There are two or three different tactics you can adopt when trying to win something from an online auction site such as ebay – in this article we will outline three of them:
Start by Bidding High:
If you’ve got a large or set amount of money with which to purchase your item then it won’t hurt you to start off by bidding high. A great many people take this option if they can’t be bothered to sit around and watch that auction clock ticking down or if they know they wont be able to get to a computer by the end of the auction. If you make yourself that highest bidder then you will be reassured that if you don’t win the item, you did everything you could have to get it. It is possible that you will indeed be outbid by a late bidder, but you will at least have some peace of mind.
Bid in Increments:
The most common way to win auctions on ebay is through incremental bidding. If you want to do this correctly and successfully, you need to select the ‘Watch Item’ option and this will keep you updated on the changes to bids on the item you are bidding on. As those bids come in, if they top yours then you can go back and up your own bid. If you go for this method make sure you set yourself a mental ceiling so that you will stop at that point – otherwise you could end up spending way more than the item is worth.
Bidding To the Wire:
Finally, there is bidding at the very last minute, or sniping. Some people find this rude but in reality it is just another auction tactic. All you do is wait for your auction to go to near the end. Set your search on all of your products and items you are watching to ‘Time Ending Soonest’. If you can time it until 10 to 15 secs before the auction ends then jump in and place a bid for about $5 to $10 above the latest bid, then you will have a very good chance of grabbing your item.
Alex is a journalist and blogger. He writes on everything from finance to design and writes a consumer blog for Coupon Croc . |
