eBay Private Listing?

[bwmechtech]

I've never really come across this before, but I'm watching a couple items of a particular seller and all of the bidders identities are blocked. When I check the bids it simply says "private listing - bidder's identities protected". Is this a setting that the seller has put in place? Every item he is selling comes up with the same message. Here is an example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-Bowma...029559?hash=item1ef7e57777:g:1J0AAOSwXDVcoHPy.

I ask because some of his auctions are going up in leaps and bounds. I like to check bidders to see if any shilling is going on before I bid, but can't on this one. Anyone else ever seen something like this?

 

[Craig2]

I've seen it before, and I really don't like it. It opens up the easy possibility of shill bidding.

I avoid such auctions, or in worst case I'll try for a snipe.

 

[capsfan30]

I avoid those auctions at all cost if possible. Too easy for them to be shilled.

 

[gobuffalo2331]

Yes wayy to suspicious!!! Why would you want it "private" ? Ebay already does a good job masking the identity of bidders and what not.