posted on August 26, 2001 09:46:38 PM
Yikes, this is getting hostile!
Seems to me that some of the bidding and rebidding mentioned above could just be the result of a high proxy on a bidder's part. Shows up the same in the bid history, doesn't it?
If there's an item I want, I may post the highest proxy I'd like to pay in the hopes of scaring off other bidders somewhere along the line. And, if I'm finally outbid, c'est la vie, but I've given it my best shot. That's my most effective way to keep myself in check, when faced with a tempting item. No point in paying more than I'll be comfortable with later on.
posted on August 26, 2001 10:27:15 PM(as you say, on any given auction, it might not...but over a number of auctions buyers continuously claim here that they will pay less by bidding later).
Nonsense
They may HOPE/DREAM/WISH that they will pay less by bidding later, but that certainly doesn't mean it will come true. Do buyers REALLY pay less by bidding later? Sometimes, and sometimes not.
posted on August 26, 2001 10:55:16 PM
With the exception of captainkirk, most who have posted in this thread show quite a lack of understanding of human nature.
To assume that bidding early, which gives other bidders MORE TIME to get used to the idea of upping their bid and paying MORE, is the same as bidding late, where bidders have LESS TIME to get used to that idea, is absurd and defies logic---not that logic is employed very much on these boards.
Whether or not I want an item cheap is not the point--since EVERYONE would like an item cheap. The point is that many people set themselves up to pay more for an item by bidding early. Why else would an item have only 2 bidders, 14 bids entered, and go for almost 3 times the usual price! I have seen similar scenarios happen time and time and time again on Ebay.
Apply some common sense already! Sheeeeesh!
I agree that Ebay would be more boring without early bidders, and as a seller, I want them! However, I still think they are foolish!
posted on August 27, 2001 01:19:24 AM
I bid early because I get clearer details on a particular auction in my bidding list rather than going back and forth checking on my watchlist items. Many items in my watch list only shows the time left and nothing about the current price or bidding activity.
I stay away from proxy bidding for themost part. I am online often enough to check back when I feel I need to. I don't want someone bumping up the price too high to feel out my proxy limit. I feel sometimes people bid more than they want to pay because they hit your proxy bids and keep going just to outbid you hehe. I have my mental proxy lol set up and just check back shortly before closing time.
I'll even bid on items listed only hours ago just to get it in my bidding activity list. It gives me 5-7 days to decide how much I want it and how much I'll have to be able to spend around closing time.
posted on August 27, 2001 06:27:19 AM
I have to agree with webwhiner's last post: Starting the bidding low has a chance of hooking more bidders early. And most bidders, especially newbies, feel at least a twinge of emotional investment in their bids. Hence you're more likely to find 2 competitors whose egos would get in the way of their better judgment.
Edited for grammar--pass the coffee!
[ edited by icyu on Aug 27, 2001 06:28 AM ]
Calling webrover "webwhiner" is disrepectful and is a violation of the Community Guidelines. I suggest you go over the CG's very closely before you continue to post in order to protect your posting privileges.
posted on August 27, 2001 09:54:24 AM
Actually, if many people set themselves up to pay more for an item by bidding early, that's really their business IMO. I presume they're adults who are accountable for their own actions, right?
Personally, I still don't see the point.
If curiosity and debate was all that was intended, why the name-calling? Leaving out the words ninnies, fools, foolish would have gone a long way towards getting answers and an intelligent discussion without bringing hostilities into the picture.
And I sincerely mean no offense, webrover, but that's the way I see it.
Unfortunately, I am about at my limit of AW warnings, so I cannot respond appropriately to your intelligent and witty post.
My, you are clever.
BJGrolle:
"Ninnies' is about as harmless as it gets!!! Stop being so hypersensitive!
To ALL:
Unlike many of you, I do not delude myself into neutrality because I stand to make a buck. All because you benefit from foolsih bidding, DOES NOT mean it isn't foolish bidding.
posted on August 27, 2001 10:34:59 AM
Giving this youngster a gentle noogie was not meant maliciously. But if my rebuked post has offended anyone, I apologize.
posted on August 27, 2001 12:36:00 PMUnlike many of you, I do not delude myself into neutrality because I stand to make a buck. All because you benefit from foolsih bidding, DOES NOT mean it isn't foolish bidding.
So, now you're accusing many of us of being neutral on the issue because we profit from such bidding activity that you are speaking out so strongly against?
I personally could care less why or when a bidder bids on my auction. Or how often. Because it's none of my business.
That's my vote.
You obviously expect everyone to agree with you and you're having a problem with the fact that not everyone does.
In case I need to make it plainer:
I don't care if bidders bid early, late, more than once, place a high proxy, or snipe it. But I will not call their method foolish just because it might not be the method I'd use.
And I think that's really what's at the heart of this discussion. Validation is what is being asked for, not honest opinions.
Actually, what's plain to see in this thread is that YOU do not like what I have said and, along with some others, are trying to call my motives for saying this into question.
You are quite guilty of what you are accusing me of! You CANNOT stand that I disagree with you! Get over yourself.
Additionally, if you do not agree, then state your opinion and move on. Why are you sticking around trying to convince me that YOU are right and I am wrong?
Let me put it as simply as I can:
Bidding early is foolish. YOU do not agree with that. Fine. I think your logic, or lack thereof, is flawed.
posted on August 27, 2001 01:37:35 PMI must be missing the point of this whole discussion. It seems to be nothing more than a put-down of buyers who bid early.
THIS ninnie has trouble understanding a lot of things (see my other post where he chastizes me).
Remember this?
Your response to my initial disagreement, if you want to call it that, was to engage in name-calling, something which I believe I've tried to refrain from in this discussion.
I don't care if we disagree on whether or not bidders are doing the smartest thing by engaging in early bidding wars or not. I think you're confusing 2 different issues here. You keep bringing up the early bidding wars issue, while I'm bringing up the name-calling issue, and you can't seem to get that straight even when it's in the posts you're directly responding to. Like this:
I personally could care less why or when a bidder bids on my auction. Or how often. Because it's none of my business.
This means I have no opinion on when they bid or how often. Therefore, how could I consider it foolish or not?
I don't care if bidders bid early, late, more than once, place a high proxy, or snipe it. But I will not call their method foolish just because it might not be the method I'd use.
This means that I think it's not right and downright mean to stoop to name-calling and put-downs to prove a point. If that's the only way to prove a point, then it's pretty sad.
If you refer to the first paragraph of this post, you'll see that my objection was to your methods of stating your opinion. And you chose to respond by calling me names as well. Very immature response. And what are these supposed "lot of things" I don't understand? But that's probably another story, right?
And now you're accusing me of trying to change your opinion. No way. A complete falsehood.
And you call me hypersensitive because I object to this name-calling, well, so be it then.
Actually, you've not shown the slightest remorse over your personal insult towards me, and you've continued to make them throughout your posting in various ways or another. And that is what I cannot stand. Honestly.
posted on August 27, 2001 01:54:38 PM
webrover and BJGrolle..
Address the topic. Put each other on ignore if necessary. Do whtever you have to do to stop this from escalating any further to avoid putting your posting privileges in jeopardy.
posted on August 27, 2001 01:57:08 PM
Need to remember that there are bidders who do not have constant access to a computor. They may be only able to bid on Tuesdays, when they are at someone's house. So of course they bid early. We have a number of buyers like that. Some can only bid from work. Or from the library. Or whatever. Also, it seems to make a difference when the items come up as part of a china or silver pattern. In china or silver, loads of patterns have really only one live bidder. So what does it matter when they bid? We frequently have bidding wars that end on the second day of the 7 day auction. Early bidding, or bidding when convenient, makes sense to me. Dale
posted on August 27, 2001 02:12:01 PM
Actually, when I first started bidding, I would place an early bid, usually when I first decided I wanted the item. However, I stuck firm to a set price I wanted to pay, so I'd place it as a proxy. Sure enough, I'd lose out nearly every time because the other bidders weren't so firm on their max. I guess someone wants the item at all costs sometimes. But that wasn't me.
So then I started waiting until the last day to bid and I started winning more often, not always, but often enough to not get discouraged with the whole process.
So, personally, early bidding doesn't work well for me as a buyer.
If you think that "ninnie" is so insulting and upsetting that you have spent countless minutes and emotion battling me here over it, then you must have a very....um....interesting life you are leading.
MODERATOR:
This user's last comment deserved a response, but I am officially done with it.
So please do not cut my head off. Thank you.
Also, please LOCK IT UP, as there is nothing more to be added.
posted on August 27, 2001 02:52:22 PM
Why I bid early:
1) I can't and don't want to check eBay every day, and even when I do check, I don't check all my search ranges each time.
2) I have no interest in sniping (see #1)
3) "Watching" has no value for me (see #2).
4) I bid in about a dozen search ranges, and in each end up starting to recognize IDs, and am pretty certain I became recognized as someone who doesn't bid often but is very serious when I bid, to the point my bids pretty much stopped getting challenged (I'd get a good deal, and others would know they'd get a good deal bidding later, when I'm no longer interested in the particular item -- and I don't recall seeing one of those recognizable IDs decide to challenge me "for the fun" of it, either, though that could certainly happen).
5) Putting in a proxy (and after I've thought about it for a few hours to a day), means I don't bid foolishly or get caught up in bidding or sniping fever.
6) eBay used to have a convenience value I was willing to spend a little more on (i.e. I sometimes figured I'd probably find it cheaper if I did a lot of searching, but I also value my time, so I'm sometimes willing to pay a higher price to save myself the search, which itself could cost money anyway, unless I feel the search is a worthy challenge or could provide other benefit ).
7) Ergo, I feel for me, there is nothing the least bit foolish about early bidding.
(And BTW, all of the above wasn't really strategy on my part when I started doing the above, and only became strategy when I consciously considered my habits to either tweak or leave them alone, and realized #4 seemed to be happening. )
One person's convenience is another's cost, and one person's cost can later become that person's savings (e.g. see #4).
Not everyone's goals at auctions are the same, and often, one person's "is" or fact is really an "IMO."
Now that I'm done spouting... whatever, I think I'll quietly leave.
