Ebay Tips

[ghost]

I need some ebay advice. I seem to get outbid every time right at the end. Is there a way to automatically bid so that when one person ups the bid, ebay will automatically bid for you depending on how much you want to bid, etc? I thought I was for sure going to win something, but didn't.

I just refresh all the time and it helps, but then it seems like I am just shooting blind as to if I got enough money, fast enough. It can be really frustrating, especially when you are after something bad.

 

[CleverNickname]

Doesn't an english auction already work that way? When you bid you enter the maximum you'd like, but only the minimum needed will get you the item. So if you bid $25 and the item was at $12, but the previous high bidder had a max of $15 you'd now be the max bidder at $15.50. If your max is getting swamped at the last minute and you want to go higher, you should have bid higher in the first place. If you find that you are entering a last minute bid a lot higher than what you had bid before, you may want to stop and make sure your just not in an irrational e-bay frenzy. Its not a character flaw, but like my grandpa says, "that's how they get ya!"

 

[PacSER]

Some people use software(I think it is called Spider or something) that lets them bid highest at the last possible second.


***Edit** Actually, I think it is called Sniperware.

 

[STUDWright]

like clevernickname said,
but there are programs out there called somthing like sniperware. Where it will enter a last bid at the last onehundredth of a sceond. Alot of buyers use this program, that has several different names. I am just a seller, I have been selling on Ebay for about 5 yrs for a power seller and then my own account. hope this helps you out alittle

 

[OrangeChipper]

The Link

It automatically bids your set price with 5-10 secs left in the auction.

Its free!! But you only get 5 snipes per month/week.

 

[hornhooper]

Ghost, if not try just bidding during the last 30 seconds of the auction. It's the sneak up attack that you need. I buy golf balls and clubs on eBay. So, I check the end time and save the item to my watch list. Then right before the auction ends I will go back and bid. I do this if the price is what I am looking to spend also. Some auctions have people bidding early and this could drive the price higher than it needs to be. I pass on the auctions that look inflated.
-What are you trying to buy?

 

[12thStudStan]

To get a last minute good auction deal use a free sniping program or service or do the following:

Open up 2 windows of the same auction during the closing minutes. Use window 1 to refresh every 20-30 seconds to follow the auction progress. Use window 2 to submit your bid at the highest amount you are comfortable paying during the last 30 seconds (20 if on cable or dsl). Be logged in and have it filled in and just pull the trigger at the end. If you lose, then it went for more than what you wanted to pay, so no big deal. Don't screw around with bidding before the final minutes, unless it is a "buy it now" item or if it is at such a ridiculously low price that the seller might pull the auction before it closes, which they can do as long as there are no bidders. In that case, just bid the minimal amount to make sure the auction continues and then follow up with the last minute bidding.