That Stupid Auction Site

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I detest fleabay. I'm looking to invest in a compound bow. I ain't got one and would like to try my luck stalk hunting with one. Mainly to see what all the fuss is about with them. I've been using my horse bows, and am extremely fond of them. I just want a new challenge. Anyway, I'm sick of people waiting until the last 2 minutes to start bidding. Its frustrating as all hell. Especially when they wait until the last 15 seconds to do it. :angry:

[Sam]

Raider, this is the way it is done.

 

And what you cannot stop is having the seller's friends up the bid during the final two or three minutes.

 

Any bid your make before the final five minutes is worthless unless you are the only one ready to buy the item.

 

The last few minutes is the time when the pros start to make their move.

[hooah212002]

I gave up actually bidding on stuff long ago. I immediately select "buy it now" as my only buying option when looking for something for the very few times I buy something there.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Ten freaking bows I have now lost out on now. Grrrr.

[MarkH024]

I've been lucky enough to snipe out some items. I watch everything down to the last minutes before bidding. JFrancho sent me a link to something a while back that helps you win bids but I think for a fee. Guess I'd only use that out of desperation. Maybe he can chime in to clarify.

I saved about $150 on 3 reelsthis past winter buying on ebay.

[wnybassman]

Auctionsniper.com is what I use.   I think it is like a 25¢ fee if you end up winning the auction.  No big deal.    I have it set up to bid with 4 seconds to go.

 

The way I look at it you are showing an item for 6 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes.  The last 15 minutes the real bidding begins.

[Scott F]

I use 1 click bidding. Enter the maximum amount you'll pay 60 minutes before bidding ends and it automatically enters your bids in 1 dollar increments as needed until you win or your maximum bid is reached.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

That's why I keep trying. When it works right you save money. Its just dealing with the garbage until it does work out.

[MarkH024]

Auctionsniper.com is what I use. I think it is like a 25¢ fee if you end up winning the auction. No big deal. I have it set up to bid with 4 seconds to go.

The way I look at it you are showing an item for 6 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes. The last 15 minutes the real bidding begins.

That's it. Thank you for the info. Raider you should try this if you really got a need for something.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Auctionsniper.com is what I use.   I think it is like a 25¢ fee if you end up winning the auction.  No big deal.    I have it set up to bid with 4 seconds to go.

 

The way I look at it you are showing an item for 6 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes.  The last 15 minutes the real bidding begins.

  

That's it. Thank you for the info. Raider you should try this if you really got a need for something.

I'm gonna give it a look over. Sounds like a good deal. Thanks guys.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I use 1 click bidding. Enter the maximum amount you'll pay 60 minutes before bidding ends and it automatically enters your bids in 1 dollar increments as needed until you win or your maximum bid is reached.

That's what I've been trying. It hasn't worked out so far. It generally does. Its just not happening with the bows.

[Scott F]

You're not bidding high enough!

[Long Mike]

I don't waste time bidding.  I research what other sites are selling my item for.  If I can find the same item in the "buy it now" list at a substantially lower price I will buy it.  BTW, beware of the add-on shipping costs, if any.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

You're not bidding high enough!

I can only go so high. Im only willing to pay so much for something. Once it hits a certain point its almost cheaper to buy new.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I don't waste time bidding.  I research what other sites are selling my item for.  If I can find the same item in the "buy it now" list at a substantially lower price I will buy it.  BTW, beware of the add-on shipping costs, if any.

Yeah I learned my lesson about that. I got hit with a 40 dollar shipping charge on a rifle scope once.

[airborne_angler]

One word...Sniper...put in the absolute most your willing to pay and then set it for when you want the bid to be entered...I set mine for 5 seconds prior to the end of auction..

I set it and forget it...let the sniper do its thing...if I win...great...if not I move on to the next...don't even have to monitor the auction...however sometimes an auction will get bid higher than my max bid days before the auction ends...I go into my sniper and cancel the bid as its been bid up past my max already...so there's no way I'd win...unless I REALLY want the item, then I just edit my bid...

[wnybassman]

Another tip is to add a few cents to your max bid.   If you are willing to pay $80 for something, put a bid in for $80.03.  I don't know how many auctions I have won using that little tactic.

[SirSnookalot]

I have both won and lost bids on Ebay, I don't care to play the game any more.  If I like the price on "buy it now" that's pretty much the extent of my energy.  

[llPa1nll]

Auctionsniper.com is what I use.   I think it is like a 25¢ fee if you end up winning the auction.  No big deal.    I have it set up to bid with 4 seconds to go.

 

The way I look at it you are showing an item for 6 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes.  The last 15 minutes the real bidding begins.

 

X 2

[38 Super Fan]

I just always set a max bid and forget about it. I've come to like eBay, I've got some really good deals there.

[deaknh03]

I use a sniper app, mine is free, and I score tons of stuff, usually for pennies on the dollar. I do lose a lot of stuff, but it doesnt matter.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I've given up on that dumb site. I'm just using buy it now. Or craigslist.

[EvanT123]

Another tip is to add a few cents to your max bid. If you are willing to pay $80 for something, put a bid in for $80.03. I don't know how many auctions I have won using that little tactic.

This is a great tatic. I do the same thing. Many times people bid in round numbers. If you do like Marty says and say bid something like 20.37 it will throw them off for the next bid and those few seconds could be all you need to win.

[fish-fighting-illini]

This is a great tatic. I do the same thing. Many times people bid in round numbers. If you do like Marty says and say bid something like 20.37 it will throw them off for the next bid and those few seconds could be all you need to win.

Pardon the obvious pun but " ding ding ding we have a winner"!

I tried. The right way at 1st and it became pointless. I switched to the last second bidding & +.0x and had much more success. I also got some great deals as a result.

I figure bidding early on just sets the tone for costing you more to buy it. To me it is almost like showing your hand in poker right when you receive your cards.

You also make it easier for them to have their "buddy" bidders.

I'd have my bid all ready, wait to the last second until only enough time for the bid to go through. I'd edit if needed ( including lowering) and enter.

I have not bid in quite some time so things may very well have changed since then.

[Kevin22]

Be aware that now ebay usually has increments for bidding on listings. So instead of using the $0.03 trick it makes you bid in set increments. So if you have it set for $20.03 as your max bet it will bid you to $20.00 and that is it. Sometimes it is $0.25 sometimes it is $0.10, sometimes it is $0.50, all depends on the current price of the item. Rarely do they allow you to bid in oddball increments like $13.73. 

 

Most people put in $10, $20, $25, etc so putting a little extra in is key.