Why do some people bid on an auction Day 1 that doesn't end for another 9 days??
dtkk49a
Posts: 2,489 ✭✭✭
Since most auctions on eBay are won in the last few seconds, what's the point of bidding so early in an auction? Are these bidders not aware of the eBay Watch list? Are these schill bids?
Please enlighten me.
Please enlighten me.
Follow me - Cards_and_Coins on Instagram
They call me "Pack the Ripper"
They call me "Pack the Ripper"
0
Comments
Watch list is full
Old school, non-sniper
Someone with a vested interest is seeing the card sell for a higher dollar amount (not necessarily shilling, could be another seller trying to start a bidding war to make their BIN look reasonable)
James
I've actually always wondered this too..say a card is set for a 10 day auction at a .99 cent opening bid, often times, I will see opening bids of say $1.25-1.50. Do these bidders not understand that they most likely have no chance of winning? Or are they hoping no one else notices the auction? Or maybe it is schilling. I've seen this quite a bit since being back in the hobby the last 4 years.
I've done that a few times to "save" the item, and then I came back at the end and sniped it.
I only do it on poorly described items so they don't have the ability to change the title and hope others don't find it.
+1
But, the best scenario usually involved a good looking item with a $9.99 or less starting bid + $4 or $5 shipping, maybe more. With no regulation over that yet, sellers were essentially handing over great cards for opening bids because their high fees were driving potential buyers away. A single early bid was the best move.
The good ol' days were good.
The only other reason I'll do it that hasn't already been mentioned is that I think it discourages sellers from ending auctions early. I know they still can do it - I think there are some that would be willing to end an auction that isn't going well with no bids that would not be willing to end an auction with a bid.
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
When I see something I really want I place a small bid. I know I will be outbid but I get notification from Ebay on the last day of the listing. It helps me remember the auction.
James
This is the reason why I do it on occasion. The watch list gets rather full and things can get missed. The email reminder from Ebay that an auction is scheduled to end is a big help.
Edited to add: Another reason for me is that Ebay sends me a daily e-mail for items I didn't win. So even if it's an item I'm not going to go after heavy I'll still have easy access to the final winning bid for future reference.
IT CAN'T BE A TRUE PLAYOFF UNLESS THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONS ARE INCLUDED
Doesn't placing a bid remove the "or BIN" option?
Yes, on non-reserve auctions or reserve auctions where the reserve has been met.
You also need to place a manual bid to receive cash back through the online rebate sites.
This is why I place an opening bid, or a bid for only the next increment up. I then snipe the auction and still get the rebate.
When I see something I really want I place a small bid. I know I will be outbid but I get notification from Ebay on the last day of the listing. It helps me remember the auction.
James
This is the reason why I do it on occasion. The watch list gets rather full and things can get missed. The email reminder from Ebay that an auction is scheduled to end is a big help.
Edited to add: Another reason for me is that Ebay sends me a daily e-mail for items I didn't win. So even if it's an item I'm not going to go after heavy I'll still have easy access to the final winning bid for future reference.
The latter is why I do. Gives me an idea of where the market is at for that particular item
If I'm bidding on cards for a set I'm building, particularly commons, I'll usually just bid what I think it's worth and forget about it til the auction closes.
"Molon Labe"
I was buying cards on eBay for 11+ years before I ever heard of sniping.
That's odd. I've been on ebay since 1997, and I quickly learned about sniping when I was outbid at the last second.
Those of you who snipe are in the minority.
But that says nothing about which method is better.
I don't use the Ebay watch list or a snipe service. When I see something I really want I place a small bid. I know I will be outbid but I get notification from Ebay on the last day of the listing. It helps me remember the auction.
James
This ^^^^^
As busy as I am this helps me remember to go back to an auction later. I really like the way eBay reminds you of an auction that is ending.
I was buying cards on eBay for 11+ years before I ever heard of sniping.
That's odd. I've been on ebay since 1997, and I quickly learned about sniping when I was outbid at the last second.
Those of you who snipe are in the minority.
But that says nothing about which method is better.
Make no mistake about what I'm saying. Sniping is better, no doubt, and that's what I do now. But I believe the original question was why somebody would bid on a card with 9 days left. My answer was because most people either aren't aware of sniping or don't care for it and that I think one needs to be pretty narrow-minded to not realize and accept that such people exist.
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I had to look up myopic to see what was wrong with me
That's what makes you myopic.
I think many people here just assume as common knowledge many different things that are discussed on these forums like sniping and the BBCE or FASC premium. The reality is that there is a large percentage of collectors who are not familiar with these terms or what they signify. And even on this forum, there are those who don't care to use a sniping service for various reasons.
This is true. Also some people here think cards from the 1980's are 'vintage'.
I think many people here just assume as common knowledge many different things that are discussed on these forums like sniping and the BBCE or FASC premium. The reality is that there is a large percentage of collectors who are not familiar with these terms or what they signify. And even on this forum, there are those who don't care to use a sniping service for various reasons.
This is true. Also some people here think cards from the 1980's are 'vintage'.
"Vintage" has many definitions in general. What is considered vintage in the sportscard world?
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
When I see something I really want I place a small bid. I know I will be outbid but I get notification from Ebay on the last day of the listing. It helps me remember the auction.
James
This is the reason why I do it on occasion. The watch list gets rather full and things can get missed. The email reminder from Ebay that an auction is scheduled to end is a big help.
Edited to add: Another reason for me is that Ebay sends me a daily e-mail for items I didn't win. So even if it's an item I'm not going to go after heavy I'll still have easy access to the final winning bid for future reference.
+2
The world don't move
to the beat of just one drum.
What might be right for you,
may not be right for some.
A man is born,
he's a man of means.
Then along comes two,
they got nothin' but their jeans.
But they got,
Diff'rent strokes.
It takes,
Diff'rent strokes.
It takes,
Diff'rent strokes to move the world.
Everybody's got a special kind of story.
Everbody finds a way to shine.
It don't matter that you got, not a lot.
So what?
They'll have theirs, you'll have yours,
And I'll have mine!
And together we'll be fine!
Cause it takes,
Diff'rent strokes to move the world,
yes it does.
It takes,
Diff'rent strokes to move the world!
Regarding the OP question...seldom will I bid early on an item, especially a high end one. I watch, lurk, and then will usually snipe that sucker in the last four seconds.
Website
Ebay Store
Anyone? Without googling it? Its a cool fun fact about a song that 98% know like the back of our hand. Its a very well know person. But not nec for singing. Anyone?
I won't type his name in order not to spoil it. Worth looking up if you guys don't know.
Infrequently I will bid my max right of the bat, if I win great and if not, I'm sure i'll see another. I only bid late on things I'm very interested in, and never did sniping because I want to make sure my bids go through. I realize the snipe services work MOST of the time, but I want my final bids to work ALL of the time.
I stopped caring about getting run up a long time ago, IMO it happens so infrequently it doesn't really matter and generally most of my max bids are at the lower range of what a card may sell for anyway so I know i'm getting a deal if i win anyway. a buck here or there doesn't really change anything.
They call me "Pack the Ripper"
I was buying cards on eBay for 11+ years before I ever heard of sniping.
That's odd. I've been on ebay since 1997, and I quickly learned about sniping when I was outbid at the last second.
Those of you who snipe are in the minority.
But that says nothing about which method is better.
Make no mistake about what I'm saying. Sniping is better, no doubt, and that's what I do now. But I believe the original question was why somebody would bid on a card with 9 days left. My answer was because most people either aren't aware of sniping or don't care for it and that I think one needs to be pretty narrow-minded to not realize and accept that such people exist.
Wow Danny boy, I asked a valid question and got a bunch of interesting, valuable responses I was looking for. Sorry if you see this as myopic and narrow minded. I guess if I was buying the highly obtainable, common stuff I see u buying, I wouldn't be concerned about bidding tactics either.
They call me "Pack the Ripper"
I was buying cards on eBay for 11+ years before I ever heard of sniping.
That's odd. I've been on ebay since 1997, and I quickly learned about sniping when I was outbid at the last second.
Those of you who snipe are in the minority.
But that says nothing about which method is better.
Make no mistake about what I'm saying. Sniping is better, no doubt, and that's what I do now. But I believe the original question was why somebody would bid on a card with 9 days left. My answer was because most people either aren't aware of sniping or don't care for it and that I think one needs to be pretty narrow-minded to not realize and accept that such people exist.
Wow Danny boy, I asked a valid question and got a bunch of interesting, valuable responses I was looking for. Sorry if you see this as myopic and narrow minded. I guess if I was buying the highly obtainable, common stuff I see u buying, I wouldn't be concerned about bidding tactics either.
You're right, my collection is crap. In the meantime, I'm with Tim, there are aspects of the hobby routinely discussed on here as gospel that the majority of the hobby either doesn't know or doesn't care about. Still a valid point, no matter what you think of my collecting interests.
As posted in another thread
"One that got away was a 1962 Post of Sam Baker listed with a bad title and in the wrong category, it ended with it's starting bid of $0.99 with no one bidding on it. I was watching it and forgot about it, subsequently relist correctly and sold for over $150"
Some of us don't want to play with bidding and sniping. I set the bid as high as I can/want to go and let it ride. If I win I win, if not oh well.
That was me for 10+ years and there are still many people who bid that way. In fact, I would guess there are more people who do it that way than there are that use a sniping service.
and let the chips fall where they may. On the bright side
I have not bought or bid on E-bay in 15+ years. Very little
on there in my collecting sphere.