I really watch for the shilling... it can be dramatic...today is a Canadian guy who sells highly desirable art supplies...

The shillers never "win" and I keep track of their initials, and watch for the feedbacks...never do they appear. Once they get the price really high a real person will show up and buy.

I really don't like the anon buying initials that ebay put in... I think it conceals the buyers who are dishonest..and may in fact be Ebay employees to inflate sales $$ so they will get more $$ in fees. So I just avoid these in the end.

Also if I think the merchandise is stolen, I won't bid on it.

There are alot of interesting sellers though on the apothecary portions of Ebay. I met a wonderful fellow who was selling saved discarded glassware from Eli Lilly...from a collector. I bought 2 of his offers! We had some very nice back and forth messages too. No shillers on his offers either.

For years now you will find that everyone you look at on an auction is anonymous. However, you can read your own handle. Of course, eBay knows who is bidding. And they keep track of this and a seller would be in big trouble in short order.

When on eBay click on Customer Support at the top and it will give you all the requirements, etc. as to how it works. There are many fees which a seller must pay. All taken into account by the seller.