Reply to: EBay buying strategy

[jmo21]

Yeah, I know sniping is easy, but if I've already bid my maximum, what's the point? If I loose, then someone wanted it more than me, that's the way auctions go. I look at it as having saved the money I'd unsuccessfully bid.

Read my post to Fred at top of page, I can't put it any other way than it gives you better odds.

And it's just as easy to snipe as it is to bid normally, so you're not wasting time any time doing more work or something like that.

If atw is reading this the veins on his head will be popping.

[wobbegong]

Can't you set a maximum when sniping? What is the benefit of sniping I don;t understand?

No, I'm not sayiing I set a maximum when sniping, just when I bid. As regards, sniping, I agree, I suppose there is a certain thrill to be gained from seeing the auction through to the last seconds and snatching it away from someone else. But as I say, I can't be bothered with all that. Just bid and walk away.

[russell]

Yeah, I know sniping is easy, but if I've already bid my maximum, what's the point? If I loose, then someone wanted it more than me, that's the way auctions go. I look at it as having saved the money I'd unsuccessfully bid.

Can't you set a maximum when sniping? What is the benefit of sniping I don;t understand?

[wobbegong]

sniping is just as easy, and give you potentially better odds.

But if you're not that fussed then no point me banging on about it anymore

Yeah, I know sniping is easy, but if I've already bid my maximum, what's the point? If I loose, then someone wanted it more than me, that's the way auctions go. I look at it as having saved the money I'd unsuccessfully bid.

[jmo21]

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.

sniping is just as easy, and give you potentially better odds.

But if you're not that fussed then no point me banging on about it anymore

[jmo21]

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.

If you bid early, other people can see your bid getting higher and bid accordingly over the days, so ebay essentially conducts the bidding war for you upto your limit.

So sniping your highest possible bid will do all the auto bidding in the last few seconds against other users high bids, but this potentially circumvents manual bidders who might have bid higher, or who do not utilise the auto bidding.

[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.

[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.

[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'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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.