Ebay - Private Listings - Bidders' Identies Protected

As a buyer, I appreciate the seller protecting my identity, especially since my entire purchase history is visible on my feedback page.

I don't see much value in pursuing whether shill bidding is going on. I set by high bid and let it go. It takes only two interested parties to drive the price up, and it's more trouble than it's worth (to me) to know whether the other bidders are in cahoots with the seller or not. It's worth what it's worth, and I'll either win or I won't.

I am of same mind as dave700x

Hm. I never knew about that option as a seller, but I just realized I can make my listings private. However, I have to do it through the desktop site and I use my phone for listing everything. Oh well!

I can imagine that in a somewhat convoluted way, a person could be targeted for theivery if one's recent purchase history is available to the public. If I buy or sell something to someone, they will then have my ebay username and mailing address (which is usually a person's residence). They can then see what I've been buying lately, like all those double eagles I bought last month I didn't say anything about*.

So, I suppose there is some legitimate use for the option. It really makes no difference to me as I can't see who outbid me on a normal auction anyway.


*That's a joke, but if you do target my residence for theft, you will be shot multiple times and possibly by more than one person.

That's a solid reason for not bidding.