Home› U.S. Coin Forum

ebay bidders make me wonder....

FreeFree Posts: 151 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
OK, what is it about some bidders on ebay that put ridiculously low bids on coins? Or anything for that matter. It always make me shake my head when I see a coin that is worth close to, or even more than 4 figures, it has multiple bids in the double and even single digit range. Do these people actually believe that they are going to win these auctions? Seems like a complete waste of time to me. Anyway, just had to ask if anyone else found this a bit odd?

Comments

  • WaterSportWaterSport Posts: 6,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I always thought its juts a way of “marking" the coin for your watch list.

    WS
    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
  • jmdm1194jmdm1194 Posts: 379 ✭
    I assume that you are talking about eBay, right?? I think that the low bids are nothing more than people feeling out the auction price to see where it is at and some are using it to put their mark on it instead of using the watch list. Also, once you have put a bid on a auction you are able to pull the sellers contact info. At any rate, 99% of the time the real players bid once and make it a serious bid towards the end of the auction. However, I have seen auctions go missed and undervalued. I have personally missed auctions before because I have been away from my comp and kicked myself because I watch them go for under what I would have paid.
    www.wasatchcoin.com

  • DNADaveDNADave Posts: 7,309 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I know what your saying. I had a 500-600 dollar coin for auction, started at 1 cent.
    One bidder started at 1.00 then bid dozens of times up to 40 or 50 dollars. I was a bit concerned that other bidders might think it was a shill bidder, with so many bids from one person.
  • BuckStopsHereBuckStopsHere Posts: 16
    I just figured that these bidders were hoping that everyone else missed the auction and that they were able to get the items for a bargain. I have thought about it myself. It would probably never work, but how sweet would it be if it did?
    Collector of Confederate currency

    Quondo omni flunkus moritati
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    People do things for different reasons.


    Some actually bid with no intention of winning.

    Some bid 10.00 on a 100.00 item with the hope that they do win, and win they do on occasion.

    Some like mentioned above are simply bidding in the hope that the seller sees action and does

    not end the auction early.

    The reasons go on and on.


    Steve
    Good for you.
  • partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
    I post bids frequently of half the value of coins. And if luck prevails I get something for a bargain. I forgot to do it last week on a coin and it sold for a bargain, a bargain I missed on because I failed to bid.
    If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
  • TevaTeva Posts: 830 ✭
    Sometimes those low bids are a result of to few bidders.
    If no one bid a item up the bid stays low.
    Give the laziest man the toughest job and he will find the easiest way to get it done.
  • UncleJoeUncleJoe Posts: 2,551 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I always thought its juts a way of “marking" the coin for your watch list.

    WS >>



    This is why I might make a "ridiculous" bid.

    Joe.
  • derrybderryb Posts: 37,753 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A lot of "low" bids are actually higher bids - they just haven't been bid up yet to the bidder's max bid.

    Most bidders wait till the last minute to bid their max. This is why it is important that an auction be scheduled to end when you feel you have the most viewers and when most people can put everything else aside and be at the computer. Upcoming NFL football season will hurt otherwise normally good ending times on Sunday.

    No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left

  • seanqseanq Posts: 8,736 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I always thought its juts a way of “marking" the coin for your watch list.

    WS >>



    This is why I might make a "ridiculous" bid.

    Joe. >>




    Same here, and often when I go back to the auction near the end it has already been bid above my max, so all you'd ever see is my low starting bid.


    Sean Reynolds
    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • pocketpiececommemspocketpiececommems Posts: 6,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I use it to mark it and to keep track of what certain coins are bringing.
    Pocketpiececommemoratives

    Lafayette Grading Set
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I do it just for the heck of it some times see some interesting trends that way. Some sellers can start at 99¢ and always end up in the black others seem to have a hard time making grading fees?
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,442 ✭✭✭✭✭
    who knows for sure. sometimes you just get lucky with a low bid. i have thou seen some garbage on low bid stuff to that got sent back
  • CoinCrazyPACoinCrazyPA Posts: 2,899 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I always thought its juts a way of “marking" the coin for your watch list.

    WS >>

    image
    Positive BST transactions: agentjim007, cohodk, CharlieC, Chrischampeon, DRG, 3 x delistamps, djdilliodon, gmherps13, jmski52, Meltdown, Mesquite, 2 x nibanny, themaster, 2 x segoja, Timbuk3, ve3rules, jom, Blackhawk, hchcoin, Relaxn, pitboss, blu62vette, Jfoot13, Jinx86, jfoot13,Ronb

    Successful Trades: Swampboy,

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Home • U.S. Coin ForumComment As ...