I'm no stranger to life online, but Ebay is new to me. I've started bidding on Ebay, but I never win (at least so far). I have a feeling the people I'm bidding against know a lot more about online auctions than myself... especially when it comes down to the last few minutes. If anyone has any tips or tricks (even the basics!) about winning online auctions, please share...
Ebay... am I missing something?
- Thread starter Anais North
- Start date
Some people try to be asshats and bid an extra $0.50 with less than 1 minute remaining in an auction. I just do what shinyam suggests - figure out the absolute max you're willing to pay for something and enter it. Then walk away and check again at the end of the auction.
There are alot of snipers out there.
You can get sniper software that monitors the auction in it's last minutes, then floods it with incrimental bids of a few cents thus blocking other responses and winning by default.
Not kosher but there is nothing that can be done about it.
You can get sniper software that monitors the auction in it's last minutes, then floods it with incrimental bids of a few cents thus blocking other responses and winning by default.
Not kosher but there is nothing that can be done about it.
Thanks for the prompt info... all very useful! I'll get my head around Ebay yet. You're right Lilith... lots of fun.
And Baci, thanks for the PM. I tried to respond but your box is FULL!
And Baci, thanks for the PM. I tried to respond but your box is FULL!
I have been using Ebay for years and learned something here! I had no idea that Sniper software was available. I downloaded a program but chickened out when it requested too much Ebay information. Do you know of a good, free sniper program that can be used on my own PC?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Ebay!!!
I love Ebay and I am one onf those people that check out things right at the end of the auction and grab them in the minutes remaining. There are many amazing things that I have purchased and I have been lucky so far as everything has turned out to be very nice.
I love Ebay and I am one onf those people that check out things right at the end of the auction and grab them in the minutes remaining. There are many amazing things that I have purchased and I have been lucky so far as everything has turned out to be very nice.
If you want to win consistently, you've got to be watching the auction right up til it ends. Many snipers sit and wait until the final few seconds before bidding (I do it myself). I would also advise you not to bid until the final seconds; you don't want to be the one with the bid in the dying seconds b/c you have to wait until someone outbids you before you can then outbid them (and then time has expired). It's better to be #2 and strike in the dying seconds.
Another thing, it's also good to look for auctions ending midweek or on holidays (or during the day) b/c there are less bidders around at those times. Prices shoot up during the weekend. I've won many really good deals on holiday weekends.
Another thing, it's also good to look for auctions ending midweek or on holidays (or during the day) b/c there are less bidders around at those times. Prices shoot up during the weekend. I've won many really good deals on holiday weekends.
I've won a number of auctions (lost lots too). I think the best thing to do is as suggested before. Decide how much you want to pay then bid that first. Your bid only goes in as high as necessary to be the top one unless you maximum is reached. This way if you have a significant higher maximum bid at the end the snipers with their small increases won't be able to snatch it away.
Also, I find that if you wait to the end unless you have a fast computer and connection you can be outbid and run out of time before you can place another bid and this can also happen due to sniper software. You can get carried away at the end too trying to outbid someone and pay more than you wanted to. But sometimes bidding at the last can be exciting and it can be fun to grab something in the final seconds.
Another tip is if you see something you like, do a search on that item before bidding. It is surprising that often an item with a number of bids can also be on there at a significantly lower starting bid or the bids are much less. You can also do a search to see if this item has been sold in the last 30 days and what the final cost was. Gives you an idea what to expect. If it's a popular item and likely to come up again soon no point in bidding on an overpriced one when you can wait for the next listing.
Also if the item is in the US and shipping is only quoted for the US or no shipping costs are given be sure to contact the seller for a firm shipping quote. Some sellers make up for low selling prices with highly inflated shipping costs if you don't have a firm cost beforehand and shipping costs to Canada are often much higher anyway. Items coming from the US are subject to PST and GST and brokerage fees, depending on their value and how shipped. Anything coming UPS is mostly likely to brokered at a minimum $16 fee. The postal brokerage fee is usually $5 and often on lesser value items they are not brokered and no extra charges are applied. So if you have a choice better to get it shipped by mail.
Also, I find that if you wait to the end unless you have a fast computer and connection you can be outbid and run out of time before you can place another bid and this can also happen due to sniper software. You can get carried away at the end too trying to outbid someone and pay more than you wanted to. But sometimes bidding at the last can be exciting and it can be fun to grab something in the final seconds.
Another tip is if you see something you like, do a search on that item before bidding. It is surprising that often an item with a number of bids can also be on there at a significantly lower starting bid or the bids are much less. You can also do a search to see if this item has been sold in the last 30 days and what the final cost was. Gives you an idea what to expect. If it's a popular item and likely to come up again soon no point in bidding on an overpriced one when you can wait for the next listing.
Also if the item is in the US and shipping is only quoted for the US or no shipping costs are given be sure to contact the seller for a firm shipping quote. Some sellers make up for low selling prices with highly inflated shipping costs if you don't have a firm cost beforehand and shipping costs to Canada are often much higher anyway. Items coming from the US are subject to PST and GST and brokerage fees, depending on their value and how shipped. Anything coming UPS is mostly likely to brokered at a minimum $16 fee. The postal brokerage fee is usually $5 and often on lesser value items they are not brokered and no extra charges are applied. So if you have a choice better to get it shipped by mail.
I generally put a "watch" on an item, and disregard the item if it becomes too expensive
if the end-time is convenient (I'm not waking up in the middle of the night to babysit a bid!) I watch it during the last few minutes, and place a bid
I don't think that is immoral or cheap, because c'est la vie on ebay
if the end-time is convenient (I'm not waking up in the middle of the night to babysit a bid!) I watch it during the last few minutes, and place a bid
I don't think that is immoral or cheap, because c'est la vie on ebay
I will babysit the auctions of items I really really want. Although that still doesn't mean you'll win....I have babysat and lost - especially if the auction ends during the day or on a weekend (people with actual time - sheesh!)
I also check into how much the item would cost in the real world - some stuff doesn't work out that much cheaper. I also ALWAYS factor in shipping make sure you check the shipping cost and make sure it is in Canadian dollars. Again - when you include shipping it may only work out to a couple bucks cheaper.
I put watches on items - if you start bidding right away you may drive the price up (which I've done). I wait until the last few hours then check and see how the item is doing.
If it is something you can't live without - okay....just really want - use 'buy it now' if available.
Sabryna
I also check into how much the item would cost in the real world - some stuff doesn't work out that much cheaper. I also ALWAYS factor in shipping make sure you check the shipping cost and make sure it is in Canadian dollars. Again - when you include shipping it may only work out to a couple bucks cheaper.
I put watches on items - if you start bidding right away you may drive the price up (which I've done). I wait until the last few hours then check and see how the item is doing.
If it is something you can't live without - okay....just really want - use 'buy it now' if available.
Sabryna
Good points all but also be buyer smart: I've seen many items on ebay currently selling at Canadian Tire for less than the current bid.....
There is also supposedly fake bidders. Meaning the seller employs friends or relatives to up the selling price without actually ever completing the transaction.
I've gotten many great deals on there. I estimate my total savings over retail at somewhere around $1000.00 on 5 items.
There is also supposedly fake bidders. Meaning the seller employs friends or relatives to up the selling price without actually ever completing the transaction.
I've gotten many great deals on there. I estimate my total savings over retail at somewhere around $1000.00 on 5 items.
Just remember the fundamental concept of an auction. The winning bidder is the one that is willing to pay more for something than ANYONE else in the room. In the case of Ebay, the room is the internet-enabled population of the world.
All sound advice... I'm bidding on a certain kind of collectible card. The people that I'm bidding against are quite serious (they often have email addresses that include words like "Jedi"... not that there's anything wrong with that). So, whereas I'm fairly web savvy, I've got nothing on the 100,000 teenage boys who collect these cards full time, online. If I were bidding against quiet midwestern housewives for china and dolls, it might be a different story. I think a combination of "snipering" and deep pockets might be my only hope.
