EBay Bidding

[dazuk1972]

Some times when I bid on EBay, I place a bid and when I confirm it I'm outbid in a split-second before my next page downloads and when the same thing happens with the same item, it repeats the same thing in the way I explained. What software do people have to do this? This also happens when I try again a couple of hours later. They can't say they sit in front of their PC's for hours on end refreshing their screens non-stop because that would be sad of them. That would drive somebody insane staring at a PC screen for hours on end and clicking their left mouse button non-stop for hours on end. Somebody would have to be insane in the first place to do it when you think of it.

Many thanks.

Darren.

[admin]

I don't have much experience with eBay, but I've heard of this happening quite frequently. Search for "eBay snipe" on Google for more information.

[olyteddy]

It also has to do with what your maximum bid is. For example, if an item is at $5.00 and I bid $10.00 the price only goes to $5.50 (current price + increment). My $10.00 bid will keep trumping any bid under $10.00, but if the bid doesn't reach $10.00 I win and pay whatever the last bid was (not necessarily the full $10.00).

[copyless]

It works basically the way oly has said, except that if you bid ten dollars the bid will go to ten dollars right then. Now if you bid $5.50 and then the next screen will have enter higher maximum bid and you enter ten dollars there, it will not increase until others bid, then yours will out bid them to a max of ten dollars, whether you are there or not. Also with the new bid assistant you can set it up to bid on several of the same type items with a max you are willing to pay and it will automatically bid for you on each item until you are outbid on each one or win one, then it will cease.

[RFBurns]

I use ebay quite often. I have experienced this issue only on occaision. But keep in mind that a majority of bidding takes place at the last few minutes/seconds of an auction. That is to say that the most active time of an auction is the last 3 minutes and the auction might have thousands of bidders pinging away with bids. Its not unlike a stand in auction where you have to raise your number card or indicate you want to raise your bid and the fellow two rows back also raises his card at the same time you do, hence a bidding war. The internet bidding is no different.

One thing that is a problem with the bidding pages at these auction sites is the hords of junk they cram on the pages that can in effect slow down the process. I believe that because of the garbage (advertising) on the bidding pages must take time to download onto your screen, that it can effectively interfere with your attempt to bid at those critical moments of an auction.

Doesnt make any sense to cram a page filled with advertising when your trying to bid. No one is paying any attention to the advertising when right in the middle of a heavy action bid. Might as well just blindfold yourself and drive at 100mph and attempt to read 1 out of 20 hand written signs on a telephone pole.

Its not a perfect system these bidding sites but hang in there and keep your click finger on the trigger!