We dive deep into the shill bidding storm and the auction-house fine print driving it. What many call “house bids” to defend reserves can feel indistinguishable from shilling to buyers. We unpack how reserves, house bidding, and employee-bidding policies really work, why they matter for comp integrity, and how one-off headline results (like the Baltimore News Babe Ruth) can distort value in a thin market.

Then we zoom out to solutions: how to set a ceiling and stick to it, when to favor BIN/Best Offer over auctions, and how to sanity-check comps using trade frequency, condition/eye appeal premiums, and platform context. We also tackle the eBay Authentication Program—security benefits vs. painful delays—and whether it should be optional. Plus: a quick vintage lesson on why a sharp 1950 Bowman Ted Williams in a lower grade can outshine numerically higher slabs, and thoughts on marketplace changes like Probstein → SNYPE and what that might mean for liquidity and fees.

Highlights

Shill bidding vs. house bids: ethics, optics, and the fine print

Reserves explained and how they influence bidder behavior

Protecting yourself: ceilings, BIN/BO strategy, comp validation

eBay Authentication: safeguard vs. slowdown—and the case for making it optional

Vintage insight: paying up for eye appeal (and when it’s worth it)

Marketplace shifts (SNYPE, eBay) and potential impact on comps and trust

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