Dumbass Ebay Practice

[knockwood]

I sincerely will never understand this. Exactly what is it that impels people to start driving up bids a full day or two - or more - before bidding ends???? What on earth is the point? Are these people friends of the seller or are they just stupid? Not only do they shoot themselves in the foot by inviting higher bids that will likely put them out of contention, but they drive up the price for everyone else for no personal freakin' gain... Freakin' irritating. Or perhaps this is God's way of telling me to stick to my word, being that I'd previously vowed not to purchase anything over a few hundred bucks on ebay...

 

Anyway, since I can see pretty clearly that this bad boy will be well out of my current reach before bidding closes, here's a look at something I drooled over momentarily... If anyone here ends up with it, please give it a strum for me.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2385&item=7317752631&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[kwakatak]

I agree with you - there are a lot of nitwits on ebay. I often see brand new guitars that are listed by dealers and are clearly well above the MAP. It just has me baffled.

 

My real peeve with ebay is that I see lots of experienced sellers butting in on what used to be a pretty good deal and outbidding all the competition! I've seen guitar start at $50 and go ABOVE waht a brand new one in MINT condition would go for!

 

Now I just use ebay as a tool to see what the market will bear. Beside the gripes I've already aired, I will probably also never purchase anything from ebay because I do not feel comfortable with or trustful of sellers who only accept money orders or paypal. I feel much more comfortable using a credit card which has some measure of protection against fraud.

[edman316]

Ebay items usually sell close to their average completed listing prices, regardless of when the bidding starts. People using automatic bidding software (snipe programs) can drive prices up pretty high in the final 5 minutes of any auction.

 

Ebay is like any other type of buying process. You need to be smart about it and do your research before placing bids. Expect to pay near the average completed auction price.

[wigginsplayer]

 

I do not feel comfortable with or trustful of sellers who only accept money orders or paypal. I feel much more comfortable using a credit card which has some measure of protection against fraud.

 

 

I, on the other hand, would much rather buy from someone who takes Paypal. As a seller, I prefer Paypal, because I get my money sooner, and can ship sooner. As a buyer, I have a record that I paid, the buyer gets the money very quickly, and I get my product sooner.

I have no way of knowing when a money order or a check will arrive.

 

Pete

[edman316]

 

Originally posted by wigginsplayer I, on the other hand, would much rather buy from someone who takes Paypal. As a seller, I prefer Paypal, because I get my money sooner, and can ship sooner. As a buyer, I have a record that I paid, the buyer gets the money very quickly, and I get my product sooner. I have no way of knowing when a money order or a check will arrive. Pete

 

 

I agree - Paypal is super easy, quick and safe.

 

I buy and sell guitars and guitar gear on Ebay all the time. I only use Paypal.

[knockwood]

Still doesn't explain the point, if any, of advance bidding. I completely understand sniping, last-second bidding, etc. Bidding a day or more in advance, unless it's worth it to the bidder to post an exceptionally high amount, is just stupid. Do I think this doesn't have an impact on final sale price? I think it does. The more bids, the higher the final price. Only so many bids can be cast in the final minutes or seconds. Where they begin, and thus where they end, will be impacted - sometimes heavily - by imprudent, impatient morons.

[edman316]

Early bidding usually slows down or completely stops a few days before the auction ends. I've had several items sell that way.

 

I agree it makes more sense to wait until the end of the auction to bid, but early bidding doesn't mean people are going to pay more than they should.

 

As a buyer I only look at items on the final day or hours of the auction.

[dboy420]

they probably are unable to monitor every minute and second of the auction. If I can be online on Thursday--I will bid on Wedsnday. Just a thought.

[knockwood]

 

Originally posted by dboy420 they probably are unable to monitor every minute and second of the auction. If I can be online on Thursday--I will bid on Wedsnday. Just a thought.

 

 

Understandable, but in a case like that, I think e-snipe makes a lot of sense. Unless your early-bird bid on Wednesday is huge, you likely don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of winning the auction and will only have succeeded in driving up the price.

 

Hell, I guess there's a flip side. I ever decide to sell anything on ebay, I'd be very grateful for every impatient dimwit out there with an itchy mouse finger.

[B. Adams]

I do have to say, that as a seller, I'm happy that there are people out there that will bid on, say, an Acoustasonic Jr., even when there's 5 days left.

 

That's just me though.

 

I wish there were as many people that would bid on, say, a Roland Cube 30 (with a case) with only 2 days left...

[edman316]

 

Originally posted by knockwood Understandable, but in a case like that, I think e-snipe makes a lot of sense. Unless your early-bird bid on Wednesday is huge, you likely don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of winning the auction and will only have succeeded in driving up the price. Hell, I guess there's a flip side. I ever decide to sell anything on ebay, I'd be very grateful for every impatient dimwit out there with an itchy mouse finger.

 

 

As stated earlier - early bidding doesn't always equal over bidding. I have made more money on auctions that got started going on the last day of the auction.

 

My EVH Wolfgang jumped $100.00 in the final 5 minutes of the auction. Snipers are the sellers best friend - not earlier bidders. Early bidders scare snipers away.

[fingerpicker]

I have bid early and high on a few items just because I could not get to check the items toward the end of the auction. I'm not on the internet all the time anymore. (You get alot more practive time in!!)

I bid what my maximum I want to pay and if I get it great. There are probably many people who early bid for this reason.

[knockwood]

 

Originally posted by fingerpicker I have bid early and high on a few items just because I could not get to check the items toward the end of the auction. I'm not on the internet all the time anymore. (You get alot more practive time in!!) I bid what my maximum I want to pay and if I get it great. There are probably many people who early bid for this reason.

 

 

Again, folks, this is a case for e-snipe. I simply have not heard anything yet that'd indicate to me why an early bid would be beneficial.

[guitarcapo]

Two reasons I can think of:

 

1. To scare off other bidders early in the auction. Some people can't stand that the item they want is sitting on there with such a low price attracting people he might have to compete with in the final second melee. Better to get that price up there to a sane level just to get those guys to move on.....

 

2. To kill the "buy it now" option or to keep the seller from removing the item due to lack of interest. Or to keep the seller from cutting a deal offline in desparation because his item isn't selling or selling outrageously low.

 

 

As for buying something based on what that item sold for in previous auctions...that works only if it's an item that sells often.

Rare and unusual items are hard to find a track record on what they sell for.

[joestierman]

well you have to keep in mind that everyone looking for a certain item will bid on the one ending the soonest (assuming that it fits their criteria). and when they don't get that one, they will move on to the next. so, in general, i think that is why no one bids til the last couple days. because that is when it is the first one ending. this way you can bid on the most items (though losing most of the time) in order to find the one that will sell for a little cheaper.

 

ebay probably is half and half: those who just want something, and those who search for exactly the right one. im talking about the first.

just a guess

 

i do wonder if there are people who bid you up for the hell of it...