eBay tricks

i have just had a thought:

when you list an item with a reserve you pay a fee. could you not just list the item with no reserve and then use a different account to bid at a the price you would have set as a reserve? that way you avoid the fee, the 'reserve not met' won't put people off and you still are guaranteed to get at least what you wanted (or just not sell it)?

does that make sense? any thoughts?

Or just get a mate to bid.

Bad form, but I'm sure it happens.

Problem comes when your "reserve" bid wins the auction. Your item is unsold but eBay hit you with their fees because the item was officially sold.

At least that's what a friend told me.