Comments on: Be careful about ‘winning’ an eBay auction

By: Faye

Faye — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 01:36:30 +0000

I’m a big fan of ebay, and I just started last year.

Last week was my birthday and I was set out on buying an audio law lecture set on Ebay in preparation for law school. People have been bidding on it already, and I thought I’d wait till the last minute to bid.

Why? Not because I wanted the rush. I usually in the middle, like 1-2 days before the auction ends. It’s more because I want to make sure what my highest bid would be.

I was still calculating how much money I’d receive from my salary teaching nursing, and I had to make sure that I had enough for savings. Maximum bid: $35.

I was there the whole time it was ending. I was winning around 7 minutes till the auction ends, until someone bids $42.77.

Sadly, I lost. But I knew until when I would stop. Even if it was for my birthday.

By: L. Ottaviano

L. Ottaviano — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:33:18 +0000

The biggest thing I've bought on E-Bay was a dining room table with 10 chairs and 2 hutches...in Kansas. And I live in Oregon. Even with the shipping charge, it was a great deal and I got exactly what i wanted. I even passed it up the first time it was posted, and lucked out when they reposted with a lower starting price. When I first started using E-Bay 7 years ago I would get caught up in the excitement of bidding and outbidding others. That led to a few unwise purchases (small stuff like clothing). Now I know better. I hardly pay attention to when the auction ends. I just put in a sensible maximum bid and walk away. L. Ottaviano's last blog post..July Update

By: Friday Linkfest – August is a Frenzied Month! | beingfrugal.net

Friday Linkfest – August is a Frenzied Month! | beingfrugal.net — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:00:43 +0000

[...] at Sense to Save warns her readers not to get so caught up in winning an eBay auction that they pay too much. I’ve done that before. Ooops. But I didn’t pay too much this week when I [...]

By: tiffanie

tiffanie — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:36:50 +0000

i normally use "buy it now" to save from the headache of feeling like i missed out on a purchase if i don't "win" the bidding. :) tiffanie's last blog post..want to cut your grocery bill in half?

By: Bonnie Sayers (autismfamily)

Bonnie Sayers (autismfamily) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:36:54 +0000

Back in 2004 I bought a used minivan on ebay motors and had to up my price to $250 since someone else showed up at the last few minutes. It was a rush to the end and my heart was pounding and racing. I traded the car in this past March for a newer model at a car dealership this time. Bonnie Sayers (autismfamily)'s last blog post..Autism Reviewer Book Swap

By: Miss Mommy

Miss Mommy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:17:23 +0000

I also bid on auctions in the last few minutes, part of the fun, I suppose…like a rush that you get as well Kacie (And I thought that only happend to me!. I have won many auctions this way…but have also lost a few bidding this way as well. No biggie, I guess they were just not meant for me to win…LOL LOL

By: Solomon

Solomon — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:01:00 +0000

If everyone decided what they wanted to pay, and stuck to it, there wouldn't be a problem with sniping. If you're going to end up bidding more than your maximum, then just do it in the first place. Solomon's last blog post..The “Things I’m Grateful For” July contest - NOW RUNNING!!

By: Kookaburra

Kookaburra — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:05:10 +0000

Seems like I bid the same way you do. I wait until the last minute to put my bid in… unless I’ll be out or if it’s ending after I’m asleep or something. And I can’t understand why some people have a problem with that. It doesn’t matter when you bid, just matters who’s willing to pay the most.

Oh and I always factor shipping costs into the price I’m paying. So then I can decide if I’m just better off going to the store and picking up the item myself.