| type="text/javascript"> ch_client = "articlealley"; | | | | So this probably leaves you asking, how can you |
| ch_type = "mpu"; ch_width = 590; ch_height = 250; | | | | make mistakes on something as simple as placing a |
| ch_non_contextual = 4; ch_noborders = 1; ch_vertical | | | | bid on an eBay item? Here's the thing: |
| ="premium"; ch_sid = "590x250 Article Mixed Top"; | | | | You can always see exactly when an auction is going |
| ch_alternate_ad_url = " var ch_queries = new Array( | | | | to end by looking at the "Time Left" section of the |
| ); var | | | | auction. If you've bought anything on eBay you have |
| h)); if ( ch_selected < ch_queries.length ) { ch_query = | | | | probably noticed that most of the bidding takes place |
| ch_queries[ch_selected]; } Here I'm going to take you | | | | right near the end of the auction. The bidders that bid |
| through a little concept that I like to call "Bidding for | | | | last are usually the ones who end up winning the |
| Profit". You may have heard the old saying "The profit | | | | auction. |
| is made when you buy, not when you sell". This is | | | | There is absolutely no point in placing your bid before |
| especially true on eBay. No matter what you decide to | | | | the final seconds of the auction! Placing bids earlier |
| sell, the true profit is made when you buy the item. | | | | only raises the current price of the item and invites |
| So what does this have to do with bidding on eBay? | | | | your competitors to outbid you. This is great for the |
| EVERYTHING! One of my favorite strategies to make | | | | seller, but terrible for the final buyer of the auction. If |
| quick money is to buy items on eBay and then turn | | | | you want to buy items as cheap as possible, you must |
| around and sell them for a profit. And the key to | | | | place your bid in the final seconds of the auction. |
| making this work is bidding correctly. | | | | Placing your bid at the last second allows you to |
| I would estimate that only 2% of eBay bidders really | | | | snatch items right from under your competitor's noses. |
| get this right. That leaves 98% of the eBay bidders | | | | They will have no time to respond because by the |
| that are making one or more HUGE mistakes when | | | | time they see that you have outbid them, the auction is |
| placing their bids. And it may even be worse than that. | | | | over! This is commonly referred to as "bid sniping". |