eBay wierdness

[Dirty Steve]

eBay noob here, as far as selling goes, I have an item for up for auction -- last night some guy enters multiple consecutive bids against himself, about eight or so, over a short space of time. Ever seen that before? Still a couple more days to go before bidding closes. Most odd.

 

[nvilletele]

Sounds like he is just upping his maximum bid amount. It doesnt increase his actual bid until someone puts in a bid higher than his initial one. Keeps automatically increasing up to his maximum bid. Sounds like he really wants what you're selling, and kept increasing his max amount to ensure he wouldn't be outbid.

If not that, then it's probably something else.

 

[Dirty Steve]

Well then I hope it's that. Someone else threw in a later bid, and presumably scuppered his plan.

 

[Slow Reflexes]

Usually people won't bid what they are actually willing to spend - they bump it up a little at a time to see what the current top bid is instead, then they keep coming back to make sure nobody has outbid them.

It's kinda dumb, but usually you end up getting more money out of them because they can't just let it go.

 

[Agave_Blue]

Sounds like he is just upping his maximum bid amount. It doesnt increase his actual bid until someone puts in a bid higher than his initial one. Keeps automatically increasing up to his maximum bid. Sounds like he really wants what you're selling, and kept increasing his max amount to ensure he wouldn't be outbid.

If not that, then it's probably something else.

This, I think.

Something to do with "Automatic Bidding". Search that term in Ebay help.

 

[SackvilleDan]

It's kinda dumb, but usually you end up getting more money out of them because they can't just let it go.

This. I've gotten caught up in the thrill of the chase before, and paid too much for something I just didn't want to lose!

Now I prefer Buy it Now auctions. If I don't like the price, I forget about it

 

[Westerly Sunn]

Then again, the bidder may have just thrown a ground floor bid in; knowing that they would like to buy the item, then slowly incremented their max bid up as they thought about the "likely-hoods" of that particular item/auction type until they felt comfy with their bid... I've done that many times... Coulda' also been feelin' for competing live or Max bids too...

 

[gsh1968]

When other potential bidders look at the history (because an item on it's starting price with 4 bids on it is intriguing) they will see someone who has increased their bid multiple times. That can be interpreted a number of ways, but the intention is to make other bidders think you really really want that item, and have put in a really high final bid, thus dissuading them prom bidding.
Of course, if they put all those bids in at the same time, it's likely they simply added $1 or so to each bid, as when increasing your own max bid you don'y have to increase it by set amounts - as long as it's higher, it'll do.

 

[Retropicker]

He wants what you are selling

 

[studio1087]

eBay noob here, as far as selling goes, I have an item for up for auction -- last night some guy enters multiple consecutive bids against himself, about eight or so, over a short space of time. Ever seen that before? Still a couple more days to go before bidding closes. Most odd.

Not odd....he's clever and he's trying to deter or discourage other bidders from bidding at the last moment.

Pretend that you are a potential bidder and you see that one guy bid 8 times.....you might think........"awe crap how high did that nut drive the potential end price??? I'm not even going to bid now"

All that the other bidders see is that one of their competitors bid and bid and bid and bid and they have no real idea what his top end bid could be.

If I cannot be home for the end of an auction and if several people have been bidding....I might bid $110 on a pedal that is worth $160 and then I'll bid $111 and then $112 etc and I'll bid 5 times. My competitors will wake up in the moring and check the auction and see that it went from 7 bids to 12 and they'll see that one guy (me) bid over and over and over.

Sometimes this tactic discourages other bidders from getting back in the race.

People use some goofy tactics when they cannot view and participate in the very end of an auction. I've seen this tactic a hundred times. The repetitive bidder really wants your item.

 

[TeleTim911]

People do that all the time, especially if they want that item...he's just upping his max bid.

 

[Dirty Steve]

Not odd....he's clever and he's trying to deter or discourage other bidders from bidding at the last moment.

Pretend that you are a potential bidder and you see that one guy bid 8 times.....you might think........"awe crap how high did that nut drive the potential end price??? I'm not even going to bid now"

All that the other bidders see is that one of their competitors bid and bid and bid and bid and they have no real idea what his top end bid could be.

If I cannot be home for the end of an auction and if several people have been bidding....I might bid $110 on a pedal that is worth $160 and then I'll bid $111 and then $112 etc and I'll bid 5 times. My competitors will wake up in the moring and check the auction and see that it went from 7 bids to 12 and they'll see that one guy (me) bid over and over and over.

Sometimes this tactic discourages other bidders from getting back in the race.

People use some goofy tactics when they cannot view and participate in the very end of an auction. I've seen this tactic a hundred times. The repetitive bidder really wants your item.

I guess that makes sense. Good luck to the guy, then!

 

[studio1087]

People do that all the time, especially if they want that item...he's just upping his max bid.

But is he upping it for real ($10 per toss) or is he upping it 25 cents each time just to spook you????



Is it this (image removed) or is it this

?????

 

[Agave_Blue]

Regarding Ebay Bidding Tactics:

I've got a line on an item with 2 days to do. Right now, 1 bid (not mine) and a GREAT price (~ 1/2 market price).

Is it better to wait and "snipe", bid now my "best bid" or what? What are the "best" bidding tactics to get a desirable item at a lower price?

 

[jbmando]

Regarding Ebay Bidding Tactics:

I've got a line on an item with 2 days to do. Right now, 1 bid (not mine) and a GREAT price (~ 1/2 market price).

Is it better to wait and "snipe", bid now my "best bid" or what? What are the "best" bidding tactics to get a desirable item at a lower price?

In my opinion, the best way to win an item you really want is to use a sniping service to place a reasonably high (but still a good bargain) bid and wait it out. I have made quite a few eBay purchases this way. I always get at least a better deal than retail - including the shipping charges. Sometimes it's a steal.

 

[Agave_Blue]

I've had success (and of course some misses) with sniping. Seems to me, intuitively, that sniping is the best tactic.

Not that I buy or sell very much at all. Most stuff I buy I'll use BIN if it's a common item and BIN is offered at a fair price.

 

[drf64]

In my opinion, the best way to win an item you really want is to use a sniping service to place a reasonably high (but still a good bargain) bid and wait it out. I have made quite a few eBay purchases this way. I always get at least a better deal than retail - including the shipping charges. Sometimes it's a steal.

Ive never used a sniping service, but I often snipe. One bid at my full out max entered with < 5 seconds to go is my strategy. If I don't get it, then I'm satisfied that I didn't let someone else push me above where I want to spend.

Occasionally you'll see the low starting price on something that should be a lot more. I'll usually wait until the last few hours on that and then if nobody has bid I'll bid just the asking price. Again, if someone wants it more, fine with me, but sometimes I've gotten great deals that way. Got my Fritz Bros Super Deluxe for < $800 that way.

Final way is email a seller after it doesn't sell and see if an agreement might be had.

dan

 

[TeleTim911]

The max bid service Ebay has is the same as sniping basically.

Example: You find item at $1 on auction. You really want that item, it's worth $100 to you. You bid $100 because that's the most you will pay for it.

If bidding does not exceed $100, you win.

Whether or not you use a sniper service isn't going to matter if someone else bids $120 and you only bid $100. Make sense?

Other bidders can not see the amount you have placed only the amount of current high bid. You can see your max bid though. You can change it if you really think someone else might snatch it from you and you just have to have it.

The problem with auctions (ANY auctions) is people get caught up in "bidding wars" and will bid whatever it takes just to "win" whether they want the item or not. I used to go to public auctions, and saw it happening all the time and items often went for way more than I would pay.

Keep in mind too the shipping costs. If an item is only worth X amount, and the s/h charges will make it go beyond that, I bid max amount including s/h. If I lose I lose. There's likely to be another someday.

 

[TeleTim911]

One more thought: If bidding does not reach your max, you only pay the high bid at closing! NOT the max amount.

 

[Agave_Blue]

....

The problem with auctions (ANY auctions) is people get caught up in "bidding wars" and will bid whatever it takes just to "win" whether they want the item or not. I used to go to public auctions, and saw it happening all the time and items often went for way more than I would pay.

Keep in mind too the shipping costs. If an item is only worth X amount, and the s/h charges will make it go beyond that, I bid max amount including s/h. If I lose I lose. There's likely to be another someday.

Over-paying to "win the auction" isn't an issue. I know the value of the item and the most I am willing to pay. Including shipping.


Thanks for the tips.

If I understand the Ebay system correctly, I put in my MAX bid the FIRST time I bid and Ebay increments up to that amount, but only as needed. Is that right?

Is there a particular option or screen I have to select to enter that "automatic bid" maximum amount? Or do you just do it on the main auction page?