This is some really heavy hitting news coverage, wonder how they were ever able to figure this one out....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2570050,00.html

Oh well, just thought it was kind of funny actually.

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raMBow

1999 E300DT Obsydian Black Metallic, Heated Full Leather Parchment options, E2, K2, 136,000+, best 36.5 mpg - GP's 12-04 & 11-12 Zero Stuck
2010 Honda Odyssey - The BrideMobile - best 26.5
(2) 2005 Honday Accord- (1 -Corporate 1 - Personal) - 110,000 4-cyl 30mpg
2000 VW Golf GLS TDI, Upsolute Chip (sold to Brother, now 300+k on it) 48.5 mpg like clock work
1987 Honda CRX HF - Sold 87,000 always over 50 mpg Max 67 mpg

very true, i have bid on a couple items, wininning them untill the last ohh lets say 30 seconds, then magically at the end of the auction some one out bid me?? i think its stupid they hide peoples ID's now? i dont see how its safer.

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

they only withhold the bidder id on ebaymotors,

If you find it confusing that a "real" bidder would place his bid in the final seconds of an auction, then you're just not very familiar with how eBay auctions work. That by itself is no indication of shenanigans taking place.

Many people do this all the time - sometimes placing the bid manually in the final seconds, sometimes having a service place the bid automatically.

If you're going to bid on ebay you HAVE to wait until the last couple of minutes/minute to do it-otherwise if you have a higher maximum bid you will be spending more than otherwise. Cars are too risky to buy on ebay anyway, too hard to inspect from a long distance away without paying for an inspection.

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

and I don't bid on anything until the last 30 sec of the auction. Even if there are no other bids. I think this way wins more auctions for me.

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

plus you dont drive up the cost of the item during the life of the auction. why pay more for it at the end just because your were in a bidding war. get it at the end and if your max bid was higher than the other guys, you will probably win it.

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Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

a little birdie on this forum showed me this: www.auctionsniper.com

Just enter what you want to bid and when and it takes care of the rest.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

yup, I use https://esnipe10.esnipe.com/?err=loginrequired

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

I don't understand the article. Forcing someone to put a bid in and of itself isn't shill bidding AFAIK. Having someone submit a bid with no intention of honoring it as a high bid is what I consider shill bidding. I mean I get suspicious when there is a high bid at auction close and I don't see feedback exchange between seller and high bidder. Yes, I'm bored enough at times to follow up on such things

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

Only pay what you're willing to and shill bidding becomes irrelevant. Love those reporters - they're always so quick. Used to be that newspeople went out looking for stories, now they just report what's already known. Great profession.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

shill bidding is definately NOT irrevelant! the whole point of an auction is, you might be the only one looking for the item. potentially a 5000.00 item could be won for 50.00 IF no one else sees the auction. if you put in the max you are willing to pay, then nobody bids on the item you could win it for the opening price, but if the seller sees it going for opening bid, and they put some shill bids on it, you have to pay more for it.
IT SUCKS!
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Not true at all. While a shill bidder will never cause a winning bidder to pay more than he bid, the shill can certainly raise the winning bid. Which is the objective!!!

If shill bidding was irrelevant, it would probably would not be illegal.

Not so.

That's too early!!!