(edited & updated 8/08)
I'm sure some of this may be true apply to some auctions on ebay, but some of this is what I've observed over the last 2yrs (just buying & selling dolls) and thought I'd pass them along. If you're a new doll seller, you especially want to arm yourself against some of the accusations that will be coming your way. Because everyone that makes a decent amount of money is accused of Shilling, plain and simple. OR, it just makes the best gossip to spread in order to try and ruin someone. Run them off.
First, I believe that Ebay's auctions are kinda like gambling for some people. I did speak with one woman who did prefer to bid rather than do "buy it now". She said it was the "thrill of the hunt". This woman also suffers severe depression and is house bound. I'm thankful for her sake, she doesn't have a credit card. Having not much extra money, she depended a great deal on sellers who offered her the lay a way option. She bid and won a large amount of my dolls. Then she was accused of shilling for me by trolls and suffered severe mental abuse. Crazy competition out there will try anything.
Second, there is that special auction. Just for YOU. You wanted it and guess what, the seller produced it. Just for you. It's a special auction and you must win your item. It's yours and you can't loose it to someone else. So you find yourself bidding bidding bidding like a crazy maniac for something you wanted. Something that should have just been made custom?
Third, the returning bidder might get bid up. I found this info via Google about some sellers documenting what bidders will bid and bid them up to that amount or try for a little more each time. Watch out returning bidders.
Fourth, remember, the more a seller makes, the more ebay makes. Try to use common sense. Don't ask anybody if so and so is a shiller. Nobody knows. If you ask the troll out there, then they'll tell you everyone does. Except they're buddies. Hell, certain doll people know so damn much about other seller's business it would take an act of God for someone to shill and get away with it. So, it's kinda a good thing so many of them care so much.
Fifth,
I've told many a bidder not to do this while bidding on an auction. Do not tell the seller you are willing to go to a certain figure with the auction. Don't tell the seller you're gonna bid until you win. Don't tell the seller anything, just bid and try to remain calm, lol.
Pricing is still difficult for sellers. They try to please the public so they can make a sale. They don't want to undersell their things so they might be tempted to attempt the shill (gasp). I remember selling many a doll for less than I put into it. I'm still underpaid if I was to factor in the hours spent. It doesn't matter how long it might take me versus another seller. You still have to take many different things into consideration when selling. Sellers will most likely loose money in the beginning. Then after a while, a seller should be able to get a decent price, but nothing wonderful on ebay. It's the greedy people that just are never happy. They want to make big killer money and that's all they focus on. To hell with everyone in their path.
So, now you know a little something you might not have ever considered before. I know there's a book out there too on this sort of thing. A friend of mine bought it after I kept schooling her on "what not to do" when bidding.
Good luck and there are plenty of good decent sellers out there. A lot of people are so disgusted with how ebay has been doing with the private auctions they've gone to Buy it Now only auctions.
Today, once again, Ebay has changed their seller policies. The way things are going...they're gonna ask us to start giving away our items and pay them a hefty fee for it.
P.S.
You can't be shilled if you bid what you want to and that's that.
Also, if anyone related to you wants something you're selling- change your auction to Buy-it-Now...
