Strange Ebay bidder?

[Nexus]

I've been watching this auction and just noticed that it got a bid:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200049823457

 

But check out the bidder:

 

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V...rSt8%2BKJAiA%3D

 

There's nothing but the most ambiguous info. I've never seen anything like this before. Has anyone else?

[Timmay]

Click on the bid history and look up. The explanation is right in front of you.

 

...and no, I've never seen this before either.

[jjeanius]

I do NOT like this idea. For one thing, it seems to make shill bidding much, MUCH easier. And another...I like to see who's bidding on stuff...and if I recognize them or not. This new approach does NOT feel safe.

[Thomas]

I actually like it if it's in the name of preventing fake second chance offers which it appears to be according to ebay. It also allows me to place cursory bids on items without worrying that someone will check my bid history and know I snipe all the time.

 

Here's ebay's reasoning and it makes sense to me:

As the internet evolves, eBay continues to strike a balance between preserving transparency and protecting our Community of members. eBay has decided to change how bid history information is displayed so bad guys cannot target bidders with fake offers using this information. In certain cases, some bidders will no longer be able to view Bidder User IDs on the Bid History page. Your User ID will be shown only to you and the seller of the item you're bidding on. Other members will see an anonymous name, such as Bidder 1, applied consistently to the Bid History page.

[jjeanius]

Yeah, I read it...but it still makes shill bidding RIDICULOUSLY easy...and anyone with common sense can avoid fake second chance offers.

[pkveronese]

When did this start? I see a bunch of other auctions without this - is this going to be put in over the next few days or will this just be an option for the seller?

 

 

I don't like it.

[cheekyj2112]

Felix

 

I got a note yesterday from Ebay which as usual I pretty much glossed over but it said that for bidders there would be some sort of format change effective on 23 Nov. I'm not sure if this was for UK reg users first since presumably you'd have got the note too?

Joseph

[jjeanius]

European bidders have always had more identity protection through eBay, so it certainly sounds like something that might start there first.

[Thomas]

...and anyone with common sense...

 

We're talking about the masses on the Internet here.

[Nexus]

Felix

 

I got a note yesterday from Ebay which as usual I pretty much glossed over but it said that for bidders there would be some sort of format change effective on 23 Nov. I'm not sure if this was for UK reg users first since presumably you'd have got the note too?

Joseph

 

I have not gotten a note from Ebay like the one you got. In this particular auction, the winning bidder's ID is now shown on the main page, but the bidding history only shows "Bidder 1" and "Bidder 2".

 

I don't like this new development for all the same reasons as jjeanius. I hope it is not implemented.