I've bought a substantial amount of karat gold and sterling silver jewelry on shopgoodwill.com, over more than 5 years. Most of my transactions have been positive, in that I bid my amount after researching the item, received the item(s) in good condition, promptly.
That said, I've been shilled. By someone. Or maybe just a "playful" false bidder. One example was a gold pendant, brand name, that I've seen on retail web sites, and which I really wanted. I bid for example, $75.50. Bidding was in one dollar increments. The opening bid was $5.00. So I made the opening bid. No one else bid on the item. I was beyond joy that this gorgeous item was going to be mine for $75.50.
The last half hour or less, before the auction ending time, I watched the bidding go up in $1 increments. Okay, I figured someone was testing to see how much they would have to bid to beat me by $1. They got all the way up to $74.00. I was watching like a hawk, and prepared to spend "just a litle bit more". At that time, I showed as the high bidder. Just one dollar more than them. Had they bid $75.00, I'd have not won the auction, as I'd have not been at least one dollar more than this "shiller". But they stopped. I had my figures entered, and was ready to submit, in those last few seconds, but no, they never went further.
Bottom line, I got my beautiful jewelry, and a very substantial mount off even retail on sale. Goodwill got more than the $5.00. Is this right though? I'd have bid the amount of $75.00 or a tad bit more, had there been a reserve. I don't begrudge the Goodwill the "profit".
But I begrudge the way in which it was done.