Gunbroker conspiracy theory

[BPsmoke]

Do you think some sellers on Gunbroker "run up" their prices with phony bidder names, to get a bidding war going?

I just wonder sometimes...

 

[arch stanton]

I am sure it happens just like ebay

 

[BPsmoke]

I think I got "run up" on a recently won auction. Two of the same items auctioned separately got bid up by the same bidder at the same time an hour before the auction ended who then disappeared.

Its OK - his stuff, his price. And I didn't pay more than I wanted to. Just interesting to me...

 

[anm2_man]

I don't know about the run up, but I do believe that if the auction doesn't raise the price to what the seller wants (other than some reputable sellers), I do think some of them will purchase the product under an alias, and then you will see it up for auction again.

 

[Mayday]

YES!!!! I totally agree! Especially one guy that sells hk stuff. I am a little confused though because i thought gunbroker scrambled all co bidders names? how did you know he bid on both auctions? Mayday.

 

[TinmanIA]

Yes it does happen, its no theory. I have had a seller run up an auction, and with in the hour got an Email saying that the other guy backed out, and I could have the item for my max bid. It happens on fleabay to.

 

[Dogtired]

I just put in what I am willing to pay and walk away.

 

[eyegun]

I just put in what I am willing to pay and walk away.

That's how you gotta do it. Just put in your walking away price and be patient. If you don't get it don't worry an identical or similar item will come up soon.

 

[r]

there was a guy over on subguns who did a collection of data specifically on ammo off gb. he was able to determine that certain sellers of ammo NEVER had an auction with the price per round below a given price (so much above market). either they made shill bids thru several fake accounts to compete with legitimate bidders or the legitimate bidders walked away after reaching their own price limit and then ammo was simply re-listed for the next un-suspecting bidder. all this was compiled and presented to GB site owner. they did not want to hear it and took NO ACTION whatsoever. if you want to bid set your own limit on what an item is worth to you and stick to it without getting caught up and a bidding frensy. that is the only way to keep from getting screwed.

 

[BPsmoke]

.... then ammo was simply re-listed for the next un-suspecting bidder.

That's what clued me in. There were two identical items that both got bid up an hour before closing. I then got the winning bid on one, and the other was IMMEDIATELY re-listed. Whch I think means the seller had the winning bid on his own item.

 

[gunbunny]

this was compiled and presented to GB site owner. they did not want to hear it and took NO ACTION whatsoever

I hear you. Once I had to report a seller out of Texas that was trying to get me to trade for a weapon outside of gunbroker, while the auction was still on. I wasn't going to ship my weapon in trade to him and have someone else bid on the one I was trading for, so I informed Gunbroker (which was extremely difficult to do, it seems they do not want to be bothered by us little guys). I get an email back from gunbroker yelling at ME. It wasn't my idea, and I told them the moment I thought something was up.

So yeah, it seems that gunbroker is as rigged as congress.

 

[MrM4]

I wouldn't be surprised if there is a fair amount of auction rigging going on.Like any auction online or in person, I pick a value that Im willing to pay. If the bid exceeds that amount I move on to the next seller.

 

[Jmacken37]

That's what clued me in. There were two identical items that both got bid up an hour before closing. I then got the winning bid on one, and the other was IMMEDIATELY re-listed. Whch I think means the seller had the winning bid on his own item.

Gunbroker allows you to easily relist something. I'll often sell multiple items one after the other so that I don't dilute the market. In this case, the immediate relist would be another of the same item I'm selling. Not saying there aren't funny things going on in your case.

Jake

 

[BPsmoke]

Gunbroker allows you to easily relist something. I'll often sell multiple items one after the other so that I don't dilute the market. In this case, the immediate relist would be another of the same item I'm selling. Not saying there aren't funny things going on in your case.

Jake

Correct. But how does an auction item a bidder wins get relisted within an hour after the bidder wins it? The winning bidder would have to be the seller.....

 

[Jmacken37]

Correct. But how does an auction item a bidder wins get relisted within an hour after the bidder wins it? The winning bidder would have to be the seller.....

I am notified by email immediatlely when I sell something. I then only have to click once to relist something.

 

[MrM4]

Correct. But how does an auction item a bidder wins get relisted within an hour after the bidder wins it? The winning bidder would have to be the seller.....

Gun broker gives you the option of relisting the item (X) number if times even if its sells, the idea is that you can sell multiples of the same item with out telling would be buyers that you have more than one, its way to make the item look rarer than it is. Some people are more likely to bid more if there is only one of something, if you have 20 of the same item listed there is no reason for buyers to bid up one another , instead they would just bid the opening bid on one of the other auctions. What your seeing is a marketing tactic offered by GB to sellers to help raise the bid price if their items.


That being said foul could be involved, its just not the ONLY option. Like Jake said it only takes a click to relist, I get mobile updates and can relisted literally in under a minute if I sell an item that I have more than 1 of.

 

[BPsmoke]

Gun broker gives you the option of relisting the item (X) number if times even if its sells, the idea is that you can sell multiples of the same item with out telling would be buyers that you have more than one, its way to make the item look rarer than it is. Some people are more likely to bid more if there is only one of something, if you have 20 of the same item listed there is no reason for buyers to bid up one another , instead they would just bid the opening bid on one of the other auctions. What your seeing is a marketing tactic offered by GB to sellers to help raise the bid price if their items.


That being said foul could be involved, its just not the ONLY option. Like Jake said it only takes a click to relist, I get mobile updates and can relisted literally in under a minute if I sell an item that I have more than 1 of.

He had INDIVIDUAL LISTINGS of both unique items. I won one. Someone else won the other. The other was immediately re - listed for sale. Only possible explanation (I can think of ) is the winning bidder on the other was the seller. If there were winning bids on both, NEITHER should be re-listed for sale.

But true, it doesn't prove anything, and even if it did, it really doesn't matter. Just an observation...

 

[MrM4]

Yeah I would think you could be on to something. Did your transaction with the seller go smoothly?

 

[Jmacken37]

He had INDIVIDUAL LISTINGS of both unique items. I won one. Someone else won the other. The other was immediately re - listed for sale. Only possible explanation (I can think of ) is the winning bidder on the other was the seller. If there were winning bids on both, NEITHER should be re-listed for sale.

But true, it doesn't prove anything, and even if it did, it really doesn't matter. Just an observation...

I don't want to seem argumentative, but I did this same thing just the other day. I had a number of LMT lowers. I listed two. They both sold (aka "winning bids on both") and I just "relisted" one of the ads.

Jake

 

[BPsmoke]

Yeah I would think you could be on to something. Did your transaction with the seller go smoothly?

Payment sent - we will see.