Re: New HP 41CX Message #10 Posted by Thomas Okken on 5 June 2009, 5:30 p.m., in response to message #8 by Egan Ford
I'd definitely second the sniping suggestion. Although I have never used automatic auction sniping services, I have won a few auctions by simply logging in a few minutes before the auction I was watching ended, and then, with seconds left on the clock, entered my maximum bid. This worked pretty well for me (although it will probably become less and less successful as automatic sniping becomes more common). Bidding earlier just gives other bidders more time to respond.
The advantage of sniping is that you don't announce your willingness to bid any earlier than necessary. As long as eBay auctions have a fixed duration, there is zero advantage to *you* of bidding any earlier than necessary. But, whether you're sniping or not, it is advisable to decide how much you're willing to pay for a particular item, and stick to that maximum no matter what. It is easy to get excited and spend an amount you end up regretting -- I think psychologically speaking, it's similar to what happens to some people in casinos (hint: bring however much you can afford to lose, in cash, and leave your checks and credit cards at home).
Tip: if you see something that looks really interesting but that nobody has bid on at all yet, you may want to make a very low initial bid. That bid is virtually guaranteed to get beaten (and if it doesn't, you'll get the item at a ridiculously low price!), but it has the effect of preventing the seller from withdrawing the auction or changing its terms. This prevents some annoying practices by certain people we all know and love. ;-)
Happy collecting!
- Thomas
Edited: 5 June 2009, 5:36 p.m.
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