I just took a look at the auction. I agree that the price seems high.
However, it is difficult to say whether or not the auction was manipulated.
I think that with very expensive items like cars and motorcycles (especially
specialty items like a Syncro Westy) you are much more likely to get novice
bidders. The novices have come just because they know what they want and
they are looking to see if they can find it.

To me, the bidding pattern shows that there were a lot of inexperienced
bidders. The bidders "mvdotcom" and "champagne*taste" don't seem to have a
clue about how the proxy bidding works.

Is it possible that the auction was manipulated? Absolutely. Do I think it
happened? From what I have seen, I wouldn't want to say that it definitely
had. If you have suspicions I suggest you report this auction to eBay for
them to investigate. If eBay investigates and finds any wrongdoing I doubt
that the outcome would change, but I think that the seller would get a stern
warning (or worse) from eBay.

Bruce

>From: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
>Reply-To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Does this bidding look fish y to you?
>Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 13:13:34 -0500
>
>I put an early bid in on a Syncro on eBay so I was following
>the auction. Check out:
>
>http://cgi6.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?
>ViewBids&item=1876285309
>
>Seems like a high price, and lots of zero feedback bidders
>pushing it up...
>
>Thoughts?
>Chris

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