Ebay Commando

You can make multiple bids and some people do it to try to ensure that they win. And as you say, will flush out any other bids.

d*w may have been using sniping. And I'm not sure what you mean by "non automatic" - all bids are automatic in the sense that you specify the highest you will go to not an actual amount.

Isn't it called "Sniper" software, it allows bid s in the dying seconds, but I have been told that if you join certain Auction websites they will bid for you on Evil bay, using technically advanced 10th of a second bidding software. One thing that could always happen is someone gets family members and friends to bump up somethings price!

I have been watching Smiths Chronometric Speedo's and Rev' Counters and on nearly everyone the same bidder keeps bidding, increasing the price and then pulls out!

Then some people have bidder anonymity, how and why is this allowed?

Does this not allow unidentified individuals to manipulate the end price?

Here is the item!

I think when you list an item you can allow bidders to be anonymous. I can't see the advantage to the seller so have never done this myself.

As a seller you can see who the bidders are. However you can set it up so that other bidders cannot.

As far as bidding goes yes it is possible to download a programme that put your bid in at the last possible moment. Not a programme that I have or would use.

When bids are made they are effectively commission bids similar to those which you might leave at a reputable auction house. The auctioneer or ebay in this case will obtain the item at the lowest possible price for the bidder up to their commission bid maximum amount. If two people put in the same maximum commission bid then the person who entered their bid first has priority and will win the item.

On an ebay listing you will see the number of bids which have been individually made.

If one particularly wants to discourage people bidding on an item you want then if you can give the impression that lots of people are interested in biding it might put them off. This is easily done by putting in lots of bids at £1 or £10 intervals. If I was prepared to bid £100 for an item and entered that as my maximum then it would appear as one bid. However if I entered bids at £10 intervals it would register as 10 bids on the listing and because they were all made by me I would obtain the item at the lowest price possible within my maximum range.

Of course it is possible that making something look appealing by making it look as though many people are interested could be counter productive in that people think that it might be something more desirable due to the interest.

I donât see the problem with sniping, you set your maximum price then leave it to bid at what ever time the auction ends, I use one for convenience rather than to try to win it at the lowest price.

Dan

Previously john_hall1 wrote:

Here is the item!

Ooo Iâve a got a brand new one of those, didnât know they were worth so much!

If I really want something then I have two screens running with separate bids entered but not confirmed. (The bids are what I would like to pay and what is my top line) I watch until there are 5-6 seconds left before hitting the confirmation button. By then there is no time for a rival bid unless is automated. Sometimes I will do an automated bid and also check it out from my phone whilst out and bid again if the price rises dramatically therefore effectively bidding against myself. Ebay has changed over the years and it used to be a great place to buy and sell small pieces. Now there are a lot of scammers on line and idiots who bid with no intention of buying. I have known people when they have had no bids on an item get a friend to at least start the bidding and sometimes bump it up. Not something I agree with but no different to standing in an auction house and having someone do the same.

Graham, give Gixen a go, itâs free and soooooo much easier!

Previously Dan Field wrote:

Graham, give Gixen a go, itâs free and soooooo much easier!

Thanks Will have a look but is it going to spoil my excitement?

I used to sit there with my clockwork watch and an adrenaline rush but I use EZ Sniper these days. It only costs pennies and only on successful bids. It bids later than I could ever manage and apparently with less chance of poor internet.

I just decide my maximum and get on with life - no danger of getting in a bidding war.

A further advantage is that the family don't know that I'm spending on old bikes again

I have to say that in our specialist hobby world, and my other odd collections, I've not come across any dodginess. I try to think what I would pay at a jumble and stick to that.

Best prices I have had are at VMCC autojumbles!