Eric Molinier/ericowazamono Shill bidding?

[Tensho]

I kept quiet about this before but this is pretty blatant at this point. I'm sure I will get crap on here for it, but I'm pretty sick and tired of this. 

 

It all started a while back when I was bidding on an item he had for sale. I was the second highest bidder throughout but kept getting outbid every time I was the highest bidder. I gave up bidding within several hours of ending. I lost the auction by around $80 since no one else bid. 1 day later it was relisted for $800 more than than the highest bid. I contacted Eric and asked why it wasn't sold and was relisted with a buy it now. He gave me a spiel about the winner asking to many questions after the auction ended and he didn't want to deal with the idiot. I offered to buy it for what it sold for and was told he couldn't take what it sold for at auction.. Hmm..

 

Well anyways here you go. Auctions that have sold with multiple bids but have been relisted at much higher prices.

 

 

[Lewis B]

What was the auction site? Has the whiff of shill bidding (by the seller) judging by the repeated MO. Thanks for flagging this seller. Would be nice if they can respond and clarify the matter. 

[nulldevice]

50 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

What was the auction site? Has the whiff of shill bidding (by the seller) judging by the repeated MO. Thanks for flagging this seller. Would be nice if they can respond and clarify the matter. 

That's 100% eBay

[David Flynn]

He also charges a re-stocking fee, for returns.

[NewB]

Considering how eBay is and how terrible the sale prices are I’m not surprised. It shouldn’t be the practice but report it. They’ll check IP addresses and act accordingly.

 

in the same token I’ve never had any business conducted with the seller so I can’t say yay or nay.

 

it seems the nihonto world currently is now either juyo or above , rarely anything else matters. Even sellers refuse consignments for toku ho blades even

 

y

[Brian]

Arghhhh
This one puts me in a spot. Eric is both a forum supporter and also a well known and respected member of the dealer community. Do I censor criticism of forum friends and be accused of bias or do I let it play out and risk a good relationship?
You don't want this job..trust me guys.
I guess I can't just play favorites, so I'll let this one stand for now and take the knock.
That said, I want to mention that Eric is one of the most well known and respected dealers in the US. I like him a lot. He's blunt, direct, to the point, doesn't pull any punches. But he has a very good eye for quality, and deals in excellent items. I would buy from him any day. You'll find his best stuff sells off eBay and Facebook, to a great network who appreciate knowing they will get what they pay for, no surprises and no stuff that is messed with. I've met him a few times, and have a lot of time for him. He knows value, and I guess has a certain pricing expectation.
I don't know if this is shilling or not. But I don't think anything is happening that the Japanese auctions don't do routinely, and is nowadays common on eBay. Japanese dealers pull items at the last minute or cancel auctions. That doesn't make it right. But I'd rather lose an item to a higher bid (valid or not) than get something that isn't exactly as described.
Not condoning anything, whether it happens or not....but personally I would buy from him anytime. eBay is a minefield anyways, no matter who your favorite dealers are...always a good idea to build a relationship with them and deal personally off eBay and FB.
 

[robinalexander]

20 minutes ago, Brian said:

. Do I censor criticism of forum friends and be accused of bias or do I let it play out and risk a good relationship?

Not your job Brian ... don't get hung up over such decisions ...sounds like your over personalising. Step back.

 

20 minutes ago, Brian said:

He's blunt, direct, to the point, doesn't pull any punches.

Good...then, if you wish, advise him of the thread and invite him to 'contribute' ... if he is as you say, he will surely add something to the matters raised.  Even if he chooses to take it up directly with the 'complainants' ...he does of course have right of reply. If he doesn't respond to either the thread or the OP then that is his choice.

 

Dont fret, stay neutral....your in control.

 

Just my opinion 

 

 

 

 

[Matsunoki]

I have experienced one dubious “bidding event” with this seller on eBay. 

[YOJIMBO]

What do you expect when you buy on eBay etc???  

[lonely panet]

i have bought a tsuba from him some years back,  and i believe i was a victum of shill bidding.  but i also went on to sell that tsuba for a profit here,  so rest a peace that he sells good items,  you just didnt get a bargin. every platform i know of has this practice.  bad but necssary for small busness operators to make a living.  

 

but its ebay and there are pitfalls to ebay, scams,  returns and theift.  im sure that after many sales and loses, hes found the middle ground to making money and losing money.

 

look at the dealer and not what the platform forces him to do.  if you want contact him off site and buy that way 

[robinalexander]

A few truths there Hamish.

[lonely panet]

thankyou rob, 

im not the illogical  pot stirrer that i appear to come across as sometimes.  

i speak directly,  and to the point.  tho my dislexa make sa meal of it some times and my computer has given up trying to spell check me

[PNSSHOGUN]

The market reality (i.e. auction result) vs dealer fantasy, a very large difference. Unfortunately this goes on with so many sellers on ebay, and yahoo auctions, that you quickly gauge who not to bother with and pray they don't have something you really want.

[zanilu]

I had a couple of deals with Eric directly through Facebook and I can only speak well of him.

The items were exactly as described, the communication excellent and to the point, shipping fast...

 

No complains from my side.

 

Luca 

[Alex A]

Bought a nice big Saotome from Eric many years ago. Did me a very good deal.

 

As mentioned, better contacting him away from ebay.

 

Also  worth mentioning that ebay reads your private mails, believe it or not. So a reply you get from a seller may not be the same reply you get through an email off ebay.

 

Known people, me included on 2 occasions to get warnings about trying to do deals off ebay.

 

[hobnails]

I have also had a good experience buying a sword from Eric on Facebook, I found him good to deal with excellent communication and the sword was well packaged with prompt shipping I would certainly buy from him again.

[Schneeds]

Isn't this effectively the same thing as setting a reserve price?

 

At the end of the day I just consider ebay to be a dumspterfire: and all is fair in love and war.

 

Eric and Matt have an excellent website for a traditional buying experience. 

 

 

[Michael 67]

I am in regular contact with Eric, I have bought my best blades from him, sometimes from a pharmacy, sometimes surprisingly cheap. He is always friendly and reliable.

And yes, eBay is a junkyard.

[Volker62]

hallelujah

[Volker62]

what my experience with Eric is:

 

reliable

 

competent

 

friendly

 

 

a nice guy with good stuff

 

always worth a look

[lonely panet]

this is one of those rare moments,  when some one wanted to complian and the forum bounce back and higlighted the posative 

[Brian]

Look, it's a valid complaint. Not saying it's shilling or not....and not making any ethical statements on this practice. But as someone said, if the seller is good to work with, and offers good stuff and has a decent reputation, then it's time to put it down as a hidden reserve that either gets met or doesn't.
Frustrating for buyers, but our community is small and it's time to get to know the handful of known and decent sellers personally. eBay isn't the answer.
There's a reason many sellers don't use it, and those that do probably use it more to get their name out there.
I'll consider this one closed, with the usual caveat of buyer beware and know your seller.