Quick ebay bidding help? *EDIT* Another ?? post #15

[Beth76]

I'm trying to bid on something on ebay. This is only my 3rd time using ebay. It seems to only be letting enter my maximum bid. Does this sound right? If I enter my maximum bid, it won't let me go any higher? I'm just confused as I don't see a place to just enter a regular bid.

 

[clh2]

Your regular bid is your maximum bid. However, if you want to go higher than "your maximum bid #1" then you have to place a separate "your maximum bid #2"

If that doesn't make sense - maybe I can say it a little differently:

Item has an opening bid of $10.00.

Bidder 1 bids their max bid of $15.00. However, since they are the only bid at first, ebay will only show their bid as the current high price of $10.00. You will not know what their maximum bid is.

Now - if you want to put in a bid for your maximum price of $13.00, ebay will "proxy" the first bid up to your maximum bid of $13.00 plus the increment (which might be $.50 at that price range), so now ebay will show your maximum bid being $13.00, plus the new high bid from bidder 1 at $13.50.

At that point, you can determine if you want to bid higher, and then you would place a new maximum bid - say you go to $16. Ebay's proxy will now take it up to the other bidder's maximum bid plus the increment, so now you will be the top bidder at $15.50, which is still less than your maximum bid.

Hope this helps. I think ebay just uses the term maximum bid to "help you think in terms of higher bids" because ebay makes more money on higher bids.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

The previous poster is correct. If someone outbids you and there is time left, you can bid higher than your original maximum bid. But you won't know what others' max bids are, so keep a close eye on it at the end of the bidding. At least that's the way I understand it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Beth76]

OK thanks. I guess that makes sense. Did they change the way they do this? It's been over a year since I've last used ebay and I don't remember it working like this.

 

[N.Bailey]

OK thanks. I guess that makes sense. Did they change the way they do this? It's been over a year since I've last used ebay and I don't remember it working like this.

This is the way it's always been.

I recall one time when I was new to eBay I had placed a maximum bid, but then I decided I wanted to raise my max a little higher. I really believe when I placed the 2nd bid, I raised the price of the auction. I was new back then and maybe I'd hit a reserve price and that's what happened because I've never changed my mind and tried it again.

To be frankly honest though, if you really want the item you're bidding on, your best bet is to snipe it within the last 2nds of the auction. Have two browsers open, submit your bid on the one and get to the last page where it's asking for confirmation. Pull your 2nd browser up and keep hitting the refresh button till it's like 15, 20 seconds from auction end (assuming you're on high speed Internet) then bring the other browser page back up to place your bid. If others are bidding, IMO, this is the only way you'll win. You'll only get 1 shot at it though so make sure the bid is for the max you're willing to pay. If you lose, at least you know you weren't willing to spend that much.

 

[clh2]

I agree with NBailey.

If you bid early in the auction - it seems to generate other bidder interest, and then more bids seem to get placed earlier, so it tends to bid up the pricing early.

Now - to contradict myself - if the auction has a "Buy-it-now" price, that option is generally only available if there are no bids on the auction. So, if I am semi-interested in an item, I may place an early bid, at just the minimum bid price, just to eliminate the "buy-it-now" option for a different buyer.

 

[Imzadi]

To be frankly honest though, if you really want the item you're bidding on, your best bet is to snipe it within the last 2nds of the auction. Have two browsers open, submit your bid on the one and get to the last page where it's asking for confirmation. Pull your 2nd browser up and keep hitting the refresh button till it's like 15, 20 seconds from auction end (assuming you're on high speed Internet) then bring the other browser page back up to place your bid. If others are bidding, IMO, this is the only way you'll win. You'll only get 1 shot at it though so make sure the bid is for the max you're willing to pay. If you lose, at least you know you weren't willing to spend that much.

Yep! This is exactly what I do. I win 97% of my auctions this way - and at the price I want. The 3 percent that I lose is because I wasn't willing to bid higher than another person at the end. Once, when I still had dial up, someone with DSL got in a last second higher bid over me.

There is something called "Emotional bidding." If you bid too early on an auction, others see the bid & try to outbid you. When they place a bid & the eBay computer puts in your proxy bid that outbids them, they may emotionally start entering higher bids just to outbid your bid. This UNNECESSARILY jacks up the price that would have otherwise stayed lower, had you waited til the last few seconds to bid.

You see this on auctions of products with multiple listings. All the items are exactly the same, some may even be listed by the same Seller, so there is no difference in the auctions or items or Sellers. But people start bidding on the same ONE auction, driving the price up, while no one bids on the other auctions.

 

[HayGan]

You can use a sniper service (I use auctionsniper.com) You put in your maximum bid and how long before the end of the auction you want your bid to be put in (I typically use 10 sec.) and they do the rest for you! I have had great luck with it and it prevents me from doing the "emotional" bidding as well! I think they offer 3 or 5 snipes for free and then there is a fee after that.

 

[clh2]

There is something called "Emotional bidding." If you bid too early on an auction, others see the bid & try to outbid you. When they place a bid & the eBay computer puts in your proxy bid that outbids them, they may emotionally start entering higher bids just to outbid your bid. This UNNECESSARILY jacks up the price that would have otherwise stayed lower, had you waited til the last few seconds to bid.

This is exactly what happens.

 

[grlpwrd]

There's also www.esnipe.com .

GL!

 

[N.Bailey]

Yep! This is exactly what I do. I win 97% of my auctions this way - and at the price I want. The 3 percent that I lose is because I wasn't willing to bid higher than another person at the end. Once, when I still had dial up, someone with DSL got in a last second higher bid over me.

There is something called "Emotional bidding." If you bid too early on an auction, others see the bid & try to outbid you. When they place a bid & the eBay computer puts in your proxy bid that outbids them, they may emotionally start entering higher bids just to outbid your bid. This UNNECESSARILY jacks up the price that would have otherwise stayed lower, had you waited til the last few seconds to bid.

You see this on auctions of products with multiple listings. All the items are exactly the same, some may even be listed by the same Seller, so there is no difference in the auctions or items or Sellers. But people start bidding on the same ONE auction, driving the price up, while no one bids on the other auctions.

My best snipe was 1 second, so it could have been me. LOL I really only bid on new video games and new DVDs though.

I did once get a guy emailing me after the auction ended (he'd won) and wrote me a nasty email informing me that I cost him X amount more money and that I had PO'd him. Of course I had to write him back and tell him he overpaid. LOL At that time, my username was my email addy. Of course no one is allowed those usernames anymore so that can't really happen anymore, but it was SO funny.

 

[Poohnatic]

Beth,

You do get an outbid notice if other bidders exceed your maximum bid. Like the others said, using a sniping service can help. I used to end up at the laptop at an auction end to snipe it myself, but esnipe is good in a pinch.

I used to be an emotional bidder, but lately I've adopted the philosophy that I wasn't meant to have it if the item exceeds my maximum. Ironically, I've won more stuff since I've done that!

Now, ask me about the emotional bidder who ended up buying a $1.00 Chicken Little Disney Dollar for $100.00 from my DH! Drinking and eBaying do NOT mix.


Suzanne

 

[HayGan]

Now, ask me about the emotional bidder who ended up buying a $1.00 Chicken Little Disney Dollar for $100.00 from my DH! Drinking and eBaying do NOT mix.


Suzanne

Wow - now that is a return on your investment!!! Wish my Disney Dollars had sold for that kind of rate!!!

 

[Poohnatic]

HayGan,

Typically, he'd make 4 or 5 bucks-not bad, IMO. He was watching that auction end and calling out from the office. It sounded like he was an auctioneer the last three minutes.

She was refusing to pay and asked him to offer up something else in addition. He was firm in that his auction said it was ONE one dollar disney dollar and that she shouldn't have bid so much if she didn't want the item.

A few days passed, and he got the money order and an apology for her behavior. He did send her a magical gatherings pin, too (we got it for free, so he felt it wasn't hurting him).

It beat my 80's rare cd that I bought used in 91 for 3 bucks that went for 60, lol!

Suzanne

 

[Beth76]

Thanks everyone. I ended up winning that auction with my first bid. I even found another product by the same buyer and bid on it with about one minute left. Won that one too!

Now I have another question and no one can tell me that I was stupid! In this second auction the name of the product and the picture provided didn't match. The name was "cleansing cream" and the picture showed "moisture cream". Two different products from the same company. (The containers look exactly the same, just different wording.) The seller was selling a moisture cream in another auction, so I figured the title was probably correct and the picture was just wrong. I emailed her and told her I would send payment as soon as she verified the correct item. If for some reason the item is incorrect, do I have a leg to stand on for not buying it? Her page said she doesn't accept returns. I didn't read that until after I bid. I'm still waiting for her email reply.

 

[N.Bailey]

Thanks everyone. I ended up winning that auction with my first bid. I even found another product by the same buyer and bid on it with about one minute left. Won that one too!

Now I have another question and no one can tell me that I was stupid! In this second auction the name of the product and the picture provided didn't match. The name was "cleansing cream" and the picture showed "moisture cream". Two different products from the same company. (The containers look exactly the same, just different wording.) The seller was selling a moisture cream in another auction, so I figured the title was probably correct and the picture was just wrong. I emailed her and told her I would send payment as soon as she verified the correct item. If for some reason the item is incorrect, do I have a leg to stand on for not buying it? Her page said she doesn't accept returns. I didn't read that until after I bid. I'm still waiting for her email reply.

Unfortunately, you do not have a leg to stand on according to the rules at eBay. You should always contact the seller prior to placing your bid. If it's not what you want however, the seller may not hold you to your bid. I'm sure they'd notice that they'd made a mistake and IMO, any reputable seller would let you back out.

If you decided not to pay for it however, the only thing this seller could really do would be to leave you negative feedback and turn you in to eBay for not following thru. After 3 people turn you in for a failure to pay and/or to send merchandise (depends if you're the buyer or seller) at that time, eBay would suspend your account. It's just a 3 strikes and your out policy. I can't say I favor the policy because it really doesn't say you were in the wrong. eBay simply doesn't care. I also hate that the 3 strikes rule has no time restraints. You could be a member for a month and be suspended or you could be a member since day one. It makes no difference, you're suspended.

As I said though, I think any reputable seller would allow you to back out after seeing they made a listing mistake.

 

[Beth76]

OK thanks. Not a huge deal as the other product is something that I could use. I just don't need it right now. I did contact the seller before the auction too, but there were only 20 minutes left at that point. I'm still waiting to hear from her.

ETA: I don't want negative feedback. As it is, I only have 3 feedbacks (all positive--for buying) and I may want to start selling some things soon.

 

[Imzadi]

As you already won one auction from the Seller & are intending to pay for it, if the second item isn't what you want, there is a good chance the Seller will work with you. She may fear two negative feedbacks from YOU.

You could offer to pay for her relisting fee if the item does turn out to be not what you want & she has to reauction it. She may be happy with that.

OR: You can also auction the item yourself.

 

[Imzadi]

My best snipe was 1 second, so it could have been me. LOL I really only bid on new video games and new DVDs though.

Ah Ha! So it was YOUUUUU!

I did once get a guy emailing me after the auction ended (he'd won) and wrote me a nasty email informing me that I cost him X amount more money and that I had PO'd him. Of course I had to write him back and tell him he overpaid. LOL At that time, my username was my email addy. Of course no one is allowed those usernames anymore so that can't really happen anymore, but it was SO funny.

Actually, that was me that emailed you, after you sniped my other auction.

The only time I ever emotionally bid on an item was when I won an auction for an electric toothbrush - not the sonic kind - won't use one of those. I get headaches from all the vibrations at rock concerts. Replacement toothbrushes were being auctioned off by the same Seller a couple of hours later. Since shipping would be combined with the first auction, I figured I could reasonably bid about $4 more on the brushes (than other people,) & win the auction.

However, when I placed my maximum bid in the last several seconds, I couldn't believe someone else bid $4 more for no good reason. I had enough time to place two more $1 bids (being outbid each time,) until I realized I had to just step away from the computer. The brushes were up to $19 by then, (not including the shipping,) when I could get the same brushes from other auctions for $13 + $4 shipping.

That other buyer never did pay for the auction. I don't know what he thought "Maximum bid" was about & why he placed one so high. I got an email from the Seller saying he backed out & she'd sell the brushes to me for the $19 I bid. Umm, no. I felt bad, since I emotionally jacked up the price. She probably let the other guy out of the auction as she was sure I'd buy the brushes instead. I would have, but for a couple of dollars less. I didn't know how to say that to her, as I had been the one to cost her the other buyer.