Interesting Auction Site Experience

[mattb]

I still don't see what the problems are with any of the ways to bid and the competition for an item. The methods of bidding are available to all bidders, nobody has any kind of edge or advantage over anybody else.

I learned quite a few years ago that it was useless in 99% of auctions to bid until the very end of the auction. An early bid just allows people plenty of time to bid against you and if your bid keeps winning over theirs, they get the idea that the item must be worth that much or more and they keep bidding till they beat you. You are setting yourself up to lose.

Using a snipe program just guarantees that your bid will go in at the last second and you don't have to be at the computer to do it or you can't forget about it and then later realize you would have won if yo had remembered to bid.

Bottom line is it is the same rules for everybody! If a seller doesn't run an honest auction, forget him. Keep his seller list on your computer and see if his re-listed items show as having been sold before. There is a way to keep track of all this.

[Dangermouse]

[nhdungeonracer]

:text-goodpost:

[RBPhillips]

[mattb]

A Testors 32 Ford that sold yesterday is back up for sale today. No reason giving for a re-list, so this seller is on my list. Best way to keep from getting shilled into paing more than is legit, watch those guys that have funny stuff like this happen.

[chappyman66]

Yeah, I am with David here...I bid what I want to pay...if I win, great. If not, still great. I bought two Slot.it cars for $30 shipped each in the last two weeks so I can't complain.
The others that I didn't win? I keep watch.....

[slothead]

Dangermouse is talking about bidding as it is done with sealed bids. The college I'm semi-retired from puts used equipment like snowblowers, riding mowers, and even security vehicles up for bid every year. Submit a bid before the deadline and when bids are opened the highest bidder gets it. Same goes for jobs going out for bid through the town. If you think a certain amount is what it will cost to do the job to spec and still make a fair profit, bid that amount and take your chances. Personally I like this form of bidding better than auction style, which is why I've never bid at an auction.

I'm not saying this is the right way, just what I prefer. I'm glad there are different ways to bid so people can find what works for themselves.

On the rare occasion I go on ebay when looking for something I only consider the 'Buy it now' price. If I think that's a fair price I buy it, otherwise I move on and look for a retailer who has it at a price I'm comfortable with. Rather than look for bargains I'm happy paying a fair price. I bought a parts car for my brother about 10 years ago. They guy kinda needed the money and asked $400 for it, but I thought at was worth around $500. So I told him I'd give him $450 for it, so we both made out okay. Crazy? I don't think so, mom & dad raised me to value fairness above profit and it's been a good life with few regrets.