Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:05:53 PM new
WHY do bidders crank the bid up on an item throughout the run of the auction? I know this is great for sellers AND VERY COMMON on Ebay...but I don't understand WHY they do it?
It seems that anyone who takes the time to come back and re-bid (further upping the ante), can certainly manage to ONLY come back at the end of the auction (or close to it) and make their bid.
I know that some cannot be there at the end---or in the last few hours---or even day---but if you can keep rebidding up until the end of the auction, WHY not just wait until that last moment to bid at all???
WHY give other bidders a chance to think and think and think about what they need to bid to win? It seems that the more time you give another bidder, the more likely they are to either outbid you OR run the price up on you.
I'm not just talking about newbies doing this either, I'm talking about users with feedback over 50 & 100. You'd think they'd value their money more AND know better than this. It took me less than a week on Ebay to realize how stupid this style of bidding is.
Yet, time and time again, I see buyers do this. How foolish.
As a seller, however, I LOVE IT!
I just don't know WHY they do it!
Do you?
[ edited by Pochwaman on Oct 6, 2000 08:13 PM ]
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godfrey94
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:14:00 PM new
because they honestly beleive that they are the ONLY one who would pay that amount .. 
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radh
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:15:39 PM new
Because the FUN of eBay lies in the act of PARTICIPATING in the auction process --- by bidding, and bidding, and occasionally bidding again - a few more times, too.
I'm primarily a seller. Although I love to snipe, unless I don't find the auction until the very end, I always place early bidZ.
The *process* of eBay is what makes for ENTERTAINMENT and excitement -- just like a Journey, the process of getting there should be delightful and just as important as the destination.
As a seller, I know how tedious and desultory it can be to have NO bids until the last 70 seconds of an auction = b-o-r-i-n-g. So, when I'm looking for items, I sure wanna make SURE that the seller does know that I AM interested in the item for auction -- interested enough to actually BID, not just observe.
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:16:09 PM new
GODFREY:
Geeeez. You think?
How naive.
RADH:
Fun to me is not paying a lot more for something than I would have otherwise had to pay. SNIPING is less participatory, but much more cost effective.
You win or you don't, no games. You also don't give yourself away.
[ edited by Pochwaman on Oct 6, 2000 08:18 PM ]
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mzalez
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:16:54 PM new
Maybe the auction ends at a time inconvenient for the bidder, so they bid when they can.
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:19:36 PM new
mzalez:
I already addressed that, read again. True for some, not ALL.
[ edited by Pochwaman on Oct 6, 2000 08:20 PM ]
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godfrey94
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:24:32 PM new
I swear it is the truth - I introduced a friend of mine to ebay explained my bidding tactics - make a low intial bid wait at your computer til the end of the auction then snipe. Next thing I know I get a phone call ans she is furious!!! She bid on an item (I think it was a five day auction) on its 3rd day and for the next few days she remained high bidder. Well we all know what happens next ..... in the last 30 seconds of the auction she was out bid - big surprise. He logic was that no one was going to pay more then she would. I personally would never make that assumption but hey!
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shaani
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:25:28 PM new
On Yahoo I actually had a bidder set up another ID and she bid against herself because she wanted my item so badly. I never did figure that one out.
Edited to say that she bought it at my reserve price in case anyone thinks I took advantage of her.
[ edited by shaani on Oct 6, 2000 08:35 PM ]
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dman3
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:37:24 PM new
shaani
on yahoo for many Items the only person who bids against you is your self LOL.
maybe this buyer couldnt find a good reserve auction to make dime bids on all day long that day that they were sure they would never reach the reserve on.
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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mzalez
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:45:01 PM new
I wouldn't call the bidders actions stupid or foolish. Some may just enjoy the 'hunt'.
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shaani
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posted on October 6, 2000 08:47:20 PM new
I think she was new to auctions at that time and she may not have realized that she could bid again? I can't remember the exact amount but she sent about $60 cash in an unlined envelope to us and we could see the money right through the paper. It was amazing that it arrived. She was very nice and purchased another of the same item from us afterwards.
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 09:46:37 PM new
Hunt?
The hunt is in finding the item at all. Setting yourself up to have the bid run up on you is just plain foolish. I can't think of any other way to describe it. WHAT is the "rush" in having the bid run up OR getting in a bidding war. Bidding wars are notorious for causing bidders to overpay.
That's just ignorant.
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Glenda
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posted on October 6, 2000 09:59:34 PM new
Hey, Pochwaman just a heads up: There are bidders who read the threads here who probably won't appreciate that a seller is calling them foolish, naive, and ignorant.
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mzalez
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:08:23 PM new
You are entitled to your opinion, pochwaman, of course that goes without saying. But you asked for our input, and we gave it to you. Maybe you are just looking for a battle?
As for myself being one of those foolish, stupid, ignorant bidders you said you love so much--remind me never to bid on any of your auctions.
I'll bid what an item is worth to me. So will everyone else. I don't feel I've ever been ripped off, because I don't bid more than what it is worth to me. The whole bidding game is what is fun for me. The price is second. So I don't get out much and eBay is a good hobby for me. If you think I'm an idiot for that, so be it.
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:13:28 PM new
Glenda:
On the contrary. I think those "bidders" who see my comments will owe ME a debt of gratitude for saving THEM money.
mzalez:
Look at all the names you're calling yourself! I didn't call YOU any of those things. And if people want to be foolhardy with their money, that's FINE by me. I'll benefit from it anyway.
All I'm saying is I can't understand why so many waste so much money with that style of bidding.
I myself initially enjoyed the back and forth bidding---of course that was the first week I was on Ebay. I quickly realized how much money I was wasting by egging people on with my early bids.
Duh.
[ edited by Pochwaman on Oct 6, 2000 10:16 PM ]
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mzalez
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:20:49 PM new
Well, maybe for you it is a waste, but for me it is a form of entertainment. Don't you ever spend money on entertainment? It's not a waste, is it? For me it's worth it. And not only that, after all the fun is over I have the added benefit of having something I can use.
You ought to have a little respect for your bidders. Remember, what goes around comes around.
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:37:21 PM new
HOW on earth am I disrespecting "my bidders" by stating how I feel on this board???
Hello?
Also, if your idea of "fun" is having the price of an item bid up high on yourself, then hey, knock yourself out! For all you know you ARE one of my bidders! And please, bid early and bid high!
I choose to spend my money more usefully.
[ edited by Pochwaman on Oct 6, 2000 10:39 PM ]
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mzalez
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:39:29 PM new
(shaking my head) Never mind!
See ya...
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:41:00 PM new
You can keep shaking your head, just remember to bid early and bid high!
I'll see YOU at the end of the auction! Get your checkbook ready!
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shaani
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:43:25 PM new
At times when I know I will not be at my computer when the auction ends I have bid on an item. If I haven't left the house yet and I check the auction and someone has outbid me and I decide I want the item I will bid again. So that is one reason for "cranking a bid". I guess I have a right to change my mind about what the item is really worth to me? Another time I was having a "blonde moment" and tried to snipe the auction a day early. I guess I "cranked a bid". I have done this with my higher ID so I guess I looked like a stupid bidder.
[ edited by shaani on Oct 6, 2000 10:54 PM ]
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godfrey94
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:47:34 PM new
mzalez -As for myself being one of those foolish, stupid, ignorant bidders you said you love so much--remind me never to bid on any of your auctions.
No one called any names or implied any of the above.
Every one has there own bidding techniques and some find others techniques curious - not stupid, foolish or ignorant. I myself don't understand it either but to each his/her own.
[ edited by godfrey94 on Oct 6, 2000 10:48 PM ]
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 10:55:55 PM new
Like I said;
After my first week on Ebay I realized how counterproductive it was to bid early (if I could help it). However, since then I have been forced to bid early on some things just because I couldn't be there at the end to snipe.
Whenever I do bid early, I feel like a sitting duck.
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honestjonstoys
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:00:33 PM new
I don't care why bidders do that.
As long as they pay their motivations are none of my business.
--------------
Don't take life so serious, it ain't nohow permanent.
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Pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:05:38 PM new
honestjonstoys:
I only want to encourage bidders to do this! I profit from it.
I'm just curious why they do, that's all.
Odd.
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twelvepole
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:28:59 PM new
Wow, what a question and you actually sell on ebay? I find that very amusing.
I know why I do it and I NEVER pay more than I was willing to begin with, just up a little at a time and keep it low until at the end. and still have some FUN. But if I get beat at the end oh well some other seller will have it eventually...
[ edited by twelvepole on Oct 6, 2000 11:33 PM ]
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shaani
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:30:33 PM new
Could it be that there are lots of blonde bidders like me who change their mind and choose not to spend their money usefully? Could be.
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sbruce
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:35:01 PM new
There are a couple of reasons for keeping one's hand in. If you are known in the category and you have deep pockets you can participate in bid shielding which can almost guarantee that you get the item - but that can be expensive. You can also bid shield to make sure that prices in the category for that type of item will stay high and will not depreciate. Take a Bodie item for example: if any Bodie antique photo were to sell for ten bucks the dealers would have a fit due to the depreciation. A dealer will buy at a certain level to add to their show stock, and also to maintain the market value of particular types of item.
In addition bid shielding can deplete a competitor bidder's funds so much that they will have less money to bid on items that a competitior in the category might be more interested in, and therefore reduce the competitor bidder's chance of bidding on an item that you want unless they have very deep pockets indeed. This depends on type of item, invariably specialized and is called a bidding strategy. Experienced ebay bidders know all about it.
As for the silly bidders out there that bid just to bid? Well nobody knows why bidders do that and probably sellers don't care - sellers only know that they will get more selling their goods on ebay than they will selling at a flea market, trade show, or directly to some vulture in business and that is briefly why ebay exists.
I scour the antique shops looking for goods to sell on ebay regularly. The other day an antique dealer lady complained to me that she is not getting new stock coming in off the street or from her private suppliers, because things are going straight on to ebay and impacting her sources. And pls don't give me the argument that bricks and mortar dealers are just trying to make a profit - there is a difference between usury and profit.
After suffering at the hands of scalping local antique dealers as a seller on many occasions, I absolutely rejoice at the local small dealer's dilemma and celebrate in their potential demise every night
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donnybrook
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:39:55 PM new
That kind of bidding just doesn't make sense to me.
[ edited by donnybrook on Oct 6, 2000 11:43 PM ]
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pochwaman
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:44:37 PM new
twelvepole:
I find it amusing that you find it amusing that I sell on Ebay. Is it surprising that I would come out and be honest as to the way I feel about the strategy used by bidders?
As far as bidding a little here and a little more there; WHY would you want to alert another bidder to your interest in the item?
God, I wish you people would all bid on my stuff! I pack well and don't overcharge for shipping. I also ship quickly!
Bid early and bid high! That's what I always say!
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twelvepole
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posted on October 6, 2000 11:45:25 PM new
donnybrook or is it Pochwaman? It is amusing that a seller would post a thread like this. Also your name is again something else, is Donny your real name or is it a nick?
If you're using it for a nick it would help explain somethings, to me anyway... 
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