Got shill bidded on Gunbroker

[marksmandowntown]

I wanted to make a reproduction 1897 Trench Gun shotgun. To that end, I won an auction ($390 plus $30 shipping) for a Norinco 97 pump shotgun today. The shotgun was listed with no reserve.

The two bidders who bidded the auction up from $335 to $385 both happened to have just one (1) completed auction to their accounts, and both happened to make their single purchases from the same seller.

I don't have proof, but this looks pretty stinky. $335 would have been a steal for me. $390 is the going rate for these guns and isn't a deal at all.

I still want the shotgun for $390 because it has really a really nice stock. For this reason I'm pretty sure that I'm going to just pay for it and take the hit because if I report the guy I doubt that he will ship me the shotgun.

What's the way to handle this? Negative feedback? File complaint with Gunbroker after I receive the shotgun? Should I just STFU?

[Cokebottle]

It looks suspicious, but without more of a bidding history it's hard to prove.
They each have one completed purchase with this seller? That doesn't sound like a shill bidder, because the person holding the auction would still have to pay the fees.

If they each had no successful auctions AND they had a huge bidding history with this seller, then ya... that's pretty obvious.

[stealthmode]

complain to gunbroker. they probably have a way to see if the accounts are made by the same person.

[Garv]

Since you want it and have no proof, send your concerns to GB after you have possession.

[Zartan]

Not worth post

[Oceanbob]

Yeah....after you have possession.

Still, probably a good deal.

Bob

[Snoopy47]

If you didn't bid $390 you wouldn't be paying $390.

Sellers who play that counter bid game also run the risk of losing the high bidder they have on the hook.

Personally, I'm a stalker. I only bid once, and I put in my highest bid, and only once, and I do it at the last possible moment.

That way, I don't shoot myself in the foot with petty nickle and dime bidding increments and lose from time elapsing when I was willing to pay more, and if someone out bids me then well, they wanted it more than I did.

[MrOrange]

If you didn't bid $390 you wouldn't be paying $390.

Sellers who play that counter bid game also run the risk of losing the high bidder they have on the hook.

Personally, I'm a stalker. I only bid once, and I put in my highest bid, and only once, and I do it at the last possible moment.

That way, I don't shoot myself in the foot with petty nickle and dime bidding increments and lose from time elapsing when I was willing to pay more, and if someone out bids me then well, they wanted it more than I did.

Yeah that's pretty much my thoughts. Shills are bad, but they can't make you bid more than you want. You could've waited for the next one to come along, it's not like it's super rare or the gun your grandfather carried in WWII or something like that.

I also bid only once, after picking an amount I want to spend, then adding a few dollars just so I don't end up saying "Oh, man, I coulda had it for five more bucks!"

As for the last possible moment, remember GB has the 15-minute rule, so sniping isn't an option. They also have their auctions set up so that if two identical bids are made, the one that was put in earliest gets the win. I've won a couple auctions that way, where somebody else bid the same amount that I did, but at a later time.

complain to gunbroker. they probably have a way to see if the accounts are made by the same person.

That too, although I'd phrase the message as mentioning something that might bear examination, rather than a straight-up complaint. They're fairly nice folk there, no need to get aggressive.

[HibikiR]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Support/SupportFAQView.aspx?faqid=1114

Here's GB's shill bidding policy. Only report if you're sure your experience matches.

[highpower]

If you didn't bid $390 you wouldn't be paying $390.

Sellers who play that counter bid game also run the risk of losing the high bidder they have on the hook.

Personally, I'm a stalker. I only bid once, and I put in my highest bid, and only once, and I do it at the last possible moment.

That way, I don't shoot myself in the foot with petty nickle and dime bidding increments and lose from time elapsing when I was willing to pay more, and if someone out bids me then well, they wanted it more than I did.

This right here. I have bought a few things from auctions and the most important thing to remember is to set yourself a limit and then DON'T GO ABOVE IT. Bidding at the last minute helps to reduce the nickel and dime BS, but you should always avoid a bidding war.

You bid $390 for the gun and you got it. Stop worrying about a few bucks and get on with your life instead fretting over the outcome.

Oh yeah, 1897 trench guns are awesome. Get the bayonet and you have the perfect riot control weapon

[Jimmy's]

Gun broker sucks.

[John Browning]

If you didn't want to pay $390, don't bid $390. Shill bidding sucks, but if you let them bid you up that's your fault.

[marksmandowntown]

If you didn't want to pay $390, don't bid $390. Shill bidding sucks, but if you let them bid you up that's your fault.

I can't argue with this. I think I got done for about $50, but I'm not going to complain because I can't prove it and the nice stock is worth the extra $50.

STFU it will be.

[I Swan]

I don't really see someone going to the trouble to have shill bidders on a Norinco shotgun to make an extra $50 or so. Isn't $390 plus shipping and DROS and tax and FFL fees getting pretty high too for such a gun? Must be some exceptional wood.

[onelonehorseman]

If you didn't bid $390 you wouldn't be paying $390.

Sellers who play that counter bid game also run the risk of losing the high bidder they have on the hook.

Personally, I'm a stalker. I only bid once, and I put in my highest bid, and only once, and I do it at the last possible moment.

That way, I don't shoot myself in the foot with petty nickle and dime bidding increments and lose from time elapsing when I was willing to pay more, and if someone out bids me then well, they wanted it more than I did.

Pretty much no last moment with Gunbroker's 15 minute rule, but I know what you mean. Some bidders bid early and don't watch the auction any longer, so bidding late sometimes wins a good deal on an unattended auction.

Marksman, I think you did alright just the same. I probably wouldn't waste my time following up but if you do, wait 'til you have possession.