Curious about E-bay bidding.

Hub

I have a question for you e-bay vets out there.

As I'm sure most of you have noticed, sometimes an auction's high bidder will place 2, 3 or even more high bids on an auction to (I assume) fend off snipes and increase their chances of winning the auction. Do you think this strategy tends to discourage last second bids by other bidders? In other words, say you're interested in a particular card. The current high bidder has THREE high bids pending--he or she must really want that card--so it makes no sense for me to bid because I know I won't win. Do you think that happens? If so, do you think it's good strategy as a bidder to pile on multiple bids on an auction you really need to win? (I realize the strategy could backfire if you bid too high and end up overpaying.) But the other potential bidders don't know if you outbid yourself in small or large increments.

Just curious as to what you folks think.

stevek

Doesn't discourage anything, especially in this day & age of automatic ebay sniping services.

bri2327

i cant speak for anyone's technique save my own, but if I ever bid over my already winning bid it is usually a situation where I know I will be unable to be at the computer when the auction ends, so before leaving I figure out how high I truly would like to bid, and go with that number. It is always good advice to have a game plan before bidding on anything. If you see something you want, decide how high you are willing to go based on your need, rarity, budget, etc. and stick with that number. Not having a firm idea will invariably end up in you paying way too much for a card on occasion. If you know your limit, stick with it, and lose, then ohh well, it wasnt worth that much you to, and there will always be another for sale at some point.

lawnmowerman

<< <i>i cant speak for anyone's technique save my own, but if I ever bid over my already winning bid it is usually a situation where I know I will be unable to be at the computer when the auction ends, so before leaving I figure out how high I truly would like to bid, and go with that number. It is always good advice to have a game plan before bidding on anything. If you see something you want, decide how high you are willing to go based on your need, rarity, budget, etc. and stick with that number. Not having a firm idea will invariably end up in you paying way too much for a card on occasion. If you know your limit, stick with it, and lose, then ohh well, it wasnt worth that much you to, and there will always be another for sale at some point. >>

Exactly what I do.

As for when people pile on their bid I think they mostly do it to discourage people. It doesnt matter to me though. If I want the card then I will try and get it.

Matt

cardinarky

I have to agree 100% with lawnmowerman.
You have to be careful to keep your emotions and testosterone/estrogen levels in check when looking to buy on Ebay.
Remember: there will always be another one.
Unless, you are looking for a 1957 Topps autographed by Danny O'Connell or Dave Jolly.

theczar

the person putting in two or three "ladder" bids is setting him/herself for paying more than they need to.

Example card going for $90 I put in a bid of $150, then another at $200 and $250. E-Bay will show high bid on $91 with two bids above. Next some wise guy (or shrewd bidder however you want to define it) picks at the bid. Going slowly up the line, $100, $110, $120, $130, $140, $150--Bingo still two bids to go. Then does the same thing $160, $170, $180, $190, $200. Now he knows he is second in line and any further bid may be the high bid and too much for him, but he risked nothing by doing this. If Mr. Ladder Bidder had put one bid in at $250, E-Bay will still show $91, but no one might put in that $200 bid because they don't want it at that price. If you don't snipe and cannot sit by a computer until the end of the auction, put in your best bid and live with it.

Hub

Thanks for all the responses. I agree with stevek--for folks who use an internet sniping service, piling on bids is not a deterrent, as the sniper most likely is away from his or her computer when the auction ends.

The more I think about it, I'm not so sure though that the strategy could backfire. For example, if your absolute highest bid for a card is $200 (and the bid with less than an hour to go is say, at $150), why not place consecutive bids of $195, $197.50 and then $200? Obviously if someone else's "absolute highest bid" is $210, then you'll lose the auction. But if other bidders are intimidated by what appears to be a "bid at all costs" strategy, then you have a better chance of getting the card at less than your max. Isn't that right?

Or do folks think piling on is bad e-Bay etiquette? I don't take a position either way. I can say, however, that I've noticed in the auctions we run that there is much less activity in the last minute of an auction where the high bidder has 3 or 4 high bids compared to the flurry of last minute bids that normally occur.

My feeling, therefore, is that is may help folks get items for less than they otherwise would. And if this is so, I'm curious why e-Bay allows it (keeps fees down).

I know I'm over analyzing this--just a trend I've noticed. Thanks again for your responses!

theczar

one thing though if people are sniping you could havee 100 bids and it would not matter. many times snipers don't even watch the action, they may be at dinner, work or in bed and they get the news and go from there.