Newbie Question...

Michelle -

AS *will* place your bid at $300, just as you would have done if you were bidding manually on eBay. eBay however, will only use the portion of that bid necessary to outbid (if possible) the previous higher bidder.

Hi Michelle,
Another little tip is to place your snipe for an odd amount, like....$20.57 instead of $20...that way, you may win for the 57 cents, when someone else bid $20.

I have won many an auction for an extra few cents
Good Luck

Hiya!

Thanks for the answers. I won the futon for $207.50. My beginning bid was $199.99. So obviously, it works like I thought it would:

1. It will bid UP TO whatever maximum I set (in this case, $300),

2. But it will bid in increments and NOT turn around and immediately place a flat bid for $300.

In other words, just because I set my maximum bid at $300 doesn't mean that I absolutely WILL pay at least $300 for the item.

BJones, I appreciate your response but I'm a bit confused. You said AS "will" place my bid at $300, but obviously I got it for much less. THAT scared me!

I guess we're saying the same thing, but your phrases "WILL place your bid at..." and "only use a portion" confused me. Since I'm a newbie, it made me nervous...

Prices for futons in my local stores STARTED at $490. Even including shipping, I saved AT LEAST $200. Even more if I would have bought a more expensive model...

Thanks for the help!

Sincerely,
Michelle

AS works the same as an ebay proxy bid, it just does it in the last few seconds....

So, your bid WILL be placed for $300, but ebay will only use the portion of it needed to keep you ahead of the other bidders....just like a proxy bid.

So yes, basically you guys are saying the same thing.

Sounds like you grabbed a bargain

I think there is one proviso.

If the item is fairly commonplace,as a futon is, then do a bit of research beforehand - look at the actual prices paid for a similar items in the past by looking at completed auctions.

To give you an example, a friend wanted me to buy him a car radio for a particular make and model. Completed auctions ran in the main from £14 to £30 depending on condition. Worryingly, some results showed bidders engaging in price wars and driving them into the high £50s. I set a price of £30.87 and let AS bid for me. It failed twice as the radios went for £37 & £42 respectively. As I knew I had just to wait - along came one at £22 which I won.

So the answer is, if you are after a bargain, don't set your max too high in AS, for that is what will be bid. In your case if new prices for futons are $490, anything used must drop to half price, so I would have set my max at $250. You would have still won the one you did, but it would avoid you paying $300 and not getting a "bargain"

For collectables, its a different case - we are missing a few items from a set of cutlery given to us on our wedding. There is boxed set of teaspoons just been put up - price £2.25 - whats my AS snipe? way, way too much - I just have to have it!

Paul

P.S And the bargain car radio? Ah well it stopped working after a week and I am having to look for another one on ebay! Not done my reputation as "astute buyer" much good either!

quote:

But it will bid in increments and NOT turn around and immediately place a flat bid for $300.

Wrong! Read up on ebay Proxy Bidding on ebay's help. AS places the full amount and ebay then takes over, bidding up to your max until either you win or you're beaten by the existing proxy bid...

R2

quote:

P.S And the bargain car radio? Ah well it stopped working after a week and I am having to look for another one on ebay! Not done my reputation as "astute buyer" much good either!

I once placed a bid on a Kenwood KR-6600 receiver for a friend that doesn't do ebay (wife problems ); when it arrived, I decided to check it out to verify its "stated" condition. Well, I am still using it and I had to bid on another for Tom. That one I had the seller ship directly to him. So my "astute buyer" reputation is still intact! Thanks, CC for the chuckle.

If you are looking for a bargain: Use the Bid Group Folders. Throw all of that kind of gizmos you can find into the folder at the price you to pay as a bargain. eg cheap, cheap, like, 1/2 retail (including the shipping)or less if you really want a bargain. You may have to wait quite a long time to win, but when you do, yippeeeeee.