eBay's Change to how Auctions End (extending by a minute each time a bid is placed in final minute)

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DotStore
DotStore Posts: 926 ✭✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

It's being discussed in the Coin forum here -- eBay is changing how Auctions End.

Basically, they extend the auction by 1 minute each time a bid is placed in the final minute.

This has me thinking to change my listing strategy from BIN, to Auction Style. What is the consensus for best time to have Auctions END for the most eyes/bids?

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  • HOMETOWNSPORTS
    HOMETOWNSPORTS Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
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    Prolly around 8-10PM after most of the United States workforce is off work :)

  • RonSportscards
    RonSportscards Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @HOMETOWNSPORTS said:
    Prolly around 8-10PM after most of the United States workforce is off work :)

    Is that 8-10pm Pacific? Because thats 11pm-1am Eastern
    8pm Eastern weekdays might be too early for west coasters who are just getting off work at 5pm and sitting in traffic.

    I typically end my auctions on Sundays around 5pm Pacific.
    I look to see what time the big players like 4sharpcorners end their auctions and end mine at a similar time since those bidders will already be online.

  • HOMETOWNSPORTS
    HOMETOWNSPORTS Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
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    @RonSportscards i meant EST. For some reason I was thinking the best time if a person was doing auctions everyday. Yeah it seems Sunday evenings are a very popular time for sellers to end their auctions. I think since likely a majority? of auctions prolly end on Sunday evening a few people I have heard strategize on Tuesday-Thursday evenings 8-11pm EST.

  • detroitfan2
    detroitfan2 Posts: 3,392 ✭✭✭✭
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    I haven’t placed a bid without using gixen in probably 10 years. Curious who is not using sniping services. It makes the ending time a lot less important than in the days of manual only bids.

  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Never used a sniping service. Doing fine with live bids usually within the last few seconds. If the time extends by another minute, then common sense would apply where I’d already reached my limit. If I’m drinking it could be different. 😏

  • 1982FootballWax
    1982FootballWax Posts: 2,839 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 5, 2026 7:24AM
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    I for one cannot and will not run my life around ebay auctions ending just to bid live. I do kind of feel sad for those that must do that as it seems akin to forced servitude, not to mention lack of a rewarding life.

    It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
    Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)

  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @1982FootballWax said:
    I for one cannot and will not run my life around ebay auctions ending just to bid live. I do kind of feel sad for those that must do that as it seems akin to forced servitude, not to mention lack of a rewarding life.

    To each their own I guess. The rewards are out there. We get what we get for the sake of commitment. As long as it stays useful I will bid.

  • RonSportscards
    RonSportscards Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I always bid live. Never used a sniping program.
    There was one auction house where bids were extended for the whole auction if someone bid late on just any one of the items. You had to have bid on the item during regular time to be eligible to bid on extended time. I believe it was a PWCC auction at the time, but I cant remember.
    There was a Ron Cey card I really wanted and I was winning, and as soon as the time was about to run out, someone bid on some other item in the auction, so all the items in that auction got their times extended I think it was 5 minutes.
    The auction was scheduled to end at either 7 or 8pm Pacific.
    It finally ended at around 2am, Turns out none of the late bids were on the Cey, so I won, but I had to keep watching just in case one of the late bids was on the Cey.
    I'm up at that time, but I kept thinking about the east coasters and how late it would have been for them.

  • Ahmanfan
    Ahmanfan Posts: 4,513 ✭✭✭✭
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    GIXEN all the way. So easy. Missed logging in to Bid, too many times.

    Collecting
    HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
  • detroitfan2
    detroitfan2 Posts: 3,392 ✭✭✭✭
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    To be honest, I am surprised it has taken this long for eBay to implement this “true auction” format. It’s going to drive prices higher which means more $$ for eBay

  • craig44
    craig44 Posts: 13,172 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I have used gixen for years. it works great and i dont have to stay up late

    George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.

  • HOMETOWNSPORTS
    HOMETOWNSPORTS Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
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    "Extend bidding by 1 minute each time a bid is received" ??? So no more sniping as once you snipe the auction can go for another hour or more???

  • craig44
    craig44 Posts: 13,172 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    that is my understanding. the end time clock gets reset every time a new bid is received.

    George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.

  • HOMETOWNSPORTS
    HOMETOWNSPORTS Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
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    I guess you can snipe but it won't be as effective... maybe ebay will allow users to list Dutch Auction style where you start at a high price and lower the price in intervals and that first person to bid gets the item... that maximizes the profits for users and ebay...

  • bgr
    bgr Posts: 4,982 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Open ascending with soft close maximizes prices.

    A Dutch auction wouldn’t be best and those are usually for multiple items if you’re using the term how I understand it. Like treasury auctions or the google IPO.

  • picklepete
    picklepete Posts: 455 ✭✭✭✭
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    This might be well-received for sellers, but me as a last second bidder there's no way I'm going to deal with this crap.

  • HOMETOWNSPORTS
    HOMETOWNSPORTS Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
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    @bgr said:
    Open ascending with soft close maximizes prices.

    A Dutch auction wouldn’t be best and those are usually for multiple items if you’re using the term how I understand it. Like treasury auctions or the google IPO.

    I let you handle all the Ebay programming code to make this happen. Don't worry you will be well compensated :p

  • bgr
    bgr Posts: 4,982 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @HOMETOWNSPORTS said:

    @bgr said:
    Open ascending with soft close maximizes prices.

    A Dutch auction wouldn’t be best and those are usually for multiple items if you’re using the term how I understand it. Like treasury auctions or the google IPO.

    I let you handle all the Ebay programming code to make this happen. Don't worry you will be well compensated :p

    that is what they are doing now - soft close is the change. unlike places like robert edwards it's only the one auction as far as I know, but I could see this extending to like set breaks so that you could have a whole group extend. it will be wild.

  • HOMETOWNSPORTS
    HOMETOWNSPORTS Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
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    Yes there is a Dutch Auction format for finances like you mentioned treasury, IPOs etc.

    There is also just the simple Dutch reverse auction:

    A Dutch auction is an auction where the seller starts with a high price and lowers it step-by-step until a buyer accepts the price.

    1.) The auctioneer names a price that is too high for anyone.

    2.) Falling price: The price drops bit by bit.

    3.) First claim wins: The first person who says "yes" buys the item at that exact price, and the auction ends.

    Speed: This format works very fast because it only takes one bid to sell the item. It is often used for fast-moving goods like flowers or fresh food.

    Sometimes you can overthink things Mr. @bgr . I do this as well and is a characteristic of highly trained or high IQ individuals. MOST ALWAYS it seems the simple way, idea, or formula is the correct one (E=MC^2 etc) The trick is getting to it and be comfortable of the answer or solution!.

  • DotStore
    DotStore Posts: 926 ✭✭✭✭
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    @HOMETOWNSPORTS said:
    Yes there is a Dutch Auction format for finances like you mentioned treasury, IPOs etc.

    There is also just the simple Dutch reverse auction:

    A Dutch auction is an auction where the seller starts with a high price and lowers it step-by-step until a buyer accepts the price.

    1.) The auctioneer names a price that is too high for anyone.

    2.) Falling price: The price drops bit by bit.

    3.) First claim wins: The first person who says "yes" buys the item at that exact price, and the auction ends.

    Speed: This format works very fast because it only takes one bid to sell the item. It is often used for fast-moving goods like flowers or fresh food.

    Sometimes you can overthink things Mr. @bgr . I do this as well and is a characteristic of highly trained or high IQ individuals. MOST ALWAYS it seems the simple way, idea, or formula is the correct one (E=MC^2 etc) The trick is getting to it and be comfortable of the answer or solution!.

    Interesting. I suppose a Seller could do that manually by making a listing with a BIN -- and indicating the BIN price would be lowered by "x" amount every "y" hours. I wonder if that would catch on...

  • HOMETOWNSPORTS
    HOMETOWNSPORTS Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
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    @DotStore Right on!! That works... Actually I have seen someone sell his whole collection on ebay that way. He would lower the price on his stuff everyday until it all sold... Good Thinking!!!

  • coolstanley
    coolstanley Posts: 3,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    When will this new auction format happen?

    2025 SEC bowl record 4-10

    SEC bowl record vs BIG TEN last two years 2-8

  • bgr
    bgr Posts: 4,982 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @coolstanley said:
    When will this new auction format happen?

    eBay started doing this on some card auctions July 2025.

  • 71waxforever
    71waxforever Posts: 68 ✭✭✭
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    I believe it's just for cards. Not everything.

  • ElMagoStrikeZone
    ElMagoStrikeZone Posts: 2,230 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    So, please clarify: Is this an Opt-In for sellers of cards, or eBay imposing their crazy experiments again?

  • bgr
    bgr Posts: 4,982 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    it's automatic. It happens on some auctions based on activity and if a bid occurs in the final 60 seconds of an auction. It's probably coming for everything though if you look at the last user agreement in the US and consider that they did that in other markets - such as Australia.

  • bombdropper
    bombdropper Posts: 35 ✭✭
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    @detroitfan2 said:
    I haven’t placed a bid without using gixen in probably 10 years. Curious who is not using sniping services. It makes the ending time a lot less important than in the days of manual only bids.

    I use Snipe for everything. However, If multiple bidders are using similar tools, eBay is now maximizing their take. If an extra minute is added, max bids will effectively be placed until reached and eBay's commission will follow suit. I actually win many cards for way below my Snipe max bid. That's likely to change.

  • NGS428
    NGS428 Posts: 2,374 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 22, 2026 6:34PM
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    Can still put in the max you want to pay as a snipe. That’s the way I look at it, what is the max you want to pay, snipe that. If bidding keeps going, oh well….

    I do BINs or offers 95% of the time now, but maybe that will change to more auctions with this move. We will see.

    Might need to stop doing any nuclear bids is anyone does that. 😟

    Nic

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