ebay bidding

[Ramrod]

Whats to stop a sellers friend from 'bidding up' the price of an item?

[Neil]

Nothing.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Neil

Nothing.

As I suspected. I wonder how much of it goes on...?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

As I suspected. I wonder how much of it goes on...?

Quite a bit I would suspect.

[Paulie]

Was there anything specific you were looking at? I use ebay a lot and always check the feedback, and the items that the seller has previously sold. A few times i`ve been a bit wary, so I just left well alone.

[br3ach]

Originally Posted by Neil

Quite a bit I would suspect.

I am a regular ebay user and would backup what Neil says...

It does go on quite a bit.

[Ramrod]

I am biding on something but I'm not suspicious. I was just wondering.
*edit* Here's an interesting bidding scam

[Paulie]

Interesting little scam. Most of the time, I will put in a bid early on then do nothing until the last minute. I`ve found that some ebay newbies (my wife included) keep bidding from the off, just to be the highest bidder.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

I am biding on something but I'm not suspicious. I was just wondering.
*edit* Here's an interesting bidding scam

I think Ebay would notice in the end if one person kept puitting things for auction with no reserve and 99p start and the same id did the initial bids to up the anti. Rememebr on ebay you pay extra if you have reserve prices etc. Not sure ebay would do much about it as dont they take a % of the sale price.

At the end of the day you need to decide what the item is worth before you start bidding and stick to that price. If you get sucked into paying a higher price then you have become addicted

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by gary_580

At the end of the day you need to decide what the item is worth before you start bidding and stick to that price.

just like at any other auction...

Originally Posted by Ramrod

just like at any other auction...

amazing how many peopel say oh well it was only £10 more. I used to get cars from the auction, a friend came with me once and though i was mad not to bid anouther £100 and a car that was going for around £6500. I can see their point, another £100 to get it. But then theres the arguement that £100 can become £200 then £500 and before you know it youve been stupid.

[altis]

The clock on ebay is spot on. My solution was to buy a radio-controlled watch and only ever put in a bid when there's less than 5 seconds to go. With practice (and nerve) I can get it down to the last second. Also, this makes you seriously think about your maximum bid.

If it's a valuable item then do your research first. Read the listing very carefully and work out exactly what it does and doesn't say and what you are assuming. Has he/she previously bought the same or similar item? Make contact by asking a question. Does the reply give you complete confidence?

[Paulie]

I try to stick to an end figure, but it seems to be an end figure +20% most times. Human nature I suppose.

[aliferste]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

I am biding on something but I'm not suspicious. I was just wondering.
*edit* Here's an interesting bidding scam

I dont really understand that scam, all it seems to do is scare way ligit bidders leavig the lower bids

[Paulie]

I`ll remember never to bid against you then.

Originally Posted by altis

The clock on ebay is spot on. My solution was to buy a radio-controlled watch and only ever put in a bid when there's less than 5 seconds to go. With practice (and nerve) I can get it down to the last second. Also, this makes you seriously think about your maximum bid.

If it's a valuable item then do your research first. Read the listing very carefully and work out exactly what it does and doesn't say and what you are assuming. Has he/she previously bought the same or similar item? Make contact by asking a question. Does the reply give you complete confidence?