posted on July 25, 2001 10:10:21 AM new
Snipes are cool and I have no problem with them. But is that getting to be the way of things?
Have you experienced lots of non-snipe bids in the final hours of an auction? I used to list some things for only 3 days because the bids all seemed to come at the end anyway.
Now, I list for 7 because I want to make sure the most exposure (without the addition ten cents) is there -- never know when the interested party will show up.
I have a few items that seem to be getting lots of hits, but few bids. Should I assume they are all watching this item and going to snipe at the end? I admit when I buy something, I wait until near the end so I don't get my hopes up for winning it.
Is there a way to tell who all is watching an item? That would be cool!
posted on July 25, 2001 10:13:42 AM new
Lots of last day bidding seems to be a tradition--kinda dumb really with buy it now or a good low price. People just do not want to pay more--until they are outbid anyway.
posted on July 25, 2001 10:26:40 AM new
I always do my browsing/searching off the "going going gone" lists and end up placing a lot of bids in the last hours of an auction. Since I am one of those people who doesn't know what I am looking for until I find it, so keyword searches, etc., don't work for me. Placing an early bid or even just putting something on my watch list 7 or 10 days before an auction ends just annoys me. I like my gratification to happen sooner rather than later.
I do look now at new listings but only at the BIN ones and take advantage of a bargain when I recognize one, but I generally find the BIN prices are higher than what I would spend on the item. I think BINs also turn off early bidders who don't want to pay BIN price...bidding the minimum price early on in a BIN auction seems almost rude, or a high BIN price leaves the impression that this is what the item is worth. I know that is wrong, but I think it happens a lot.
Gerald
"Oh but it's so hard to live by the rules/I never could and still never do."
posted on July 25, 2001 10:28:29 AM new
Most of my items don't get bids until the last few hours. I'm worried the entire time when I don't get bids, I think things are slow, but when it's all done almost all of them have bids!
posted on July 25, 2001 12:12:40 PM new
Lately I seem to be experiencing a lot more duking it out on the 3rd day of a 7 day auction between my buyers. Little sniping. And I'm almost disappointed..enjoy seeing those snipers go at it.
posted on July 26, 2001 07:04:32 AM new
As a seller, I hate snipers... because I worry that the item will sell below cost.
As a buyer that is the only way to fly so I don't get into bidding wars...
Buy It Now: When I sell new books, I usually price them at the minimum price I am willing to sell it for and then add a couple of bucks for the BIN price. There are a few books that if the first bidder doesn't use the BIN option, the books sell well above the retail price which is what I try to avoid... This is because 20% of my sales is repeat customers so I don't want them feeling like they got ripped off by paying over retail and I want them to come back.
Since ebay has hindered marketing of my website, I now include a list of the books I have for sale with the shipment. I also Offer a discount and free shipping with multiple purchases. Hopefully this will encourage more non-ebay sales so I don't have to pay fees...
I used to sell items on ebay in order to advertise my website, ebay should rescind their policy of banning our websites in the ads IMHO.
