posted on August 12, 2001 11:22:33 AM
Sometimes I think 11:45 am PST is the best time in the week (people at work and not on lunch).
Other times I'm thinking evening and night - 7pm PST when everyones at home after dinner.
Any scientific theories?
I sell clothing BTW.
posted on August 12, 2001 11:32:22 AM
If you on the east coast late evening 6:30 EST yo 7:30 EST..
if you on the west coast I would think it fallows that late after noon works best... I could be wrong there I live on the east coast and for Auction only the best time to close is around 7 pm this way I know whats closed with winner I can send out Eoa before I go to bed and some times have paid item packed and ready to ship in the morning.. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
posted on August 12, 2001 11:39:59 AM
I still have not learned all the "how tos" of this business. I have tried many "techniques" along the way. I have gone so far as to set my auctions to launch, carefully calculating lag time, so as to have my auctions hit the "front page" during prime time. That was a total waste of time! EBay would not cooperate! I would set to launch at 13:00pst so I would show up on page 1 or 2 at about 19:00pst. Never failed, eBay would be running way behind and I would make my "debut" on page 10!
Then I tried having them close before noon for the reason you mentioned. I had several items close at much higher than I had expected and got very excited. It was just a fluke...it did not hold true over a "test" of several weeks. I personally do better (at least I perceive that I do better ) by having my auctions close between 19:00 and 20:00pst. I also have more buyers from the east than from the west. So, it appears I am catching by buyers at 10:00 to 11:00PM EST!
I am now firmly convinced that it's really not something that can be determined "scientifically". More than likely it is "random luck"... you just have to be in the right place at the right time. When that one person who reallllly wants a widget just like your widget is up, sitting at their computer and ready to buy, buy, buy!
posted on August 12, 2001 12:22:48 PM
There are people that bid early and there are people that snipe. The early bidders bid no matter what. SO MANY of the snipers now use "automated" software (esnipe, vrane, etc) that I really don't think it matters when an auction closes anymore.
Having said that, if you want a "slight" advantage at getting better prices, my advice is to list at the WORST possible time (like 3:30 in the morning). That will force "manual" snipers to play their hand early & you might get a bidding war out of it.
IF (big qualifier) you have something that is not common, and in high demand, they WILL bid regardless of closing time. They'll often place a bid in the late evening and check back a half hour later to see if anyone else is bidding too -- the BEST thing that can happen is someone else bids.
They then can't go to bed then & MUST DEFEND!!! (cruel to do that to them...)
This isn't the usual thinking (everyone else will tell you to list at the time where the MOST people are on-line & available), but I firmly believe it results in the best prices to do it this way. I've been doing that for 2 years now and prices are ALWAYS strong -- the bidding wars sometimes start as early as 9 pm. Sometimes it will keep bidders up until closing time if it's something they HAVE to have and very scarce! (I wonder what they tell their boss the next morning when they're late to work...) I sell collectibles, but could see this sort of bidding war happening with quality clothing or certain styles.
I know, I'm CRUEL!!! to force people to bid early (but it works! AND, the site is almost ALWAYS working when traffic is so low... the automatic snipe services won't have problems w/ "eBay functionality unavailable" when your lots are closing...)
Janice.
EBay would not cooperate! I would set to launch at 13:00pst so I would show up on page 1 or 2 at about 19:00pst. Never failed, eBay would be running way behind and I would make my "debut" on page 10! 
) by having my auctions close between 19:00 and 20:00pst. I also have more buyers from the east than from the west. So, it appears I am catching by buyers at 10:00 to 11:00PM EST!