Shill Bidding Question

[cms11]

Bid on two cards from a seller (Chinese) and there were bids with the nearly the same time stamps on both cards:

1 Jan 2026 at 11:31:05pm PST
1 Jan 2026 at 11:31:23pm PST

Same bid price on both.

Does this look like shill bidding to you? I do want the cards, but now I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth because I'm paying twice as much as what I think is the next legit bidder.

[PuddleMonkey]

The answer to any shill bidding inquiry is yes.

[jova888]

Welcome to Ebay sports card bidding. Ebay is riddled will shilling sellers.

[ninjabum87]

Bid on two cards from a seller (Chinese) and there were bids with the nearly the same time stamps on both cards:

1 Jan 2026 at 11:31:05pm PST
1 Jan 2026 at 11:31:23pm PST

Same bid price on both.

Does this look like shill bidding to you? I do want the cards, but now I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth because I'm paying twice as much as what I think is the next legit bidder.

If these are Murazond or Tullworld auctions you basically have to bid like they have a hidden reserve and ONLY bid what you are willing to pay. Otherwise you are going to get fk'd.

[fabiani12333]

Welcome to Ebay sports card bidding. Ebay is riddled will shilling sellers.

The Chinese sellers aren't as good at hiding their shill bidding as the domestic sellers, as they are fairly new to the game and there aren't as many of them.

The domestic sellers have entire networks dedicated to shill bidding -- the Chinese sellers are kind of on an island. Over time they'll improve their shill bidding game as the card market continues to expand into China -- assuming trading cards are still popular in the future.

[bub838]

Use Gixen

[nbahobbyaddict]

. . . .

[cms11]

Use Gixen

Thanks.

[jova888]

what is gixen? some software?

[threepointplay]

what is gixen? some software?

It is a third party sniping service, that have been around since eBay launched in the 1990s. You set up an account with them, link your eBay account and then enter your max price into the software tool. It will then place your bid with a few seconds before the auction ends.

As an international collector, the vast majority of auctions end in the early hours of the morning my local time, so I am in no position to follow auctions in real time. So I use a sniping service to mitigate shilling and my personal FOMO as much as I can. I set my maximum bid on a card a few days in advance and then simply let it do its thing.

I have been using a peer service of Gixen for over 20 years now.

[PuddleMonkey]

It is a third party sniping service, that have been around since eBay launched in the 1990s. You set up an account with them, link your eBay account and then enter your max price into the software tool. It will then place your bid with a few seconds before the auction ends.

As an international collector, the vast majority of auctions end in the early hours of the morning my local time, so I am in no position to follow auctions in real time. So I use a sniping service to mitigate shilling and my personal FOMO as much as I can. I set my maximum bid on a card a few days in advance and then simply let it do its thing.

I have been using a peer service of Gixen for over 20 years now.

Gixen is only 20 years old.

[jova888]

It is a third party sniping service, that have been around since eBay launched in the 1990s. You set up an account with them, link your eBay account and then enter your max price into the software tool. It will then place your bid with a few seconds before the auction ends.

As an international collector, the vast majority of auctions end in the early hours of the morning my local time, so I am in no position to follow auctions in real time. So I use a sniping service to mitigate shilling and my personal FOMO as much as I can. I set my maximum bid on a card a few days in advance and then simply let it do its thing.

I have been using a peer service of Gixen for over 20 years now.

thanks for the insight

[IronCladLou]

China? Yes

[Gary]

Bid on two cards from a seller (Chinese) and there were bids with the nearly the same time stamps on both cards:

1 Jan 2026 at 11:31:05pm PST
1 Jan 2026 at 11:31:23pm PST

Same bid price on both.

Does this look like shill bidding to you? I do want the cards, but now I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth because I'm paying twice as much as what I think is the next legit bidder.

Probably yes its being shilled.Ive always looked at biddng as a best offer..... put in my highest price im willing to pay.........i win or i dont.......if its shilled its shilled i still only paid what i was willing to pay on a best offer.

[duron]

+1 for Gixen

Barely buy on eBay anymore but it’s been a godsend over the years