Bidding on Ebay is pointless !!!

SteamWake · 08-20-10, 02:51 PM

I have tried on several occasions to bid on various items on Ebay as of late.

Every time when I think I have a winning bid I am out bid by a dollar or so at the last second. I mean literally at the last second, so fast you will never have a chance to put in a higher bid.

I later learned that it is being done by 'bots' automated bidding programs. Often by the very person selling the item.

So... I just dont bother any more. If it has a buy now option with a decent price I might consider that but bidding... pffft you cannot compete with a machine.

Ebay has made statements on the practice and since they cant really control it they have decided its okay

Bidding... LOL more like price adjustment.

Sailor Steve · 08-20-10, 02:53 PM

The only time I ever use Ebay is if they have something I want for the right 'Buy It Now' price.

Tchocky · 08-20-10, 02:55 PM

Depends on relative maximum bid settings, actually. Stick in the maximum you want to pay, and you *could* win it at the last second. Have done it myself and had it done to me

Efficient allocation of goods, I say!

SteamWake · 08-20-10, 02:56 PM

Yea I agree Steve its just that it always seems that the items I want (vintage radio gear) are bid only.

Its just aggrivating I mean what is the piont. If you want to set a price point put in a freakin reserve.

08-20-10, 03:00 PM

Ebay is for suckers. I know no one who has ever had a winning bid.

FIREWALL · 08-20-10, 03:05 PM

I use Amazon. I understand SW's problem with wanting old radio gear.

Can't help you there. All I can suggest is keep trying. It doesn't cost you anything to bid.

Weiss Pinguin · 08-20-10, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

Ebay is for suckers. I know no one who has ever had a winning bid.

Heh, my parents got very good a sniping bids

Dunno if they've used for a long time though...

The last time I got something off Ebay, it turned out to be in Russian... so now I prefer just to get the games in person.

Skybird · 08-20-10, 03:08 PM

Could be that you were bidding for items that were really in demandd by many. but you should know that it is common tactic to bid just once - and 1-3 second before timeout is reached. The bid should be your maximum. I also add shipping costs and then plus 10% for my absolute limit. I never bid earlier than 1-3 seoicnd beforte timeout, and I never place more than one bid. I have won almost all bids I placed by doing so, mainly old chess computers.

If you place a bid earlier, you just give others the chance to get their psychological mechanisms working, resulting in others to eventually finding excuses why they suddenly want to exceed their former limits, and then placing higher bids. By placing early bids, you just drive the price upwards.

Place one bid only, but if you really want that item, make sure you place your bid at the last chance possible, and make it a total overkill bid. Your internet connection is a factor, if it is reliable and fast, hit the button only 1-2 second before timeout. Every bid you place earlier than 3 seconds to timeout, is premature.

Believe me, I now own several very rare and precious old chess computers that are in high demand by collectors. On chess computers i never lost one bid.

but I tend to avoid ebay these days, using it only rarely. It has become a professional sales platform for pro traders. I tend to agree with Steve.

Ebay is like sword fighting. you aim to swing for just one strike - but that single strike should cut your opponent into to equal halves from head to - well, you know what.

Platapus · 08-20-10, 03:10 PM

Ebay used to be really great when it first started. We got some real bargains, but I have to agree that these days, it stynks with the bots.

One more good thing ruined by greedy people.

FIREWALL · 08-20-10, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Could be that you were bidding for items that were really in demandd by many. but you should know that it is common tactic to bid just once - and 1-3 second before timeout is reached. The bid should be your maximum. I also add shipping costs and then plus 10% for my absolute limit. I never bid earlier than 1-3 seoicnd beforte timeout, and I never place more than one bid. I have won almost all bids I placed by doing so, mainly old chess computers.

If you place a bid earlier, you just give others the chance to get their psychological mechanisms working, resulting in others to eventually finding excuses why they suddenly want to exceed their former limits, and then placing higher bids. By placing early bids, you just drive the price upwards.

Place one bid only, but if you really want that item, make sure you place your bid at the last chance possible, and make it a total overkill bid. Your internet connection is a factor, if it is reliable and fast, hit the button only 1-2 second before timeout. Every bid you place earlier than 3 seconds to timeout, is premature.

Believe me, I now own several very rare and precious old chess computers that are in high demand by collectors. On chess computers i never lost one bid.

but I tend to avoid ebay these days, using it only rarely. It has become a professional sales platform for pro traders. I tend to agree with Steve.

Ebay is like sword fighting. you aim to swing for just one strike - but that single strike should cut your opponent into to equal halves from head to - well, you know what.

Good advice.

Tchocky · 08-21-10, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The only time I ever use Ebay is if they have something I want for the right 'Buy It Now' price.

^This^, mostly

Still keep my eyes out for interesting stuff, have got a lot of nice vinyl through careful bidding

sharkbit · 08-21-10, 11:20 AM

90% of the time I do "Buy It Now" as well, but I've won a few auctions thru bidding, even recently.

It seems that the key to winning bids is to get buyer's remorse(or should that be "bidder's" remorse?

) after placing your bid and then kinda hoping that you don't win. Then you're sure to win.

That's happened to me afew times. The biggest one was when I was kinda looking for a DSLR camera and I placed a bid on an Olympus E-500 and I got a bad case of remorse after bidding. I ended up winning but got a great deal on it.

papa_smurf · 08-21-10, 04:53 AM

The amount of times i've been outbid by a couple of pence with just a few seconds to go

.

Hardly ever use E-bay now, its getting worse.

Castout · 08-21-10, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

I have tried on several occasions to bid on various items on Ebay as of late.

Every time when I think I have a winning bid I am out bid by a dollar or so at the last second. I mean literally at the last second, so fast you will never have a chance to put in a higher bid.

I later learned that it is being done by 'bots' automated bidding programs. Often by the very person selling the item.

So... I just dont bother any more. If it has a buy now option with a decent price I might consider that but bidding... pffft you cannot compete with a machine.

Ebay has made statements on the practice and since they cant really control it they have decided its okay

Bidding... LOL more like price adjustment.

Lol . . . .bid with your own bots and you can set the upper limit aside from the increase per bid. I think they are widely available

What you described happens in Real life bidding too . . .from tonnes of heavy equipment to . . . .anything

SteamWake · 08-21-10, 09:45 PM

Yea see like I said ... pointless.

08-20-10, 02:51 PM	#1
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Bidding on Ebay is pointless !!! I have tried on several occasions to bid on various items on Ebay as of late. Every time when I think I have a winning bid I am out bid by a dollar or so at the last second. I mean literally at the last second, so fast you will never have a chance to put in a higher bid. I later learned that it is being done by 'bots' automated bidding programs. Often by the very person selling the item. So... I just dont bother any more. If it has a buy now option with a decent price I might consider that but bidding... pffft you cannot compete with a machine. Ebay has made statements on the practice and since they cant really control it they have decided its okay Bidding... LOL more like price adjustment. __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

08-20-10, 02:53 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	The only time I ever use Ebay is if they have something I want for the right 'Buy It Now' price. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-20-10, 02:55 PM	#3
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Depends on relative maximum bid settings, actually. Stick in the maximum you want to pay, and you could win it at the last second. Have done it myself and had it done to me Efficient allocation of goods, I say! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

08-20-10, 02:56 PM	#4
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Yea I agree Steve its just that it always seems that the items I want (vintage radio gear) are bid only. Its just aggrivating I mean what is the piont. If you want to set a price point put in a freakin reserve. __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

08-20-10, 03:05 PM	#6
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	I use Amazon. I understand SW's problem with wanting old radio gear. Can't help you there. All I can suggest is keep trying. It doesn't cost you anything to bid. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

08-20-10, 03:00 PM	#5
The Third Man Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Ebay is for suckers. I know no one who has ever had a winning bid.

08-20-10, 03:08 PM	#8
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Could be that you were bidding for items that were really in demandd by many. but you should know that it is common tactic to bid just once - and 1-3 second before timeout is reached. The bid should be your maximum. I also add shipping costs and then plus 10% for my absolute limit. I never bid earlier than 1-3 seoicnd beforte timeout, and I never place more than one bid. I have won almost all bids I placed by doing so, mainly old chess computers. If you place a bid earlier, you just give others the chance to get their psychological mechanisms working, resulting in others to eventually finding excuses why they suddenly want to exceed their former limits, and then placing higher bids. By placing early bids, you just drive the price upwards. Place one bid only, but if you really want that item, make sure you place your bid at the last chance possible, and make it a total overkill bid. Your internet connection is a factor, if it is reliable and fast, hit the button only 1-2 second before timeout. Every bid you place earlier than 3 seconds to timeout, is premature. Believe me, I now own several very rare and precious old chess computers that are in high demand by collectors. On chess computers i never lost one bid. but I tend to avoid ebay these days, using it only rarely. It has become a professional sales platform for pro traders. I tend to agree with Steve. Ebay is like sword fighting. you aim to swing for just one strike - but that single strike should cut your opponent into to equal halves from head to - well, you know what. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-20-10, 03:10 PM	#9
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Ebay used to be really great when it first started. We got some real bargains, but I have to agree that these days, it stynks with the bots. One more good thing ruined by greedy people. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-21-10, 11:20 AM	#12
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	90% of the time I do "Buy It Now" as well, but I've won a few auctions thru bidding, even recently. It seems that the key to winning bids is to get buyer's remorse(or should that be "bidder's" remorse? ) after placing your bid and then kinda hoping that you don't win. Then you're sure to win. That's happened to me afew times. The biggest one was when I was kinda looking for a DSLR camera and I placed a bid on an Olympus E-500 and I got a bad case of remorse after bidding. I ended up winning but got a great deal on it. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

08-21-10, 04:53 AM	#13
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	The amount of times i've been outbid by a couple of pence with just a few seconds to go. Hardly ever use E-bay now, its getting worse. __________________

08-21-10, 09:45 PM	#15
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Yea see like I said ... pointless. __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648