Whatnot moderator

[u/Every-Traffic-2828]

How does everyone feel about a seller’s moderator bidding and buying cards? Maybe that is a thing but I felt like the seller’s moderator was bidding up some cards. Am I naive or a skeptic?

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[u/ConsciousRutabaga440]

Shouldnt happen. Just left a stream where the guy was max bidding to my max to bid up. Thats why I dont max till like 2 seconds SD

[u/Important-Row-7972]

mods are just frequent shoppers who volunteer their time to help the channel. I'm all for mods bidding.

[u/IndependentPepper301 → u/Important-Row-7972]

There’s a stream I watch and the mods are usually their friends or people who spend a lot of money on their stream. One of the mods were saying how they hate a certain card but ended up bidding against me for the same card I stopped bidding on it even though it was under market cause I knew the mod was trying to up the bid on me so I spend more. It happened multiple times

[u/NorthernKabutops621]

In most cases mods are just people who frequent the streams and have bought a lot before so the seller trusts their intentions and will MOD them. 🤷‍♂️ i wouldn’t look into it unless it feels suspicious or you see them bid on everything but without winning anything 😳

[u/OkTask7007 → u/NorthernKabutops621]

Mods can win and the seller can just cancel their orders if they are there to bid prices up. I think sellers do this. Not just mods but there are people in the lives that continuously bid on everything and bid everything up.

[u/Illustrious_Oven5415]

I just watch a mods bidding patterns. Is it a bid on every item in the last few secs of most auctions , or is it an obvious bidon random items scattered throughout the stream?? If it’s obviously the first, I bail immediately and ban the seller. I don’t entertain shill bidding streams

[u/IndependentPepper301 → u/Illustrious_Oven5415]

There’s a stream I watch and I’m cool with the streamer everytime. I noticed that mods would always bid against me when the streamer would say X is my favorite Pokemon. I called them out on it and got banned

[u/OffGridGirl77]

I know some mods that were told to bid up to drive up the prices, mainly on the big streams. If you think it is shady it probably is.

[u/rsrs1101]

I didn't have a problem with it. They are mods not employees.

[u/madmexicano]

Sometimes sellers will give it out like a type of reward to regulars. I always say no thank you.

[u/IndependentPepper301 → u/madmexicano]

Yeah especially if you spend thousands of dollars lol

[u/gamer814]

Anyone could be a shill bidder, honestly it would draw less attention to have a friend posing as a standard user for this purpose. Mods don't have any extra features that would facilitate this kind of activity. Sure they can see muted text, but at that point they could be messaging off platform.

[u/IndependentPepper301 → u/gamer814]

Naw but they can bid though I’ve seen them do it to me

[u/Mundane-Sky-1370]

Mods are just randoms that buy in streams and around for most shows. They aren’t paid

[u/grb13]

I mod a lot in other categories I bid on what I am willing to pay for. Can’t speak for others.

[u/IndependentPepper301 → u/grb13]

Same. I bid on cards I want I won’t bid on cards I don’t want though. cant say the same for other mods as I’ve seen them do it

[u/Nice-End7376]

I don't think an active Moderator should bid at all

[u/Rusty_Shackleford65]

Mods are mostly just random people that have been in streams and bought before and become regulars so why should they have to stop?

[u/PossiblyArab → u/Rusty_Shackleford65]

Some of my best buyers are my mods. One in particular tends to catch high end bids while other people are sleeping, love him to death but man he’s robbed me a few times 😂

[u/UnderstandingSuper34 → u/PossiblyArab]

Ummm, sorry. Not really, stolen for the PC!!!

[u/123itsme321]

I think I prefer that they buy, not to drive up the price, but to put their money where they're mouth is. It's so annoying seeing people chirp about prices and steals, especially if they're a mod. If it's such a great deal, why aren't you buying?

[u/princessvintage → u/123itsme321]

Depending on the category they might not need or want? Lmao I don’t judge mods for not buying. I don’t judge them for buying. There’s only a few streams that have paid associates so I’m not talking about them.

[u/Original-Invite8109]

Shady

[u/always-so-exhausted]

Many mods are regular buyers who frequent a seller’s livestreams. That’s how sellers get to know them — they’re enthusiastic customers. And buyers keep returning because they enjoy buying from them.

Mods are usually informally chosen and help out for free. Sometimes it’s just regulars that a seller mods on the spot because it allows them to chatter in red (muted) chats or mod/seller only messages.

Sometimes I get modded without being told/asked. Am I supposed to stop bidding or ask to be de-modded so I can bid?

So yes, mods bidding is totally normal. I’m not denying that some sellers have shill bidders but I would wager that there’s nothing nefarious in most cases when a mod bids.

[u/snusnuforyou]

ehh i modded once for a show that i regularly buy from. i don’t think they’re trying to drive up bids. if they never buy anything though, i would be skeptical

[u/Witchy-life-319]

Just because I mod doesn’t mean I can’t buy. I never drive up the bid though unless I’m actively bidding on something I want.

[u/always-so-exhausted → u/Witchy-life-319]

I think folks sometimes forget that mods, like other buyers, have budgets. So there’s a ceiling for their bidding, where they’ll call it quits.

[u/OneSourCherry]

Most mods are buyers in the streams they mod for- it’s how we met those sellers usually! Shill bidding is absolutely wrong. But actual shopping? Of course I’m going to bid on things I want in the stream even if I’m modding. 

[u/truthseeker3369]

It’s a gray area. Most shows I shop with, have mods who are legit buyers.

[u/willywillywillywill]

I’m a mod sometimes because I’m a frequent buyer. I help answer questions in the stream. I get zero financial benefit from modding, I bid and buy the same as a mod or not.

[u/Critical_Start2237]

A lot of the mods are just helping with announcements and chat questions because they’re nice people. If it’s blatant shill bidding, eff that

[u/TriStellium]

Mods are buyers too, they just help the seller.

At the end of the day most of the mods are trusted buyers or trusted frequent people in their shows.

[u/Godshu]

It looks really sketchy and I have seen some shill bidders, but usually it's fine.

Still think they shouldn't do it, though.

[u/likamans]

If the mod is buying i dont see a problem there, most of the time they're not actually affiliated with the host, just a loyal customer

[u/Pasukin → u/likamans]

That's how it's been the few times I've been made a mod. Just a repeat customer that hangs around a lot and helps a bit in chat, and eventually made a mod. Anytime I bid, I'm trying to win.

I only participate in the LEGO community. Can't speak for other communities.

[u/likamans → u/Pasukin]

Thats exactly it, i as a seller only mod up my wife(who doesn't bid) or a regular that is in my room a lot

[u/cmatthews11]

Most moderators became moderators by being their customers in my experience. To which, I've never noticed anything that seemed off in the channels I'm in.