New to eBay

[verdict]

After getting my first debit card a few months ago, I've decided to make an eBay account.

I've never bought more than 3 things from the bay, so I'm not entirely familiar with it.

I'm sort of familiar with the basics, stuff like Buy It Now, Paypal, bidding etc.

Can anyone recommend some tips and strategies for winning those non BIN auctions? I know there's something called "sniping," but I'm not sure whether or not it is a program or if it's built it in.

Oh, don't worry if you think I'm going to steal all those auctions from you - I prefer BIN and I don't buy a lot of vintage razors.

 

[media]

sniping just means you place the high bid when there is a minute or so left on the auction, or right before it closes.

Just make sure that everything you bid you're willing to pay for or they will close your account for unpaid items.

good luck.

 

[DavyRay]

You will probably get more comments than you can use.

Don't bother with sniping until you have had some experience watching auctions run their course. Get your account set up, and learn to put items on your watch list. You can learn quite a bit by watching other bidders behavior.

 

[_MementoMori_]

Also, to answer your question, when most of us refer to sniping, we are in fact referring to software. Sniping software allows you to place your high bid with as little as seconds remaining in the auction. This effectively bars any other interested parties from outbidding you before the end of the auction. Successful sniping requires a lot of homework, though.

 

[verdict]

Thanks, I guess I should "practice" first looking at bids. Maybe I should buy my razors here instead.

 

[doublebucklemonk]

Ken is a little full of himself, but there is tons of practical advice scattered through his sermons. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ebay/index.htm

 

[hifigeezer]

Years ago I got started with "Ebay for Dummies" and found it quite helpful. If you don't want to spend a lot of time and you know your upper limit, you can automatically place an upper limit on your bids when you place any bid.

 

[wdwrx]

The best advice I could offer anyone is NEVER BID EARLY!!!!! Bidding early only serves to drive prices up, and alerts others of your interest. Great for the seller, but as a buyer, you usually want to get it for the lowest price possible.
Snipe, either with a service, or do it yourself. Use you "Watch List" to keep track of what you are interested in.
Spend some time learning how quickly your network and computer react with ebay's site, and bid with the least amount of time left you feel you can spare.
Make up your mind before you place a bid about what the absolute maximum you are willing to pay is, bid only once, and bid your max. This avoids the ping-pong ball game of adding the next incremental bid until you run out of time. The site does it automatically, and for only the next highest increment needed to win, not necessarily the max amount you bid.
In that light, always bid some strange number just higher than an even amount. For instance, if you thought a razor was worth 50.00 to you, don't bid 50.00, bid something like 53.90. But watch out you don't manipulate yourself into over paying. Stick close to your valued amount, just a bit over.
Approach it philosophically: eBay is the world's largest garage sale: never spend money you couldn't afford to lose. Look at every purchase as a gamble. You'll win some, and you'll lose some. The idea is to keep the winning balance in your favour.

 

[wdwrx]

Ken is a little full of himself, but there is tons of practical advice scattered through his sermons. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ebay/index.htm

Thanks, I'd read that years ago, but hadn't been able to find it again.
I cribbed all my advice from that guy.

That system really does work.

 

[binowatch]

Decide on you max bid, bid it and walk away. Don't chase it. Everything shows up again sooner or later. Often an item that is bid up to high levels shows up again shortly after and goes for a fraction of the price because the only 2 guys who wanted it shot their wad. Be realistic on your bid-for many types of items is is wise to watch some auctions and get an idea of the current prices. For BIN make a bid many build in a 20% cushion to be offered away.

 

[wdwrx]

Decide on you max bid, bid it and walk away. Don't chase it. Everything shows up again sooner or later. Often an item that is bid up to high levels shows up again shortly after and goes for a fraction of the price because the only 2 guys who wanted it shot their wad. Be realistic on your bid-for many types of items is is wise to watch some auctions and get an idea of the current prices. For BIN make a bid many build in a 20% cushion to be offered away.

That's a good point. I can remember watching an auction, for my son, for a PS2 or some such, and it was bid up over the price of what it was available for in the store, fancy add ons and all. Plus shipping.
I just shook my head, wondering "why?"

 

[tomviolence]

look at completed listings as well, you get an idea of whatever you are looking for sold for recently. eBay is an "efficent market", people from all over the world compete for something in podunkville. (meaning small town markets can both demand higher prices, as well as need to be competive with low big city prices). Like any other auction, when people get in a frenzy, they will pay much more than they would otherwise - know when to give up. If you decide you want a fatboy for $18.00, you will lose 99 auctions, but evenually win one. Like buses, another one comes along every few minutes.