What is going on?

[ssgross]

Not the first time I've seen it. In fact, I see it all the time - weekly. This one being perhaps the worst example. A nothing special CMP expert grade M1. All new parts, refinished, etc. Nothing special serial number or anything, bidding through the roof!
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1020218027
This one is probably the most extreme I've seen in the last 5 years. 146 bids at $2,575 with 4 days to go as I type right now. Are people just too lazy to lookup that they can get one for $1100ish shipped to the door? In fact my neighbor just got his garand first a few weeks ago. It was 1.5weeks from the time he put his order in the mailbox until Fedex dropped it off.

I just can't believe it at this point. Are these sellers doing some serious shilling hoping some ignorant fool that refuses to do a basic internet search bites?

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[CoatiMundi]

My guess shill bidding is part of it. I’ve seen other items go for crazy amounts recently too on GB.
On the other hand, a certain auction house that uses GB has thrown out an auction in the past when they found out the owner was bidding on his own item to juice it up.
Prices at the last show I went to were super high, but I didn’t see much being sold either.
Not a good trend for sure.

[ssgross]

Prices at the last show I went to were super high, but I didn’t see much being sold either.

That's what I'm seeing too. Was just at Dulles Expo last weekend for the big one. Not only were the prices exorbitant, but there wasn't anything worth looking at either.

[Nehalem Man]

My guess shill bidding is part of it. I’ve seen other items go for crazy amounts recently too on GB.
On the other hand, a certain auction house that uses GB has thrown out an auction in the past when they found out the owner was bidding on his own item to juice it up.
Prices at the last show I went to were super high, but I didn’t see much being sold either.
Not a good trend for sure.

I have to agree. On certain auctions the frenzied bidding is off the charts while similar items from other sellers, at lower prices, go untouched. Is it a case of certain shops attempting to raise the bar on market pricing? I can't say for sure except to note that it is damn peculiar.

-E-

[ssgross]

$3,275 today. It's totally a shill operation. Just look at the usernames in the list of bidders. 'RR Gun Sales' was bidding today. Google says it's an actual gun store in Mitchelville, Iowa - or a scammer using their name on GB. They don't have anything for sale on GB, or I would have been tempted to buy something cheap just to see their contact info and match up with what is on their FB page. Some other random first+last name usernames that aren't too common I think, and other's that seem eerily similar to each other. A mathematician at Emory University in Atlanta gave me a grin.
'

[Salt Flat]

It's totally nuts. I have bought very few guns in the past 2-3 years because of these prices. I started concentrating on some old unfinished projects and enjoying what I have.

[painter777]

Well......
After 154 Bids it Sold
$3,475.00 Final Bid
$ 80.00 Ship
---------------------
$ 3,555.00
+ Tax
+ FFL (Fee, if needed)

Sellers left Feedback, Nothing yet from the 'Winning Bidder'

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/1020218027

[painter777]

What is going on?

Same Seller has another M1 with as I type this 164 Bids currently @ $1,475.00 ending in 5+ Days on 12/10/23 @ ~ 8:00 PM (ET)
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1022936417

While your looking take a look at his 2,9 Mil Inland M1 Carbine. Currently @ $650.00 after 15 Bids. Ends ~ 12/10/23 @ ~ 8:00 PM (ET)

Ever wonder what guys do with those Stamps they buy from Numrich ??
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1022938742

[ssgross]

Same Seller has another M1

Makes me wonder more. I compared the usernames on the bidding log. You'd think if it was legit there would be a lot of sore losers feeling so bad they didn't get to drop $3500+ on a 1k rifle that they would jump at the chance to bid on the next one. Nope. at least not when I checked late last week. One of the bidders was a gun shop somewhere in Iowa I think - that is they had a Facebook page under the same name as the gunbroker username.

[painter777]

If you noticed some are the same Bidders on both the M1 AND the M1 Carbine that are currently listed.
Bid history on the Sold one shows the bidder: jmattox1370 A+(4) ran a string of bids from $600 up to $670 then quit playing ball.
I see he's one of the same bidders on the current M1 auction and likely now out of the game. I'd bet when Bid amounts are shown after completion he's in the same bid $ range as the 1st M1. I'm thinking he's (IMO) a Shill.