| You are probably reading this because you've been | | | | (e.g. no Buy It Now listings for that item or if the auction |
| outbid trying to win an eBay auction at the last second | | | | looks like it's going to end up with final price significantly |
| after you just spent a good amount time waiting for | | | | lower than the Buy It Now listings), the first thing you |
| the auction to end with you as the highest bidder only | | | | should do is pick your maximum bid price. You can |
| to get outbid in the eBay auction at the last second. | | | | look at completed eBay auction listings for the same |
| Don't do that. You're just wasting your time, and just | | | | item, and see how much they generally end up selling |
| hurting your feelings.:) There is really no "best" way on | | | | for, and use that to help you get a ballpark price. It also |
| how to win an eBay auction. Different circumstances | | | | depends on how badly you want the item. There are |
| allows for different strategies to win an eBay auction. | | | | a lot of factors that tie in, but in the end, choose a |
| I'll just go over some general tips for you beginners. | | | | maximum price, and stick with it. |
| First of all, if you can avoid it, I advise you to not bid on | | | | Once you have your price, I highly suggest just waiting |
| the actual eBay "auctions", but instead, use the listings | | | | till the last minute or so, and bid that amount as late as |
| with the Buy-It-Now features. I personally rarely | | | | you can before the auction ends. Set an alarm on your |
| purchase anything from eBay using the conventional | | | | phone if you have to. This will prevent you from getting |
| eBay auction. Why?..because it's fast, and I know | | | | into a bidding war, and end up exceeding your |
| exactly how much I'm going to be paying for the item | | | | maximum bid price, and more importantly, it prevents |
| from the start. I've wasted too much time in the past | | | | other potential buyers a chance to outbid you since |
| bidding on auctions, and have the final bid price of the | | | | you placed the best ten seconds before it ends. There |
| auction be more than the average Buy-It-Now price | | | | are tools that can do this for you automatically called |
| for the exact same item. I could have simply | | | | "snipers." The one I personally use is called Auction |
| purchased the item using the Buy-It-Now feature, and | | | | Stealer. It comes with three free bids/auctions per |
| be done with it. No time wasted, no emotional | | | | week. There is no need to pay for this service. |
| stress-easy. Just search of the item that you want, | | | | Another tip is to look for auctions that end at the least |
| click on the "Buy It Now only" tab, sort the results by | | | | busiest times of the day such as very, very late at |
| "Price + Shipping: Lowest First." This will now order the | | | | night or very early in the morning. Early morning time is |
| listings with the cheaper price including shipping at the | | | | probably best. If there are no eBay auctions that end |
| top. Just make sure you skip the "junk listings" at the | | | | at these times, choose the one that is closest to |
| top, and look for the actual item that you're looking for | | | | ending at the least busiest time. Using this tip in |
| with the lowest price. Make sure it's from a good seller | | | | conjunction with an auction sniper should yield you |
| with excellent feedback. | | | | good results. |
| Another reason why I like doing it the Buy-It-Now way | | | | Another good tip is to choose a maximum price a few |
| is because of the Bing Cashback program, which | | | | cents higher than a typical bid. Most people bid in whole |
| currently gives you an 8% discount/cashback off the | | | | numbers. Let's say your max bid price set for an item |
| price of the listing not including shipping fees. I'll write | | | | is $50.00, change that to $51.23 or so instead. That |
| another whole article on that topic later. | | | | extra dollar and those extra few cents will give you |
| If you have no choice but to purchase the item through | | | | the nod over someone who bid $50 or $51 for only a |
| the conventional bidding way via a real eBay auction | | | | few cents more. |