However, don't overlook the other dimension of choice: choosing among the sellers who are putting the goods on the block. Here's where bidders have found much more bidding power than ever before, as the growing population of sellers must now compete for bids. Cast a critical eye on sellers' terms of service, as well as their forthcoming item descriptions, images, and customer guarantees. Then, match those factors up to the item itself and decide which seller best deserves your business.

Choosing the Path of Least Resistance
The best way to increase your odds is to look for the easy win. You can never be assured of victory in any auction (in fact, you should never assume emotional ownership of any item until the auction closes), but you can potentially increase your chances of winning by bidding on auctions that close at odd hours or on nonpeak days. You might need to make special arrangements for a snipe--if that's how you like to bid--but the extra effort could pay off in a better deal that others bypassed for the more bidder-friendly listing.

Let the Sellers Come to You
It bears repeating: Take your time in your bidding and be selective about with which seller you'll do business. Again, gone are the days when you have to jump with all your effort and all your cash at the first listing you see. Knowing that most items can be regularly found at the auction sites, you have the luxury of being able to decide not only what you'll bid on but also when you'll bid. That is, if this month isn't the best time for you financially, chances are you'll find similar or even better pickings next month or even next year. The sea of sellers is growing with each passing week and all are jockeying their wares, their terms, and their prices. You easily can bide your time until the deal that best suits you comes along (and it will come along).

Think Outside the Auction Box
And, finally, remember that online auctions aren't the only place to shop online. Once seen as the alternative to mainstream shopping, bartering, and deal making, auctions have evolved into another option you can exercise before you commit to a purchase. If an item in which you're interested seems to be getting a bit pricey or carries a potentially risky or unfriendly TOS, then investigate other marketplaces to see whether the item can be purchased outright from a commercial site or from another private party who's offering the same or similar item--without the competitive bidding and without having to wait for the auction's end. While other buyers are caught up in the heat of the bidding, you sometimes can find a better deal away from all the action when your fellow bidders aren't looking.

Further helping buyers look beyond the auction venues is the recent inclusion of fixed-price marketplaces (such as Half.com) in AW's Universal Search. Search results now consist of auction and fixed-price listings, giving online buyers an even more efficient way to comparison shop.

One final note: When it comes to wondering whether you're getting a deal at online auction, don't hesitate to check out and compare retail prices on sites such as Amazon.com. It's a quick way to determine whether it's best to bid or best to wait.

Bidding Strategies Resisting Impulse Buys Beating Out a Snipe

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