Quote:
Originally Posted by NutBrnHair
docroc,
You've clearly purchased more things on eBay than I have. I usually wait until the last second to bid. What do you see as the benefit of upping the bid during the week?
(I hope you win it too!)
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Greetings,
This is a very good question for which I have no good answer!
I use different strategies based on the competition. I know a good number of the "regulars" and bid this way (early and often) to signal my intentions. They know me and my habits too!
I also watch for how the other bidders increase their bids. This gives me a feel for how committed they are to getting the item in question.
Small bid increases generally mean low interest or low finances. Most drop off before the end of bidding. I also note the bidders who don't respond with a higher bid...potential "snipers!"
Sometimes I try to pressure other bidders into bidding high on something I don't really want in order to win something else we are competing against each other to buy. They "tap out" on one and I get the one I really want!
In many cases I lose simply because I am at work, asleep, or doing something else that prevents me from "sniping" at the last second. However, I "snipe" from time to time.
If I really want something I put up my best bid and just let the bidding unfold.
The reality is that I follow no set pattern. I don't think that there is just one way to win on eBay.
I like the hunt, the give and take, and the fun of winning. I win about 66% of what I bid on and lose about 10% of what I bid on by design.
This means that about 25% of the time I really get "bent out of shape" by eBayers who are crafty, smarter, richer, or who require less sleep than me!
I can't say it is all fun. I would like to win at the lowest price possible. But that would mean that no one would bid against the first bidder and eBay, a very profitable enterprise, would go out of business.
In turn, that would mean that I would have to start going back to the auction and garage sale curcit... no thanks!
Like I said, great question... not much of an answer.
Best Wishes,
Mike Raymond