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After the Auction: Analyzing Bid Histories continued ...

What Works, What Doesn't
Remember, auctions have a real drama to them--a beginning, middle, and end--and bid histories illustrate this fact. When looking at a bid history, determine which bidding tactics worked for that particular item. Perhaps an early bid with a high maximum prevailed; or maybe there was an intense last-second snipefest. (Speaking of sniping, bid histories are a great way to admire the slippery skills of snipers.) You might notice a pattern of bidding for certain merchandise. If so, take it into account when bidding on those items. (For more information on this subject, check out our bidding strategies tip.) It's also a good idea to revisit auctions you've participated in but didn't win. Failed bids can be a great learning tool. Of course, the bottom line is always to avoid bidding more than you're willing to part with.

Meet Your Fellow Bidders
Bid histories include the user names of your fellow bidders--remember them. Revisit a few closed auctions for a particular item and you might start to see some familiar names. As you get acquainted with the folks you'll be bidding against, you'll develop a sense of how they bid. Maybe raconteur222 bids early and camps out for the long haul, while AngelDusted tends to swoop in at the last minute like a true master sniper. Use this information to better understand whom you'll be dealing with and to guide your bidding in future auctions that will likely draw these same bidders.

Checking Out Sellers
Lastly, bid histories can be used to do a little investigating on shady sellers. For example, if you think you've been shilled on an auction, a bid history can be a great resource. Examine the bid history to see if there were multiple bidders at the close of the auction or if a single person placed several bids at the beginning of the auction (hoping to drive up the price, in collusion with the seller) but did not win the auction. Then visit some of the seller's closed auctions and find out if the bid histories reveal the same bidders and the same tactics. This will help you determine if you have in fact been shilled.

Bidding Strategies
Beating Out a Snipe
Making Informed Bids