MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - Is this a new eBay bidding tactic?

Stupid tactics on ebay.

Shill bidding. I once bought a pair of speakers of some clown who put a zero point bid in at the last minute.He contacted me to say that the other bidder pulled out of the deal. Problem for him was that I one by a paltry five dollars. I won. (Paid $167 for a pair of Meridian A500 front speakers. Retailed new for $3000 and sound great).

I bid early on an original NOS remote control for a new model flat screen TV that a mates prt cockatoo had eaten.
Damn seller put a zero point bid on top.

Knowing that I wouldn't get another original remote for that model TV (NEC LED) I bid one dollar till I reached his bid. 25 bids of one dollar each, and then told seller I wouldnt bid again so dont bother shilling me again.
I won. New remote $35 + postage. (cost new $160)

Bought some new Stainless Steel braided brake lines for car.
Canadian seller. I paid ridiculous postage of $120 for air and tracked postage to Australia. Did not recieve package. Seller told me he had sent it.

He had as it turned out, the package was adrdressed to a fictional address and was sent three weeks late.

Tried to put complaint into ebay. was given about 5 seconds to compose a note explaining problem when each time the page timed out. Couldn't flag as not recieved and leave reason for request for credit. (Ebay's Guarantee). Gave up trying after 30th attempt.

Tried phoning company - no customer service phone numbers listed or email addresses for a complaints department.

Two months later I got an email from the courier company that the package had been sent to ficticious address in Australia; made up non existant suburb name and wrong street name, and that the package had been returned to seller in Canada.
Cost to me $325, no refund, not happy...

After five months of inactivity on my account Ebay contacted me to answer questionaire. the email had contact details via an email address for a real person at the company.

Sent compliant to ebay, who responded to the proof by delisting seller (Copy of email with number for tracked parcel). I got no refund.

Now I only bid if seller has 100% feedback, will post by standard signed for postage, and there are no shill bidders, and I have learned that it is better to bid late or never.

And if someone tells me that they want to ship by XYZ Courier company that charges three times the going rate for postage to my country - I dont buy.

Ebay, if your watching, how about a real contactable complaints department.