Why do eBayers drive prices.

[thefunk007]

Well it depends how badly you want it, some people if money does not really matter will just bid what they are willing to pay (for example £100.00), then buyer B tries to outbid buyer A by putting what they are willing to pay for it (in this case say £50.00) with only two bids the item now sits at £50.00.

Yes it's frustrating, I always only bid within the last few seconds, but miss out quite often

Although that Collectors Edition is much sought after now

[lhurgoyf]

Originally Posted by thefunk007

Well it depends how badly you want it, some people if money does not really matter will just bid what they are willing to pay (for example £100.00), then buyer B tries to outbid buyer A by putting what they are willing to pay for it (in this case say £50.00) with only two bids the item now sits at £50.00.

If you bid what you are willing to pay with 5s left on the auction it avoids the whole bidding war issue, and also ensures that you don't have second thoughts and bid more than you wanted to (out of gut reaction).

Sniping programs are another story. That is just cheating. I have and always will snipe an auction with < 3s left, in person. If you can't do it in person, you lack the determination and don't care enough about winning the item.

[MrBubbles]

Originally Posted by lhurgoyf

If you bid what you are willing to pay with 5s left on the auction it avoids the whole bidding war issue, and also ensures that you don't have second thoughts and bid more than you wanted to (out of gut reaction).

Sniping programs are another story. That is just cheating. I have and always will snipe an auction with < 3s left, in person. If you can't do it in person, you lack the determination and don't care enough about winning the item.

I disagree. Sometimes I'm looking for a specific item and if the seller comes from the US chances are big the auction will end in the middle of the night in Europe. I don't have the time to stay up all night, and if I want a item really bad I use a sniper. No cheating, it's just a service where you have to pay for.
Sometimes Ebay is running slow for some reason and you won't be able to snipe an auction yourself in time. I have missed out on some great items because of that reason.

[lhurgoyf]

Originally Posted by MrBubbles

I disagree. Sometimes I'm looking for a specific item and if the seller comes from the US chances are big the auction will end in the middle of the night in Europe. I don't have the time to stay up all night, and if I want a item really bad I use a sniper. No cheating, it's just a service where you have to pay for.
Sometimes Ebay is running slow for some reason and you won't be able to snipe an auction yourself in time. I have missed out on some great items because of that reason.

Set an alarm and take the 2 minutes to place a bid. Like I said, if you are using a program to do the bidding, you don't want it bad enough. Half the time I do it from my phone... notification goes off for < 5 minutes hit bid button with 5s left and done. I've used this practice for 13 years on ebay, even back in the day on dialup, never a problem if you know what you are doing.

What you want is a silent auction where everyone can just write their bid down, with no one else knowing, and at the end the person who wrote the highest wins.

[asiak75]

If two or more person want the item badly and you bid in the last moment. Its not an auction anymore in my eyes its a lottery game since it is time that is a factor.
I think since I am on eBay everyday almost and my dear wife works even there i can guaranty you that its not a question of if you get it but rather when you will get it. how many times I have seen auctions going over the top and suddenly 2 days later someone puts up the same item as buy it now/ Best offer for a fraction of the price...

By the way just saw that in case:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Witcher-2-Assassi...#ht_595wt_1139

[twistedsymphony]

Originally Posted by asiak75

If two or more person want the item badly and you bid in the last moment. Its not an auction anymore in my eyes its a lottery game since it is time that is a factor.

eBay works mostly like Silent Auction... you have a time limit in which you can place your bid, it doesn't matter if you place it in the first 5 seconds or the last 5 seconds, the highest bid wins...

The only people who lose because of a last second bid at the end are those who don't fully understand how the eBay biding process works.

"If two or more people want an item badly", they should both punch in the maximum amount they're willing to pay for the item and the person who is willing to pay more will win the item.... it doesn't matter who entered their amount first, there's no "lottery" involved.

[lhurgoyf]

Originally Posted by Twistedsymphony

eBay works mostly like Silent Auction... you have a time limit in which you can place your bid, it doesn't matter if you place it in the first 5 seconds or the last 5 seconds, the highest bid wins...

Not entirely correct. eBay is a standard english auction type-- you can see if you have been outbid, you get immediate feedback on whether you are winning or not when you place a bid. A silent auction is silent. You place your bid anytime, at the end of the bidding period you see if you win.

The practice of sniping makes ebay almost like a silent auction. If 3 people are sniping, then neither has the opportunity to respond (even though they know if they did not win with their bid). eBay typically doesn't want this though.... with an english auction you know you didn't win and can re-evaulate you max bid = more $$ for seller and more fees for ebay.