Feb 13 01:20:11 2005

> How is this any different then if I go with a friend to a restaurant, and
> we both order Apple Pie for dessert, and they tell us "Sorry, there is
> only one peice left", and I change my order to Key Lime Pie instead,
> because I know my friend would really like the Apple Pie.

A retail store and an auction have wildly different pricing structures,
obviously.

> I know it is crappy, and I sympathise with any sellers that loose out,
> but I still don't get how it is unethical for someone to choose not to
> bid against a friend, or anyone else that they know really wants
> something.

Both wanted the item. Obviously before the end of the auction, they
communicate and determine who will try to win it. After the auction, the
one that declined to bid writes me asking for another identical item (and
admits to colluding). Is this not an attempt to keep the price low?
 
> Of course, like anything related to ethics or morals, there is no hard
> black and white rule. It is all always about the situation at hand.

That is very true, and is one of the reasons colluding and shilling are
almost impossible to take action against. It is just a fluke that I was
able to "catch" someone.

Does anyone remember when Ebay allowed one legal shill per auction? It was
a feature in the early days, sort of like a "buy-back", but I think many
people took a dim view to it. I never used it because I feared getting a
bad reputation as a shill. I am not sure when the feature went away - it
sort of just faded in obscurity.

William Donzelli
aw288_at_osfn.org
Received on Sun Feb 13 2005 - 01:20:11 GMT

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