Need some advise on How to win a eBay auction without breaking the Bank ;-)

[Michael Mayo]

Hi Warriors,

I have my eye on a something up for bid on eBay and I really need the Item for my business.

The seller sold the Item last week but the buyer didn't send the money to the seller.

The seller has relisted the product using an auction instead of the Buy Now option like he had it before.

What would you do to ensure that you win the auction without spending an arm and a leg doing so?

I know of Snipe programs but is that the best way to go?

Any advise from experienced Buyers out there would be very welcome.

Thanks,
Have a Great Day!
Michael

Presently the price is 0.99 US and I have not yet bid on it.
I'm willing to go as high as $299.00 for the Item.

[James Schramko]

Have a few browsers open, click at the very end.

[Jason Johns]

Hi Michael,

Put in a bid at the lowest possible price now and then watch it.

Wait until right near the end and then put in your highest bid about 90 seconds from the end and you should win - if not, then it will have gone over your top price.

I've done this a few times and bagged some nice bargains!

Cheers

Jason

[maiko2299]

Snipe progams work well, I would recommend checking out the completed auctions by going to the advanced search, log in and find what the item has sold for recently,
What I do to get the best price is I focus on all the itmes sold at lowest price. What I am looking for is the keyword for the lowest priced sold.

I'll search for those keywords, I'll find the listings with poor quality keywords, find the listing then, you got it I'll snipe it on esnipe.com.

When Snipe bidding I also keep in mind when the average price the items sold for in the past from the completed auctions listings. Give them an average price max bid tell the snipe program to place auction bid 6 seconds prior to the end of the auction and then keep my fingers crossed!


Good luck,
Michael

[mr2monster]

email the seller and tell him to cancel it and send you a second chance offer for slightly under what it sold for last time.

Works for me all the time. And as far as I know, it's not against the TOS because they're using the second chance offer from thier non-paying bidder auction.

Either way, it works for me.

[Kate Carpenter]

I have been an eBay member for years, selling off family heirlooms to pay the bills. I have found (both as a buyer and seller) that if you do what eBay says-put in your highest offer, then wait, it only drives up the price as other bidders attempt to hit your highest bid. Great for the seller!
Therefore, I like to snipe at the last moment. Some snipe programs are free, but then your bid doesn't go in as close to the end, usually that's ok.
I, also, would contact the seller and ask that he cancel and either do a second offer (only if you are the next highest bidder, but on a buy it now, there would be no next bidder) OR ask him to re-list with a buy it now. Also, ask him if he has more than the one at auction.
Sometimes, I've found something on eBay but decided to shop around and actually found it cheaper at Amazon.
Good luck and I hope this helps!
Kate

[danette77]

I am a "last minute" bidder and have won a lot of items on eBay this way, I leave myself a sticky on my desktop with a link to the item and the end time, then when the auction has about 1 minute left I place my bid ... Works about 90% of the time for me.

[Elevoution]

Here are the strategies that I use.

1) Do not bid on the item AT ALL until the last minute. This only serves to drive the price up and alert the other bidders of your interest. If the other bidder thinks no one else is interested, they will get careless, and may not be present at the end of the auction which is the most important time.

2) On the day of the finish, open up the page TWICE, so that you have two windows open on the same auction. Open them up at least an hour before the end of the auction. Keep them open and do not close. If you keep closing and opening these windows, it will increase the hits on the hit counter, and if another bidder is watching this (I do), it will alert them to your presence and interest.

3) You are going to manually snipe the auction. One window is open to refresh the countdown timer, and one window is open to place your bid. Resize the windows so they fit in your screen and that you can see the relevant information.

4) Decide beforehand the MAXIMUM you will go to. In your case you have specified $299. This is a common psychological figure and it could be likely that someone else would input a similiar figure. If they enter the same amount, but do it before you, then they win. So choose an unusual amount, like $303.92, which is nominally over your max amount.

5) In one window, place your bid, BUT DO NOT CONFIRM. You use the other window to refresh, refresh, refresh, and when there are 5 seconds to go you hit the CONFIRM button to confirm your bid.

Most of the time you will win using this strategy!

I think I have annoyed quite a few people using this!

Matt

[Elevoution]

Am I sneaky or what?

[Michael Mayo]

Wow, Thanks everyone for all the great Ideals.

I plan to win this auction even if I have to outbid myself...lol

Thanks for all the tips and tricks.

Have a Great Day!
Michael

PS,
Elevoution, Thanks, for the break down and yes, your sneaky!

[Elevoution]

No worries let me know if you need any clarification.