eBay problems, resolutions, shenanigans, questions and info (not bike finds)

labelling is all wrong. Don't understand how ebay can allow the shops to trade if they are selling fakes

Can I ask for the explanation of a mystery:

WHY in the world are people bidding for an item on Ebay long time before an auction ends? I myself, for example, am always bidding in the last 5 seconds as there's absolutely no point in starting a bid fight anytime before.

You could say these are newbies, but you often see people with 300 or more feedback still acting like idiots.

I don't get it.

Everyone is different and has different tactics?

Maximum Bid.

So you put in a budget of what you actually want to go to.

Then it only lists a percentage of final your bid so people can't tell.

This will rise as the auction develops.

Everyone is different and has different tactics?

Maximum Bid.

So you put in a budget of what you actually want to go to.

Then it only lists a percentage of your bid so people can't tell.

There is no advantage in doing this well before the auction ends, only a disadvantage: other bidders might be tempted to bid more than they *planned *to bid, resulting in them having enough time trying to crack your secret max bid.

You don't have time to keep checking back so you put an early bid in on the off chance you win.

Sometimes stuff just passes under everyones radar (e.g. a spelling mistake in the title)

Test the water to see if there is a reserve.

Get the ball rolling.

An early bid can mean the seller might contact you and offer you it direct.

Lots of reasons.

You don't have time to keep checking back so you put an early bid in on the off chance you win.

there are enough sniper tools out there to bid automatically without the need to be at the computer

Sometimes stuff just passes under everyones radar (e.g. a spelling mistake in the title)

works well with a sniper bid, too

Test the water to see if there is a reserve.

ok. that is ONE real reason, but *only *relevant if there actually is a reserve.

Get the ball rolling.

An early bid can mean the seller might contact you and offer you it direct.

You can contact him without bidding at all.

Dirk, don't get me wrong, i do leave it until last moments as you do, but OmarLittle has a good point (a few actually)!

•

there are enough sniper tools out there to bid automatically without the need to be at the computer

etc etc

But what if some people don't know this? What if there are actually people on ebay who have not yet googled "ebay sniping tools" because they don't really do ebay very much and so they don't know they exist?

It's not completely outside the realms of possibility, surely...

There is no advantage in doing this well before the auction ends, only a disadvantage: other bidders might be tempted to bid more than they *planned *to bid, resulting in them having enough time trying to crack your secret max bid.

You are wrong, Ebay noob.

An early bid means you get a reminder if you are outbid and if no one else sees the auction because it's a shit listing you could win it for the very low starter bid. So there are in fact, two advantages to throwing in an early bid. I do this often and then manually 'snipe' when the auction is about to close.

...
An early bid means you get a reminder if you are outbid and if no one else sees the auction because it's a shit listing you could win it for the very low starter bid. So there are in fact, two advantages to throwing in an early bid. I do this often and then manually 'snipe' when the auction is about to close...

This^.

You are wrong, Ebay noob.

This^

You are wrong, Ebay noob.

An early bid means you get a reminder if you are outbid and if no one else sees the auction because it's a shit listing you could win it for the very low starter bid. So there are in fact, two advantages to throwing in an early bid. I do this often and then manually 'snipe' when the auction is about to close.

Sorry, but you are just plain wrong in calling me an "Ebay noob" here, as it seems like you misunderstood what I mean.

I often put a 1 GBP bid myself early, just for that 'shit listing' reason, but the exact purpose is to prevent that the seller sells it to someone else outside ebay because of zero bids.

But, that's not what I am talking about here. I am talking about auctions where there are several bids way before it ends and people are putting even more. This simply makes absolutely no sense. Period.

...I am talking about auctions where there are several bids way before it ends and people are putting even more. This simply makes absolutely no sense. Period.

'Sense' is subjective here, or anything on ebay for that matter.

Sorry, but you are just plain wrong in calling me an "Ebay noob" here, as it seems like you misunderstood what I mean.

I often put a 1 GBP bid myself early, just for that 'shit listing' reason, but the exact purpose is to prevent that the seller sells it to someone else outside ebay because of zero bids.

But, that's not what I am talking about here. I am talking about auctions where there are several bids way before it ends and people are putting even more. This simply makes absolutely no sense. Period.

Yeah, you're a jedi ebay master, my mistake.

"WHY in the world are people bidding for an item on Ebay long time before an auction ends?"

"WHY in the world are people bidding for an item on Ebay long time before an auction ends?"

^haha. spot-on

by the way, sniper tools are absolutely ace. anyone who hasn't tried them, do it. it saves you so much time (i.e. you having a beer when others are nervously sitting in front of the computer on a saturday evening)

and it's giving ebay a duel-like character (you have only one shot, and then you'll see the result), which I think is more dignified than hysterical bid wars.

I bid early because then it means I won't be tempted to go over how much I want to pay for the item. It's no different from sniping in that I've put in my maximum amount, and if someone bids over that then it's no problem because it's no longer a bargain, whereas if you snipe and someone has a max bid higher than you or also snipes with a higher bid then there's no time to make another bid.
I also believe that having bids on an item with lots of time left puts other people off bidding on it.

I have been known to bid early, then chuck in a couple more preemptive bids just a couple of quid above that. If anyone else starts fishing, they will hopefully think that you have found the holy grail and are willing to pay anything.
Either that or the last minute sniper tool, I do not see a logical middle ground strategy.

I bid early because then it means I won't be tempted to go over how much I want to pay for the item. It's no different from sniping in that I've put in my maximum amount, and if someone bids over that then it's no problem because it's no longer a bargain, whereas if you snipe and someone has a max bid higher than you or also snipes with a higher bid then there's no time to make another bid.

As said, if you don't have bid early, no one can bid over it = higher chance of keeping the price low until your final sniper shot. And of course it's *good *that you can't put a second sniper bid, as your sniper bid should be your reasonable max anyway.

I also believe that having bids on an item with lots of time left puts other people off bidding on it.

This is a strange, but valid philosophy. But, I guess it's more valid with regard to high start prices, not bids. Therefore I would say early high bids make people believe into a very high value of something, which might lead to them being tempted to bid way over their initial max.

either that or the last minute sniper tool, i do not see a logical middle ground strategy.

^this

You're pointing out contradictions to your own post now? Hooch is crazy!

You're pointing out contradictions to your own post now? Hooch is crazy!

Never said anything against 1 pound bids - it's the "middle ground strategy" I am declaring foolish.

You said "bids", now you're saying it's ok if it's £1. Make your mind up, Lord of Ebay.

What is this, a war crimes tribunal?