Proto said:I usually wait until the last 15 seconds.
marinyork said:On the other hand I'm still waiting on some new batteries after a week . Fed up of slow dispatchers and royal fail.
bonj said:Unfortunately a lot of people on ebay completely and abjectly fail to understand the difference between the terms "bid" and "maximum bid".
I genuinely do not understand what people's problem is with simply inputting the maximum price they are willing to pay for that item, safe in the knowledge that they will only have to pay slightly more than the next highest maximum.
The numerous 'auction sniper' and 'auto bidding' sites exemplify this confused cynicism, and my take on it is if they fail to understand how something simple like ebay works, what hope do they have of properly understanding how something complex like software and web security works - and thus why would I want to entrust my sign-in details with them...?
Over The Hill said:Unfortunately a lot of people on ebay completely and abjectly fail to understand the difference you make by bidding one day before the end and one second before the end.
One second and competing bidder will have no time to decide to go the extra pound, give them 24 hours to think it over and competing bidder (supported by extra confidence in item by your bid) WILL out bid you.
Do you send a message to the world that it is a) not worth much or is worth a lot??
If you want bid early if a) bid late.
Don't disagree - but in my experience if a lot of people start bidding early there is a risk pushing up the final price.gbb said:You can't rationaise ebay bidding in any simple terms. Its a lottery. Some you win, some you lose...there is no right way...no wrong way.
One way will work for you one day...the next day it may not.
Last minute bidding wont help if the previous bidder has already commited more than you with an early bid.
Early bidding wont help if someone comes in at the last minute with a bigger bid.
red_tom said:Last 5 seconds for me. Sniping is the way to go.
bonj said:IF they were rational and understood how the system worked and trusted it, then they'd have put the maximum amount they were willing to pay up as the maximum bid as soon as they saw the item and left it at that.
it can, but it shouldn't be.Over The Hill said:You are assuming (wrongly imo) that the maximum they were willing to pay is a set figure.
Their maximum can be influenced by the bidding activity.
Over The Hill said:Example
See an item you think is worth £100 with two days to go.
It is now on £10, you may be tempted to bid £100 (most people may give it a go at less than their maximum but we will go with you) but you are tempted to revise your estimate downward.
But if it is now on at £98 you may revise your perceved value upward and go for £120 as by now you know your £100 is unlikely to win it.
SO if you push up the price early you will get bidders going for a higher price as the item is re-valued in their mind having seen lots of other bids at or over their maximum value.
The trick is to get you to up your value estimate. Listen to an auctioneer that is what they are doing. On ebay bidders listen to the price others bid.
Tis the nature of bidders.