EBay buying strategy

[minestrone]

Are you saying the first, low bidding guy is the stupid one?

In general yes, unless he absolutely did not want to pay more than that. Although, maybe they are relatively new to ebay and don't realise how the whole auto-bidding up to your max works.

Surprised atw hasn't posted yet after his last ebay rant.

I can see the first bidders logic, minimum bid and nobody might not offer a second bid so he steals it, the second bidder is the one that strikes interest.

[MarillionFan]

I think he is saving his 25,000th post for something truly special.

What's funny about that is, he went through 25000,25001,25002,25003 and when it was pointed out he deleted 4 posts.

He'll only post now when SKA is a great success.

Gonna be quiet.

[fullyautomatix]

So I'm interested in an item (high shine leather chaps before anyone asks) that has 8 days to run on the auction, it gets to 4 days with no bids and then someone goes in for the minimum bid, fair enough, might get a steal but then someone gets straight in with a couple of pounds over what the first bidder offered.

Manipulation or stupidity?

The two bidders are unique and bid within a few minutes of each other ?

It is likely to be shill bidding but then it could well be that the second bidder was watching the item and not knowing how ebay works is trying to outbid the first guy. I would think the shill bidding theory is very likely so go looking for the leather chaps ( what is it ?) somewhere else.

[doodab]

I am usually one to go with a one minute to go bid, set myself on a price and let it go if that is not met, just find it strange people bidding 4 days before closing with pound upmanship.

Depends what it is I suppose. Usually with eBay I am either tracking down something old and hard to find or looking for a bargain. If it's the first then I will tend to bid at a level commensurate with wanting to secure it. If it's the latter I will stick my bid in quite late and let it ride, the main reason I do that is to avoid having multiple winning bids in play rather than to try and get a better price.

[jmo21]

I can see the first bidders logic, minimum bid and nobody might not offer a second bid so he steals it, the second bidder is the one that strikes interest.

Yeah, maybe stupid, maybe manipulating, maybe coincidence, or just a user that isn't particularly savvy.

I don't exactly buy a lot on ebay but when I do, I always use a sniping tool.

[jmo21]

Depends what it is I suppose. Usually with eBay I am either tracking down something old and hard to find or looking for a bargain. If it's the first then I will tend to bid at a level commensurate with wanting to secure it. If it's the latter I will stick my bid in quite late and let it ride, the main reason I do that is to avoid having multiple winning bids in play rather than to try and get a better price.

I use Gixen.com, which lets you group your bids so that if one wins the rest in the group gets cancelled.

[Fred Bloggs]

I'm maybe missing something but if I bid on something it is because I want it. I weigh up what the maximum price is that I want to pay and I bid that amount. Ebay automatically bids for me until my maximum is reached, either I win or I don't. If I win I'm happy, if I don't I'm still happy. What is the point that I am missing?

[jmo21]

I'm maybe missing something but if I bid on something it is because I want it. I weigh up what the maximum price is that I want to pay and I bid that amount. Ebay automatically bids for me until my maximum is reached, either I win or I don't. If I win I'm happy, if I don't I'm still happy. What is the point that I am missing?

I suppose the point is you only use sniping if you will be unhappy if you don't win.

It also keeps your cards close to your chest and avoids what might otherwise be a traditional bidding war like Minestrone describes, and still minimises the amount you may need to pay.

[Fred Bloggs]

I suppose the point is you only use sniping if you will be unhappy if you don't win.

It also keeps your cards close to your chest and avoids what might otherwise be a traditional bidding war like Minestrone describes, and still minimises the amount you may need to pay.

Thanks, but I can't get into a bidding war if I have already submitted my best and highest offer. Ebsy just auto bids up to my maximum and then no more. That's one of the bits that I can't really understand about why folks use these extra tools.

[wobbegong]

I don't get into this sniping stuff or bidding wars (been there, done that, paid over the odds). Now I just decide what the item is worth to me, bid that amount and walk away, forget about it and wait for the email to say whether or not I've won.

If I don't win, then never mind, there'll be another along shortly.