Bidding on auctions BEFORE auction end?

WHY do people bid on Ebay auctions days before they are going to end? Especially if there is no reserve, why bid the item up??

I know there are a lot of sellers here, (myself included) but for the life of me what gives?......

 

Well, maybe they're thinking "I'm not going to be around the next couple days. I'll bid up this item, and then it won't look as attractive to other bidders with a few bids on it already".

Or, they're hoping to bid a dollar on something early, and just be the winner in the end.

 

I ususally put in one bid, the highest I will pay. Beginning, middle or end time to me is not relevant. If I win great, if not there will be others. Sometimes that one bid will win.

 

More likely two or more unsuspecting bidders buy into the ebay baloney about bidding their maximium amount and only paying the minimum needed to buy the item.

The result is that the bids go up early on.

 

If it's something I really want I'll snipe but if I don't care that much I'll make one bid early on.

 

There are probably as many reasons as there are people. The ones that tick me off are the newbies that bid up the item in the last 10 minutes... They go back and forth bidding the item up until, sometimes, I'm out.

I will usually place a small bid on something just to keep it in my "Bid" area so I can keep an eye on it. If I win the bid with the amount I've bid... Wow! I got a deal. This doesn't happen too often but it does sometimes! (ALA $49 Hardigg Storm Case) I'm with Zero though... If it is something I want... I bid my max amount in the last 8 - 10 seconds. That gives a slow Internet connection enough time to get the bid in but not really enough time for someone to react. I win 90% of the time on the stuff I bid on. If I lose... Someone else did the same thing but bid an insane amount to make sure they got it. (But they paid ALL the money to get it!)

 

I have a sniper (Best $30 I ever spent). I load up every auction I want to watch, and in the last day or two I decide if I want the item badly enough and put a snipe on it with the most I'm willing to pay.

This is especially nice for when auctions end while I'm at work, or asleep.

I'd say at least 15 items I've won were nabbed by the sniper.

 

I too use a sniper. Just bid the max you want to pay, look later and see if you got it. TB can tell you it works, lol . Why any one would tip their hand by starting a bidding war in the last .10 minutes is beyond me

 

Pappy likee "Sniper", where can he get one for $30?

 

Not that kind of sniper I'm sure (If I found a nice rifle for $30, you know I'd buy it!).

I'm using Auction Hunter on my Mac, since it's the only computer I've got that is on 24/7. It has never failed me as long as I was the highest bidder.

 

Guys -

I use GIXEN.com's FREE service with good luck - got me BOTH my TBs at sub-$150 prices.

You may have issues with giving your eBay username/pw to a third party; if so, then disregard this post - NO proxy service can place a bid for you without them. I've NEVER been hassled by GIXEN for anything except the obligatory single (Text-only) page to click through offering premium services in addition to the free sniping.

They're free, they work, they're easy to use. I used to feel a bit bad about it but over 60% of auctions on eBay are now won with some form of proxy bid; it's no longer "unfair advantage" - it's essential equipment.

mnem
"Shop Victoriously" my arse...

 

No wonder I never win.

 

Personally I feel those bot programs should be outlawed. Just My opinion.

As for me I seen on my sales and purchases people who had a MAX bid and then kept doing that every 10-20 dollars, now that is beyond me unless they have a Gambling Problem. As I read auctions trigger that gambling response hence why one can get a laptop for $1300 buy it now and yet the same or LESS laptop sells for 2k in an auction. lol

 

Unfortunately, I have to admit I use a sniping program as well, especially if it is something I really want or won't have access to a computer at auctions end.

 

Pappy, remember, a snipe is only the most you are willing to bid, it just lets you put in a bid in the last 5-7 seconds even if you're no where near a computer. If your bid isn't high enough you still don't win. My sniper only bids on about half the stuff I put in as the price often has gone above my limit.

 

I know we've all noticed that prices for machines and parts has become ridiculous. That is fine when I've got something to sell but man, trying to find parts has become a question of investing alot of money in things you don't need just to get the one thing you did. What has driven up the demand? I heard something about Jericho's Hawkins using one, is that what caused this?

 

It's this forum right here man!

I would never have jumped back in the Toughbook pool if not for the excellent and freely given advice here!

Just do most any kind of Google with Toughbook in the search and you will end up right here.

Great bunch of knowledgeable and friendly folks right her that take much of the fear out of buying one of these metallic beasts. :GEEK:



QUOTE=Terminus;3207782]I know we've all noticed that prices for machines and parts has become ridiculous. That is fine when I've got something to sell but man, trying to find parts has become a question of investing alot of money in things you don't need just to get the one thing you did. What has driven up the demand? I heard something about Jericho's Hawkins using one, is that what caused this?[/QUOTE]

 

Prices will drop as the CF-30 takes root. Hech just 1 year ago the CF-29's were $2200-3200 now look at them?

I'm not even going to sell my CF-28 because the money isnt enough compared to what I spent. I plan to give it or sell to a friend.

 

Yup... I was looking at CF-29s a year ago.. That is exactly what they were going for!

The CF-28 prices fluctuate. Certainly the modified versions have driven up prices somewhat. If they see a modded laptop going for $1k+ they think they can tack on another $100 - $200 per laptop. I've seen the sellers who used to offer flat BIN prices jack their prices up by at least $150. When someone like the Nevada School for the Blind throws on 50 28s... Prices come down.