If you're
new to eBay, it's very easy to get carried away bidding
for items. You may even, in the excitement of the
auction get carried away and pay over the value of the
item, or more than what you wanted to. There are a few
bidding techniques that exist on eBay when your out to
win that all important auction.
Early Bidding
By bidding early on in the auction within the first few
days, this shows your a serious bidder & gives you time
to work around any restrictions the seller has put on
their auction. Occasionally, auctions are pre-approved
to restricted bidders only, in which case you have to
contact the seller and obtain permission to bid. Bidding
early ensures you don't forget about the auction & if
you enter your maximum bid in the first instance you can
forget about the auction until it ends. On the downside
bidding early on an item, unfortunately can drive up the
auction price as it shows there is an interest in the
item.
Manual
Sniping
Sniping, is the method of placing a bid within the last
few seconds of the auction. This gives you the chance to
win the item, without giving others the time to bid
again and outbid you. As long as you bid the maximum
your prepared to pay then your bid should be successful
- unless others have earlier placed a higher bid.
Remember eBay uses proxy bidding. However, although you
want to leave it to the last possible moment - remember
you need to log into eBay, place your bid, and confirm
your bid so give yourself enough time to do this. Also,
others may be using the same technique so you could
still lose the auction.
eBay is one of the few sites that approves of snipers.
"Sniping is part of the eBay experience and all bids
placed before a listing ends are valid - even if they're
placed one second before the listing ends", eBays help
system is quoted as. Other auction sites, do not look on
the practice the same and if a bid is placed within the
last two minutes, the auction is extended allowing
others to counter-bid.
Automatic Sniping
There are hundreds of software programs, that will snipe
for you automatically within the last few seconds of an
auction. On the whole, they are successful. Exactly the
same as manual sniping, with the bid being placed in the
last second but the system is usually more precise and
reliable. You simply enter the auction item number, the
cost your prepared to bid and your eBay account details
so the software can log into your account.
Searching google, you should find both free and paid for
versions of eBay snipers. You'll also find, those which
run though a web server - or software versions which you
install on your pc. Generally speaking, those services
which run online though web servers are considered to be
more reliable.
Contact The Seller
Always, my favourite tactic especially if your
determined to win the auction or need the item urgently.
Contact the buyer, let them know what your prepared to
pay and see if they'll end the auction early - or if
they'll switch it to a Buy It Now auction. Obviously
you'll have to make an offer higher than the current
bids, or there's no incentive for the seller to change
the format. Some sellers will agree, and while the
majority will send a response such as "they want to let
the auction run it's course" occasionally they'll agree.
However, be careful of completing the auction away from
eBay as this will violate eBay rules and give you little
protection as a buyer.
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