I am Domokun said:
Ok, my ma says she's ok with the whole PayPal eBay thing so I'm gonna see if I can snatch the 300w Ashdown - any tips for bidding etc?
FWIW:
1) You need to hear back from the guy okaying shipping before bidding. If you bid and win, he's not obligated to sell and he'll just skip you and go to the next highest bidder. So in that sense, you really don't have anything to lose by bidding whether he responds about shipping or not except ebay may give you a warning or something - and he'll probably be pis#@ed.
No major deal at any rate. Just a matter of respect but you really need to get a shipping quote from him - or at least his address and intended carrier and class so you can get a fairly accurate estimate yourself. Shipping cost is critical and really money down a rat hole - especially an item that's expensive to ship. But it beats the alternative.
There are different approaches to ebay. The way I do it may not work for you. If for no other reason, if your computer/connection is faster or slower, that can screw it all up. It's my understanding that Europe is basically all 5 meg broadband (Over half of what it is in Asia and 5x's what it is here - cause we're still using tins can with essentially no broadband).
1) I do my research, know the item (and know what I don't know abou it), and know where it fits in my list of priorities.
2) I do my research, establish the most I'll pay for the item, and deduct shipping cost from that. So if all I'll pay is $51 and shipping is $50, my maximum bid is $1 (plus a few cents).
Based on a lot of variables (including those in 1) but basically: how often the item shows up; best internet new price (usually Musician's Friend - or close enough); lowest price one has sold for under ebay completed auctions (and often give some consideration to what players have paid for in harmonycentral.com reviews); and my need at the time.
And budget would be a consderation for most. So, if you're wanting other stuff and don't have the funds - you'd need to establish priority.
3) I sync my computer with ebay preferably about 30 minutes before bidding.
For whatever reason, my computer gains (A lot) on ebay time. And my computer (or any I've seen that I can recall for some screwy reason) doesn't allow you to see the seconds.
4) With enough reserve time to get in and setup for the final bid, I hit the F5 button to get the latest high bid.
5) I setup up for final bid, watch the clock, and I throw my one shot high bid in with under 10 seconds remaining and either get it or don't.
10 seconds is not enough time for someone to bid up - or you either. If they outbid you, they used the same approach and were willing to pay more. 15 seconds IS enough time and if you're too early there's a high probability you'll be outbid. If you're too late, there's a 100% probability the auction will end and not take your bid so you will definetly lose. One dude actually hit it dead on the money (no pun intended) in one acution I bid. That's damn lucky cuase nobody's that good.
The sync part is highly recommended, if for no other reason, so you know the ebay process cuase you have to bid and then confirm your bid - basically bid twice.
If I can't bid at the last second, I pass. Auctions that are important to me I schedule to be there.
For 90% of it, there's another one coming right down the pike. Even when I lose I win cause I just saved myself some coin. There's always more stuff.
Note: there are guys just throw down an early extremely high bid to make sure they'll get something. You will definetly win the auction that way - but the probability is you will pay top dollar for it. And maybe more.
A buddy of mine sold a pair of Korean Bart MK1 pickups for $250 to a couple morons that got in a bidding war. He paid $60 for them off ebay and was concerend he'd paid too much - which he probably did.
