Preapproved Velvet Underground

Warren Hill and Saturn Records are trying again. Having failed to secure a sale for the rare recording of the Velvet Underground due to an auction wrecker they have relisted the item for sale.

It’s expected that the preapproved bidder facility will be withdrawn in the New Year. Although no official announcement has been made the following notice appears on the US site

Beginning in January 2007 access to this feature will be restricted. Prior to the restriction time you will be able to use the feature, but once the restriction takes place you will not be able to add or remove any buyers from the pre-approved bidder list for the item

This will be one of the last high profile auctions to use the pre-approved bidder feature whilst it’s universally available, in the future sellers will be forced to use Buyer Requirements to filter unwelcome bids. Currently the auction wrecker (who uses the classic excuse “someone bid using my account”) still has his eBay account. I wish eBay would close accounts for auction wreckers and for instances where “someone bid using my account”!