posted on July 19, 2005 03:09:19 PM new
Struck me the other day that the 25 cent, 50 cent, etc. bid increments were rather rinky-dink. Say a $15 bid was beat out by a $15.50 bid.
Maybe it is a bad idea to change but it certainly doesn't reflect auction bidding increments in live, not Internet auctions. The way it is now seems to benefit buyers, certainly not sellers, not much anyway.
And as a buyer myself sometimes it is frustrating to end up being beat out by a measly 25 cents or 50 cents or even a dollar over my proxy bid.
This seems to be one thing rarely if ever discussed. Seems like a way for eBay to make more money, but I suppose they don't want to turn off buyers.
posted on July 19, 2005 03:37:25 PM new
It's an interesting observation, and one I happen to agree with for the most part. I am all for smaller bid increments at lower prices (say under $10) but I think a $1 increase for bids at $10 is not unreasonable. It's actually one reason I don't like to start bids at 99 cents instead of $1, because the next raise from 99 cents is $1.04, while the next raise from $1 is $1.25.
I don't know when the bids start going over $1, but an item $10 to $25 or so should be at $1 increments.
posted on July 19, 2005 04:08:47 PM new
I think we should suggest this to Ebay,it is a win win situation for Ebay and the seller.
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posted on July 19, 2005 04:26:10 PM new
Most small country auctions I have attended use dollar increments from $1 to $10, then $2.50 to $25 or $30, and then $5 increments after that. That might be a bit drastic, but it sure drives me to distraction when you have 24 bids and you're barely at $20.
posted on July 19, 2005 04:45:03 PM new
Riverfarm,
I like anything that gets people to bid. The more often they bid, the more emotionally and hormonally they're attached to the auction, and thus the more likely they'll make an emotion-driven bid near the end.
The reason I start so many auctions at $1 is to get people to "push the button" a few extra times.
Of all of eBay's problems, this is one that for me personally is not even on the radar. I can understand how you feel about it, but I don't share the feeling.
posted on July 19, 2005 04:55:02 PM new
I never really thought about or cared about it but,,,,,I went to one of my actions. Closed, and saw the .50 thing, then, I also saw $3,,,,$6....JUMPS......14 bidders,,I thought I remembered seeing SOMEWHERE, where YOU/WE could Set our increments? No? YES? I dunno know.
posted on July 19, 2005 05:06:39 PM new
If it bothers you to be beaten out by 50 cents, then you are not bidding your maximum.
Why would anyone care, or get distracted, over the number of bidders in an auction? Don’t you just care about the final price? It seems that small increments at any level enable bidders to literally “nickel & dime” themselves into paying more -- something all sellers should welcome.
I actually like the small increments and use them to my advantage when I snipe, since most people bid in round numbers. If my maximum bid is $250, I always up it by some odd but nominal amount over that, say to $256.86. This enables me to exceed the next bid increment without having to bid an amount that dramatically exceeds my maximum. If the bid increments were large, I’d be stuck with the same round number everyone else uses ($250 in my example).
posted on July 19, 2005 05:13:06 PM new
"... This enables me to exceed the next bid increment without having to bid an amount that dramatically exceeds my maximum."
I suppose since I really would love for you to exceed your maximum perhaps?
Agreed that when I'm sniping, that works. When I'm selling, I reckon I'd like to get somewhere sooner than at a snail's pace -- impatience of old age dontchaknow.
posted on July 19, 2005 05:41:15 PM new
Jack, I think you’ve got me confused with Art LeBow (sp?). He is/was a local Southern California radio DJ. How I remember this is beyond me.
posted on July 19, 2005 06:46:50 PM new
Wow,,,,,5 years here I never bothered to pay attention,,,,yup,,,,.50 increments.....Course why would I when things starting a $9.99 went to the MOON before unlike NOW.....Two bidders,,,,$20 ,,,,,$20.50 winner....I start NOTHING at $9.99 anymore. What I WANT and if they go bid WAR all the better. but,,,,,I get my Money BACK at the least. MINUS, MINUS ,MINUS,,,,,Fees.......
posted on July 19, 2005 08:26:47 PM new
Lots of good comments. I'm not sure on what basis one could say that small increments encourages more bidding since we have nothing comparable to analyze. At least nothing in the league of eBay.
Anyway, it still strikes me that it would be more profitable if the increments were greater. I'd rather have 1 bid that jumped the price $2.50 than 4 that jumped 50 cents each.
I would think that a minimum of $1 increments would be reasonable for the lower priced stuff. It just drives me a little nuts when you have 3 or 4 interested bidders and they are dinking around with 25 or 50 cents bid increases. But maybe that's just me.
posted on July 19, 2005 11:00:32 PM newI'd rather have 1 bid that jumped the price $2.50 than 4 that jumped 50 cents each.
Riverfarm,
All you did is state the obvious. $2.50 is greater than $2.00 and of course you’d prefer the higher amount. The real question is, would you rather have one bid at $2.50 or five at 50 cents each? How about one bid at $2.50 or six at 50 cents each? Are you more interested in the money or the process?
posted on July 21, 2005 04:39:42 PM new
Hmmm. Perhaps the only time it makes a real difference is for very high volume sellers with very inexpensive items -- then an additional 5 or 10c can become significant I guess. Otherwise, if an item sells for $120.25 or $120.50 is not really relevant, is it?
I don't know that there is documentation that small increments add to the frenzy or inclination to keep bidding. Especially since we haven't seen a frenzy for many years.
.