Does eBay do anything to Sellers who use Shill Bidders? (2024)

FAQs

Does eBay do anything to Sellers who use Shill Bidders? ›

Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.

Failure to pay for items is a violation of our abusive buyer policy. When a seller cancels an order because the buyer hasn't paid, the unpaid cancellation is recorded on the buyer's account. Buyers who have excessive unpaid cancellations may have limits imposed by a seller or by eBay, or lose their buying privileges.

This can result in the item selling for more than its true market value. The consequences for shill bidding on eBay can include penalties such as account suspension or termination, fines, and even legal action.

If the bidder has bid on many auctions from the same seller, the bidder may be a shill. Compare this to the bidder's percentage of bids with this specific seller. If the percentage is also high, the bidder may be a shill.

eBay values your safety when selling online. If you meet your commitments as a seller, eBay will protect you if you face abusive buyer behavior or events outside your control. Sellers may not misuse the seller protections provided by eBay.

If you don't pay, 96 hours from the end of the auction the seller can cancel the transaction citing buyer didn't pay. You will get an unpaid item strike placed against your account. 2 of those in a 12 month period will get you blocked from bidding and buying from hundreds if not thousands of sellers on eBay.

If you have received 2 or more Unpaid Item Strikes on your account (which are tracked automatically by Ebay, not by one person or persons), your account will be restricted (not banned) for 12 months. According to Ebay: All unpaid items are recorded on a buyer's account.

This could create an unfair advantage or cause another bidder to pay more than they should. We want to maintain a fair marketplace for all our users, and as such, shill bidding is prohibited on eBay.

Shill bidding is a serious offense that can indeed lead to jail time. However, with the right legal representation, you can navigate this challenging situation and work towards the best possible outcome.

A: In California, the practice of "shill bidding," where the auctioneer or someone related to the seller places bids to artificially inflate the price, is generally considered illegal and could be construed as a form of fraud.

How to prove shill bidding? ›

A potential bidder can observe the other bidders' Shill Scores, and if they are high, the bidder can elect not to participate as there is some evidence that shill bidding occurs in the seller's auctions.

eBay does not let sellers bid on their own items! The seller sets up an auction so that bidders are 'private' .

The only thing a seller can see is the buyer's current bid. The buyer's maximum bid is hidden from everyone. Can you see what someone bids in an eBay auction at the last second without them knowing it? No, you cannot see what someone bids in an eBay auction at the last second without them knowing it.

You're eligible for the eBay Money Back Guarantee when you contact the seller within 30 days of actual or estimated delivery date of the item. What happens when I ask eBay to step in? If you haven't received an item, we usually refund your money immediately via PayPal.

Buyers don't always have the right intentions, yet Ebay will more often if not always side with the buyer.

eBay can't possibly vet all of the new sellers that join the site and list products daily from around the world. Lots of new sellers start off listing lower priced items until ebay removes the new seller payment hold, and raises the number of items they can list.

Buyers must pay for the items they purchase on eBay within 4 calendar days. If the buyer doesn't pay within this timeframe, the seller can cancel the order and an unpaid cancellation will be recorded on the buyer's account.

You can also report a buyer from your Orders list - opens in new window or tab. Choose Leave feedback from the dropdown menu next to the item, and then select Report buyer. We take all reports seriously, but please make sure your claims are accurate. Learn more about false reporting of policy violations.

The seller gets to relist the item and you will get an unpaid item strike against your account. If you get 2 unpaid item strikes within a 12 month period you won't be able to bid or buy from thousands of seller who have their buyer requirements set to block nonpaying bidders with 2 or more strikes in 12 months.