jeff w.

I hadn't realized this until recently (some people on reddit mentioned this and it made so much sense)-- but there's an awful lot of evidence/patterns pointing to this site using bots of some sort to outbid actual users. I theorize they do it in order to get more money and start "bid wars". Believe me, this isn't far fetched-- its actually quite common nowadays.

Like clockwork, I will get outbid on most items, no matter how obscure and undesirable, in a matter of a couple hours. Its always placed within 10 minutes of 60,90, and 120 minutes after my initial bid. Seems fishy right? Plus I've seen these same items pop back up a month later if I leave them alone, as if the supposed "high bidder" never paid.

I've noticed this happen to other users too, on undesirable crap that's not worth the money or effort whatsoever to bid on. About the only way to successfully get items on there is to bid at the last second, especially if there's no other bidders. If there is no other bidders, that's your sign to leave the item alone until the last minute.

I've used this site for 8+ years and watched it go downhill. It seemed much better back before it was revamped, albeit shipping was still flippantly overpriced on occasion back then.

Take it as you will, I'd just steer clear of this once-good auction site, that's now been lost to pathetic corporate greed and overzealous resellers.