New User with "Stupid" (man I hate to say that) question.

Just like with any proxy bidding, your bid will move up the next bid increment that beats the other bids. Of course if someone else's max is higher than yours and meets the bid increment requirment, then you will be outbid. If you win, the minimum you will pay is whatever the next bid increment is that is needed to outbid all other placed proxy bids. The maximum you will pay is $2800 and that is if someone else has a maximum bid of $2750.

Following is the table eBay provides to show you the bid increments according to the current price. Right now bids are incrementing at $25. When/if it breaks $2500, the bid incrementing will increase to $50.

Current Price Bid Increment
$ 0.01 - $ 0.99 $ 0.05
$ 1.00 - $ 4.99 $ 0.25
$ 5.00 - $ 24.99 $ 0.50
$ 25.00 - $ 99.99 $ 1.00
$ 100.00 - $ 249.99 $ 2.50
$ 250.00 - $ 499.99 $ 5.00
$ 500.00 - $ 999.99 $ 10.00
$1000.00 - $2499.99 $ 25.00
$2500.00 - $4999.99 $ 50.00
$5000.00 and up $100.00

For example if the highest proxy bid is $1825 when the auction closes, then you will win with a winning bid of $1850.

If the highest proxy bid is $2750 when the auction closes, then you will win with a winning bid of $2800.

If, however, the highest bid is $2751, you will lose because $2800 isn't $50 more than $2751. Even though your bid was higher than the other person's, it wouldn't meet the $50 increment requirement. You bid would have had to be $2801 to win.

Remember: If two or more bidders have the same maximum bid amount (are tied), the winning bidder will be the one who bid first - one possible disadvantage to sniping... but I don't think this is a common problem... I might be wrong.

HINT: I don't use round numbers when bidding. Once I figure out my max I add a little more money and try to make it an "odd" number. If I'm willing to pay $100 for an item, then I might make my max $105.58. $125 would be $127.87. These are just examples. I try to mix it up so I'm not TOO predictable. I find that most people bid in increments of dollars and 25 cents. You'd be surprised how many bids I win by just one more bid increment that way and I reduce my chances of being tied with someone else.

I hope that all makes sense. And my advice about bidding "odd" numbers may be crazy, illogical and totally off-the-wall. Let's see what the more expert snipers have to say on this subject!

diva (aka Dag)

Diva,

Thanks a million, I understand!

Debra

Oh man........ I just tried to change my snipe based on your wonderful advice. I get an message that reads....

Your max bid is not in a correct format. MaxBid.

I tried everything, any suggestions?

Thanks,
Debra

I posted my only thought on this in your other Post... sorry for repeating myself, but here it is:

Did you put the $ sign in? If so, then you will get that error. Just enter your numbers like this: 26.88 or 100.00, etc. - no dollar signs or other symbols.

Hopefully that's the answer. If not, then we will need more info about what you are doing.

Good luck!

diva (aka Dag)

diva (aka Dag)

I just tried using commas... it doesn't like those either. No commas, no dollar signs. Just dollars and cents separated by a period. That seems to be the only format it likes.

Again, hope this helps!

diva (aka Dag)

quote:

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Originally posted by dagnabitgrabit:


You'd be surprised how many bids I win by just one more bid increment that way and I reduce my chances of being tied with someone else.

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Dag was talking about bidding unusual dollar and cent amounts, which is always good advice.

I just wanted to point out, Dag, that unless the auction involved a reserve price, one always wins by one bid increment above the next highest bidder, does she not? That is, after all, hoe eBay's proxy bidding system works.

Yes, that is correct. As long as your bid is high enough to take you to the next bid increment, it will. Sorry if that wasn't clear.



diva (aka Dag)