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During the Auction: Deciding Bid Amounts continued ...

Learn more about the items you're interested in: read publications, subscribe to newsletters, join collector's clubs, and consult price guides.

Visit message boards and chat rooms. The online auction community can be a great resource for accessing the market value of an item or particular category.

Use Internet comparison-shopping services to see how retail prices compare to the prices at auction. If the prices are similar, you might want to hold out for a better deal.

If it's possible, and if you have the time, visit retail stores and do some in-person comparison-shopping.

By using some (or all) of the above-mentioned resources, you'll be able to better determine bid amounts and thus place your bids with more confidence.

That'll Be Extra
Lastly, when weighing the amount of a bid, be sure to factor in those little extras: shipping, handling, escrow, insurance, and so on. Such added expenditures can quickly add up--and perhaps cause you to reconsider a bid, especially if you're on a tight budget.

Bidding Strategies
Analyzing Bid Histories
Finding What You Want