Well, I was pretty clear in my last post that the zero feedback bidder (or bidders) are causing havoc for IAW and all of us real bidders. They are driving up prices, winning items that they will never pay for, and causing aggravation for us all.
The Solution
Before I get to the problem, the solution is SIMPLE. IAW, go to the "Selecting Buyer Requirements" page and read that. All you need to do is require bidders to have a PayPal account. If you do this, the fraudulent bidder will not be able to have more than one fake account to bid on your items, and after one week, you can ban him from bidding and he will not be able to sign up again.
What is the downside? Well, every bidder who doesn't have a PayPal account (a very tiny # I am sure) will have to sign up for one to bid. Maybe a few refuse to do so, but no one should be paying IAW other than through PayPal anyway. I mean, who writes checks anymore? You don't have to USE the PayPal account to pay, but you simply need to have an account. It is one more piece that ties you to your eBay ID by requiring a credit card or bank account.
(Frankly eBay should REQUIRE this, as I have been saying for years. But they are too greedy to care about cleaning up fraud for real and simply enable shill bidding).
The Problem
Well, we have seen now, how devastating the fake bidder (and I do think it is one person) can be. This fake bidder has won 13 of the top 19 selling items over the last 3 weeks! Now if that doesn't motivate IAW to require a PayPal account, I don't know will. Now it is interesting that the fake bidder didn't bid up any of the other 6 items in the top 19.
Why do I say it is one bidder? Every one of those zero feedback bidders has a similar name. It usually has something to do with the lot being bid on and a number. They are all registered around the same time.
Some have suggested that this is shill bidding by IAW but I seriously doubt that. Both Dominic and Colin are great guys and decent folk. They wouldn't do this and they don't need to!!!! They are getting great prices for the premium stuff as it is. And why WIN their own auctions? Makes no sense. If you wanted to drive your own auctions up, there are better ways to do it. Whoever is doing this is doing so to be vindictive, pure and simple.
So, how does this affect legitimate pricing?
Now, here is what you need to pay attention to. If the zero feedback bidder wins an item and you are the under bidder, the actual legitimate winning bid is NOT your high bid, but ONE BID INCREMENT above the 3rd bidder.
example:
$ 1,525 winning bid (zero feedback)
$ 1,500 your top bid
$ 1,000 next highest bid
The zero feedback fraudulent bidder's bids should be eliminated, meaning you would have beaten the $ 1,000 bidder with a winning bid of $ 1,025 (the next bid increment). So, you should tell IAW you want the item at $ 1,025, the fair result.
This is why I say the guy who won the Nemesis Starfleet uniform jumpsuit was SCREWED with a $ 2,375 high bid. The under bidder AND the third bidder had zero feedback and the 4th bidder was at $ 926.07. So he SHOULD HAVE won this at $ 951.07 (next bid increment).
I will be talking with IAW and hopefully have them take the steps they need to today. Note that if they do make the change to require a PayPal account, it will not affect this week's auctions, only auctions yet to be listed. So, we may have to deal with this again this Friday.
OK, that is all for now, but email me if you need to, and please read the thread on the Star Trek Prop, Costume & Auction Forum.
Alec
It's a Wrap eBay auctions - Week 36 Results
Week 36 Results
Week 36 had about 100 items, but the bid news this week is that the zero feedback bidders who are fraudulently driving up prices are becoming a REAL problem. A lot of expensive lots were won by bidders with zero feedback and 5 of the top 6 items were to fake bidders! . What is very interesting is that every one of those zero feedback bidders has a similar name. It usually has something to do with the lot being bid on and a number. This will become a big issue the next few weeks as bidders are getting tired of this and feel thet are being manipulated.
I will be posting an article on just this topic tomorrow, so please stay tuned. Also, I will post part two of this wrap up Tuesday as there is a lot to cover, and this fake bidder (I think it is one person) is causing a lot of headache I have to deal with.
The Saavik Maroon Uniform lot went for $ 6,400 to a bidder with ZERO FEEDBACK vulcangoddess79. So I am going to assume we will see this again as this wasn't a legit bidder. The winning bid SHOULD HAVE been $ 6,101, as the 3rd bidder was at $ 6,001, and with a $ 100 bid increment, $ 6,101 would have been the winning bid.
That being said, the lot has multiple items, but the jacket was NOT Saavik's. This is the same situation that happened with the Admiral Cartwright costume. There is little to do here, as the tags from the Maroons were constantly removed it seems, and so there is no way to know who wore what. Thus, this is as close to Saavik's uniform as you are likely to get.
I can't stress enough how damaging the zero feedback bidders are to this process as they are undermining faith in the process.
The Star Trek: TMP Spock Class D uniform went for $ 6,200 to a legitimate bidder. I guess it is sad that I have to qualify the purchase as such. What is interesting is that this is the one that sold for $ 6,100 in week 21. Obviously that bidder didn't follow through. Another sold for $ 7,810 in week 26, though that one had an unattached bio-buckle. The constant re-selling isn't good for IAW.
The Enterprise Hoshi Sato Starfleet Uniform went for $ 3,675. It is amazing that Hoshi costumes continue to go for such high prices. This is captain's territory, and three Hoshi's have now gone high, the other two going for $ 2,703 and $ 3,606. HOWEVER, this is another ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, so this too is an invalid sale. The bidder is startrekjunkie999 . Zero feedback and this is the only item bid on.
We have seen the Enterprise MACO complete uniform before, but not a female one. Once again, this one went high. But a ZERO FEEDBACK bidder ( maco1701nx ) was the winner at $ 3,051, so I expect this one back up soon as well. The 3rd highest bidder was at $ 2,500, so this SHOULD HAVE sold for $ 2,550 to the under-bidder (2nd highest bidder).
There was another Star Trek: Enterprise Terran Empire two-piece female uniform which went for $ 2,825 which also went to a ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, dirtyharry767. The last one went to my buddy Grant for $ 1,900. This would have gone for $ 1,525 if there was no fake bidder as the 3rd highest bidder was at $ 1,500, and so the
underbidder would have won at $ 1,525.
The Klingon costume with full head mask was a good idea by IAW as they probably have a lot of these masks. This was a fair auction, with no zero feedback bidder, and I think at $ 2,480 a good deal. The mask alone is a $ 500-800 item. And the costumes generally go for $ 2,500.
The guy who won the Nemesis Starfleet uniform jumpsuit was SCREWED with a $ 2,375 high bid. The under bidder AND the third bidder had zero feedback and the 4th bidder was at $ 926.07. So he SHOULD HAVE won this at $ 951.07 (next bid increment).
If I were this bidder, I would refuse to pay this winning bid. You were bid up by a fraud. Considering that IAW was selling these at $ 1,000 at Vegas, I think that is what they should sell for.
The TNG Command Red Starfleet Uniform at $ 2,025 was about twice what these went for in Vegas. It was a legitimate sale though.
The Feature Style Crewman's Uniform Jumpsuit went for $ 1,825 while the named character "Dax" version of this went for only $ 710 and had all the same parts! That made no sense. The Dax costume was a great deal!
Tuesday night I will review some of the background costumes and the prices we are seeing.
As far as props go:
The Porthos Submerged Stand-In Dog went for a hefty $ 2,750 but was a very cool prop. I got to see this in Vegas and the winner will be happy with it. Another ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, so this should have gone for $ 2,550 to the under-bidder.
The pair of Romulan stools went for $ 1,635, which is the highest these have gone for so far. They are cool, and I think IAW may have more. The fact these went so high, shows that there are new bidders driving certain prices up.
The Dr. Soong Lesson PADD went for $ 1,525 to the same ZERO FEEDBACK bidder who won the MACO costume. This would have gone to the under bidder for $ 1,075 if not for the zero feedback bidder.
The DS9 Starfleet "Projection Data" PADD also was sold to a ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, guitarheo99865. This should have sold to $ 659.
Finally, the rubber Tricorder and Holster went for $ 860, which I think was a pretty good deal. Yes, it is rubber, but still, a cool piece.
THIS WEEK'S AWARDS:
Best Costume of the Week:The Saavik Maroon Uniform lot went for $ 6,400
Best Prop of the Week: The Porthos Submerged Stand-In Dog at $ 2,750 was pretty cool.
Best Buy of the week: The Crewman Dax uniform at $ 710 was a steal!!!!!
Worst Buy of the week: The Nemesis Starfleet uniform jumpsuit at $ 2,375 bid up by a zero feedback bidder. These were $ 800-1,000 in Vegas at the IAW booth.
Sleeper of the Week: Nemesis Starfleet Dress uniform at $ 898 was a great deal on a beautiful costume.
5 HIGHEST PRICED ITEMS THAT SOLD (Is this even valid anymore?)
Star Trek: TMP: Saavik Maroon Uniform lot $ 6,400 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
Star Trek: TMP Spock Class D: $ 6,200
Star Trek: Enterprise Hoshi Sato Starfleet Uniform $ 3,675 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
Star Trek: Enterprise MACO complete uniform $ 3,051 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
Star Trek: Enterprise Terran Empire two-piece female uniform $ 2,825 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
More info on the zero feedback bidders tomorrow!
Alec
Week 36 had about 100 items, but the bid news this week is that the zero feedback bidders who are fraudulently driving up prices are becoming a REAL problem. A lot of expensive lots were won by bidders with zero feedback and 5 of the top 6 items were to fake bidders! . What is very interesting is that every one of those zero feedback bidders has a similar name. It usually has something to do with the lot being bid on and a number. This will become a big issue the next few weeks as bidders are getting tired of this and feel thet are being manipulated.
I will be posting an article on just this topic tomorrow, so please stay tuned. Also, I will post part two of this wrap up Tuesday as there is a lot to cover, and this fake bidder (I think it is one person) is causing a lot of headache I have to deal with.
The Saavik Maroon Uniform lot went for $ 6,400 to a bidder with ZERO FEEDBACK vulcangoddess79. So I am going to assume we will see this again as this wasn't a legit bidder. The winning bid SHOULD HAVE been $ 6,101, as the 3rd bidder was at $ 6,001, and with a $ 100 bid increment, $ 6,101 would have been the winning bid.That being said, the lot has multiple items, but the jacket was NOT Saavik's. This is the same situation that happened with the Admiral Cartwright costume. There is little to do here, as the tags from the Maroons were constantly removed it seems, and so there is no way to know who wore what. Thus, this is as close to Saavik's uniform as you are likely to get.
I can't stress enough how damaging the zero feedback bidders are to this process as they are undermining faith in the process.
The Star Trek: TMP Spock Class D uniform went for $ 6,200 to a legitimate bidder. I guess it is sad that I have to qualify the purchase as such. What is interesting is that this is the one that sold for $ 6,100 in week 21. Obviously that bidder didn't follow through. Another sold for $ 7,810 in week 26, though that one had an unattached bio-buckle. The constant re-selling isn't good for IAW.The Enterprise Hoshi Sato Starfleet Uniform went for $ 3,675. It is amazing that Hoshi costumes continue to go for such high prices. This is captain's territory, and three Hoshi's have now gone high, the other two going for $ 2,703 and $ 3,606. HOWEVER, this is another ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, so this too is an invalid sale. The bidder is startrekjunkie999 . Zero feedback and this is the only item bid on.
We have seen the Enterprise MACO complete uniform before, but not a female one. Once again, this one went high. But a ZERO FEEDBACK bidder ( maco1701nx ) was the winner at $ 3,051, so I expect this one back up soon as well. The 3rd highest bidder was at $ 2,500, so this SHOULD HAVE sold for $ 2,550 to the under-bidder (2nd highest bidder).
There was another Star Trek: Enterprise Terran Empire two-piece female uniform which went for $ 2,825 which also went to a ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, dirtyharry767. The last one went to my buddy Grant for $ 1,900. This would have gone for $ 1,525 if there was no fake bidder as the 3rd highest bidder was at $ 1,500, and so the
underbidder would have won at $ 1,525.The Klingon costume with full head mask was a good idea by IAW as they probably have a lot of these masks. This was a fair auction, with no zero feedback bidder, and I think at $ 2,480 a good deal. The mask alone is a $ 500-800 item. And the costumes generally go for $ 2,500.
The guy who won the Nemesis Starfleet uniform jumpsuit was SCREWED with a $ 2,375 high bid. The under bidder AND the third bidder had zero feedback and the 4th bidder was at $ 926.07. So he SHOULD HAVE won this at $ 951.07 (next bid increment).
If I were this bidder, I would refuse to pay this winning bid. You were bid up by a fraud. Considering that IAW was selling these at $ 1,000 at Vegas, I think that is what they should sell for.
The TNG Command Red Starfleet Uniform at $ 2,025 was about twice what these went for in Vegas. It was a legitimate sale though.
The Feature Style Crewman's Uniform Jumpsuit went for $ 1,825 while the named character "Dax" version of this went for only $ 710 and had all the same parts! That made no sense. The Dax costume was a great deal!
Tuesday night I will review some of the background costumes and the prices we are seeing.
As far as props go:
The Porthos Submerged Stand-In Dog went for a hefty $ 2,750 but was a very cool prop. I got to see this in Vegas and the winner will be happy with it. Another ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, so this should have gone for $ 2,550 to the under-bidder.The pair of Romulan stools went for $ 1,635, which is the highest these have gone for so far. They are cool, and I think IAW may have more. The fact these went so high, shows that there are new bidders driving certain prices up.
The Dr. Soong Lesson PADD went for $ 1,525 to the same ZERO FEEDBACK bidder who won the MACO costume. This would have gone to the under bidder for $ 1,075 if not for the zero feedback bidder.
The DS9 Starfleet "Projection Data" PADD also was sold to a ZERO FEEDBACK bidder, guitarheo99865. This should have sold to $ 659.
Finally, the rubber Tricorder and Holster went for $ 860, which I think was a pretty good deal. Yes, it is rubber, but still, a cool piece.
THIS WEEK'S AWARDS:
Best Costume of the Week:The Saavik Maroon Uniform lot went for $ 6,400
Best Prop of the Week: The Porthos Submerged Stand-In Dog at $ 2,750 was pretty cool.
Best Buy of the week: The Crewman Dax uniform at $ 710 was a steal!!!!!
Worst Buy of the week: The Nemesis Starfleet uniform jumpsuit at $ 2,375 bid up by a zero feedback bidder. These were $ 800-1,000 in Vegas at the IAW booth.
Sleeper of the Week: Nemesis Starfleet Dress uniform at $ 898 was a great deal on a beautiful costume.
5 HIGHEST PRICED ITEMS THAT SOLD (Is this even valid anymore?)
Star Trek: TMP: Saavik Maroon Uniform lot $ 6,400 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
Star Trek: TMP Spock Class D: $ 6,200
Star Trek: Enterprise Hoshi Sato Starfleet Uniform $ 3,675 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
Star Trek: Enterprise MACO complete uniform $ 3,051 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
Star Trek: Enterprise Terran Empire two-piece female uniform $ 2,825 ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDER
More info on the zero feedback bidders tomorrow!
Alec
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