bidding on ebay so you actually get what you want?

[jann1033]

what is the best way to do so? should you put in what is your truly maximum bid? a little less and the hope you are fast enough at the end if need be? how does it show up what your max bid is...does someone else bid then they say "it's not high enough" till they reach your max bid? any suggestions for winning something if i really want it would be helpful( usually i bid on stuff noone in there right mind wants but in case i ever get in a heated battle.... )

as always, thanks for the help

 

[Caitsmama]

Well, for me, i never bid til the last hr or so .. if i can be there when it goes off. So, around the last hr. i enter a "test bid".. NOT my max, but just a little above where the auction is currently.. to test waters.
Then, i keep my eye on it.. and when it is down to about 3-5 min left, i enter a high bid.. again, NOT my max.. and see what happens.
Then, if all looks good, around 1 min left, i go in and enter a little above my maximum bid.. not too much.. just a bit... then go from there! LOL

I truly like to wait til the last possible seconds to bid!! Win most of my stuff that way.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

If it is something I really want and cannot be around the computer, I will use a service such as esnipe.com that allows you to enter your maximum bid and when you want the system to enter the bid for you. It will then act as a proxy for you placing the bid at the appropriate time. I have had pretty good success with this and it doesn't tie me to the computer so I am free to do other things like take pictures or more importantly go to a baseball game.

Jeff

 

[mhutchinson]

There is no easy way to consistantly win an eBay auction, nor should there be. You need to decide what is a fair price you are willing to pay when comparing your purchase to new (with full warranty). One of the best auctions I watched and quickly let go was for a used and not so perfect Canon 24mm f/2.8 that sold for just over $400...new it sells for $289.95 at B&H (which was stated in the auction ). Most of the times things will sell for close to new, so you need to know what you are bidding on and not get carried away in the auction.

Hints that I use are that I watch the bids so I know when people are at their max, then I let it go close to the end. You can usually guess what increments people are bidding if they have placed multiple bids on the same item.

My favorite (and learned as a most frustrating way to lose ) is using pennies . Once you have already decided the most you are willing to pay and the item hasn't reached it yet, toss on a penny or a few of them on your bid as near to auction close as you can. Sometimes it will show someone's max bid indirectly, other times you might just get the winning bid for literally pennies more than the other bidder.

As far as placing your highest bid up front, remember that the early bid wins in the event of a tie.

Mike

 

[jann1033]

thanks for all the help... i have been putting max bids in which i guess isn't always a good idea..