When good shill bidding goes bad

[pete.young]

This caught my eye one day, whilst doing some 'research' into decent portable guitar combos:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200223576683&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=010[/url]

An Engl Screamer 50, which went for £450 - about par for the course, and I thought no more about it. Until this turned up, using the same photo which set the alarm bells ringing:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140234358810&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=004"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=004[/url]

Ho hum. Seller is the buyer of the first auction, both based in Lincoln - what are the odds of that? Check out the bidding from the first listing, and it looks to me like this is a classic case of shill bidding going wrong! If so, Ha ha, serves, them right. Think I'll offer him £350, what do you reckon?

If I'd been one of the serious bidders, I'd be seriously pissed off by this.

[Tee]

[quote name='pete.young' post='204125' date='May 22 2008, 10:39 AM']If I'd been one of the [b]serious[/b] bidders, I'd be [b]seriously[/b] pissed off by this.[/quote]



It does smell, doesn't it.

[Paul Cooke]

somehow don't think it'll go with a BIN of £600... he's hopelessly optimistic...

there's a used one going here:

[url="http://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/products.asp?id=3898"]http://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/products.asp?id=3898[/url]
only £350

and new here:

[url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/76326"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/76326[/url]
GAK doing a special for £679


ps, is there anything "special" about the combo in the first place? it does seem a very high price for just 50 watts... oh... Guitar watts... and apparently they're right up there in ridiculous price zone when new...

Edited May 22, 2008 by Paul Cooke

[budget bassist]

apart from the fact that you linked to an entirely different amp.... Screamer 50.... thunder 50...