e-Bay strategy.

[Tom]

I'm bidding on a gift for my daughter, a fancy sewing machine. I'm in the lead with about 4 hours to go. Any strategy ideas? I think I'll stay at the computer till the end. Any ideas?

 

[Bandit]

Make sure you don't wind up spending more that what one would cost you at a local store.

 

[Calif. Hunter]

The best thing to do is simply put in the maximum amount you are willing to pay for it. The bid will only go as high as the other people bidding. If you are willing to pay $200 for it, just put that in as your max bid. Otherwise, you will just waste your time trying to beat some other guy with some "auction stealer" software or a faster connection.

 

[Bandit]

Yeah thats right too. I forgot about that bit. Even though you enter that amount, it will only use as much of it to keep you as highest bidder until you reach that limit.

 

[Washington Hunter]

CH is right. You should just bid the maximum you're willing to pay in the beginning. However if you decide you want to go a little higher, wait until there's only 10 or 15 seconds to go, then place your bid. That's what most people do.

 

[Bandit]

Provided your connection is fast enough, you may just end up with it.

 

[Tom]

I guess I better up the bid. I was thinking they might get it at a little higher, over my high bid now, then I go in for the biggest bid toward the end. I've done my biggest during the last week on some others and got beat by a lousy $2.50 a couple of times because I left the computer. I'm thinking I better stay till the end tonight. I'm still ahead with 3 hours and 30 min. but its way below the value now too.

 

[Bandit]

keep with it and you could get it. Good luck to ya.

 

[Washington Hunter]

Best thing is not to bid at all until the very end. Let somebody else think they've got it, and nobody else is interested. I would wait until there is less than a minute to go, then place a bid, even if you are still the highest bidder at that time.

 

[WH's OutdoorsChick]

we wait til the last min , then Snipe it

 

[Tom]

WH, that's a good idea, I'll wait awhile. If someone outbids me at my current high, they might leave the computer, then I come in toward the end. My connection is pretty fast at work, but I'll go to my high before it gets tight on time, so I can still go higher.

I'm kind of cheap, my high, is below what's its worth, so, I'll give more time to go up I think.

 

[Bandit]

Thats what hes gonna do now I bet.

 

[schmalts]

dont put in your max bid until one minute left.

 

[WH's OutdoorsChick]

Tom, make sure the item is not more then what you would buy with the price of the item plus shipping combined..... We wait till like 30 seconds left...but we have cable! hump hump

 

[WH's OutdoorsChick]

What does it cost to grow a RM elk?

Tom, BTW how do you grow an ELK???

 

[Bandit]

thats something I didn't notice WH but you are right and now even I'm curious.

 

[Tom]

Ok, good plan, good advice, thanks. 3 hr 8 min left, I'm still the high bid and its still way below value. Shipping is only $25 on a sewing machine. I saw one on sale, a cheaper brand, last night, so, if I got it for 1/2 that, I think it would be a great buy, but I'll go higher, if I have to.

 

[Bandit]

make sure its worth the price you want to pay.

 

[WH's OutdoorsChick]

make sure its worth the price you want to pay.

he just said it is

 

[Washington Hunter]

You can be sure somebody is waiting to bid at the end just like you.