[artie_nash]

CAPTAIN OBVIOUS HERE: Shill bidding is rampant on eBay...I'm convinced the "powers that be" are so overwhelmed they've more-or-less given up on controlling it...The best advice I can give for controlling same is to use the (admittedly cumbersome) option to pre-approve bidders and only doing so after you are satisfied of their legitimacy and ability and willingness to follow through with the transaction...There is such a wealth of data on eBay that can be so very useful but somebody has to comb through it AND INTERPRET IT...I'm assuming most people here realize the simple value of doing a Google search on EVERYTHING associated with any given auction or listing or transaction...A simple search of the VIN will often reveal at least a portion of the good, the bad and the ugly of any given vehicle...Right click those pictures and use the "Search Google for image" function...In my opinion and experience getting even a modest deposit from your prospective buyer as early in the transaction as possible will go a LONG way toward actually closing the deal...I am also of the mind the comments on BaT serve a vital function...Most BaT users actually read with comprehension and answer direct questions, which is not always the case with eBay users...RTN/XXX/OOO