The Ebay auction format is a hard-close timed auction. It ENDS at a specified time - there are no bidding time extensions. It has worked perfectly well for the entire history of Ebay and is NOT likely going to be changed.
If you want to be successful at winning items on Ebay, you need to bid THIS way: Determine the absolute most you would pay for the item you want. If your first inclination is that you'd pay $25, then ask yourself: "If it sold for $26, would I be upset and wish I had bid $27?" If the answer is 'yes', then you need to bid $27 in the first place. Keep asking yourself that question until you come to the point where you say to yourself: "No, I would not pay more than $x.xx for that."
When you've determined the ABSOLUTE MOST you'd pay for an item, then BID that amount, with a few odd cents thrown in to avoid ties. Bid ONCE, any time which suits you during the well-defined listing duration. You'll see reference to "snipers" or "bid sniping". That is the practice of placing your bid at the last possible second. That strategy thwarts possible bidders who bid the way you are bidding now, by not allowing them to place another bid, as time has run out. Sniping is the preferred bidding method of many, if not most, experienced Ebayers who understand the rules.
If you've bid your absolute maximum, one of two things will happen: 1) You'll win - for a price equal to or less than your bid amount and be happy. Or: 2) Someone else will win, and you'll know that the ONLY reason they won was that they thought the item was worth more than you did. If you've bid your true maximum, you should have no regrets. (If you still HAVE regrets, it wasn't your true maximum!)
It's the highest bidder that wins, not the last bidder. I've seen items' prices jump hundreds of dollars in the last 5 seconds and the winning bidder be the first bid, placed only a few hours after the auction started. The HIGHEST bidder wins, regardless of when they placed their bid!
You can bid like I've described, or you can continue the (faulty) strategy you've been using, keep losing out and keep complaining about how "unfair" it is - your choice. Good luck in your future bidding!
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Message 9 of 25
