E-bay strategies [Archive] - Off Topic Central

Professur

12/06/04, 11:38am

Does anyone have any e-bay bidding/selling strategies they'd care to share? I'll start off by sharing my golden nugget.

When you bid on something, never bid to a round number. Everyone else will try to bid $40, $45, etc. If you bid $41.05, you'll usually win against anyone up to a ready bid of $45. You'll hold against a $40 bid. And anyone feeling you out will try $41 next, and still you'll hold. His next bid (if he's really after it) will be to $45.

Gato_Solo

12/06/04, 11:40am

Professur

12/06/04, 11:42am

My technique helps defeat sniping. It'll usually take three bids to get around me. And that's usually 2 more than they've left time for.

Gato_Solo

12/06/04, 11:46am

My technique helps defeat sniping. It'll usually take three bids to get around me. And that's usually 2 more than they've left time for.

Depends on the connection, though. You'd definitely kill dial-up, but broadband will bite you in the arse. ;)

12/06/04, 11:49am

I did about 10 bids on some memory a couple weeks ago in the last two minutes. Fucker kept upping my bid by .05. So, Prof. Buy some memory on E-bay lately?

Professur

12/06/04, 11:51am

If you're willing to go the entire $5 over me, you're welcome to it. You want it more than I do. It's the buck shooters that I wanna hunt down.

One time, I beat three snipers with this technique. They'd all left it to the 5 sec mark.

Professur

12/06/04, 11:52am

I did about 10 bids on some memory a couple weeks ago in the last two minutes. Fucker kept upping my bid by .05. So, Prof. Buy some memory on E-bay lately?

No, but I do wanna talk to you about bows sometime soon. I think I've made a drastic mistake.

12/06/04, 11:56am

Well go ahead, this doesn't seem to be drawing much attention. Or would you rather pm?

SouthernN'Proud

12/06/04, 11:58am

Strategy 1: Stay the hell off ebay as much as possible, thus avoiding bankruptcy.

Strategy 2: I too use the swoop and snipe method. Enter a bid that you know will be topped with about an hour to go simply to see how long it takes the bid to be processed from your machine. Say it took it 4 seconds. Add two seconds to that, giving you a final bid time of six seconds before expiration. At that time, enter your bid. As others have said, don't bid $40...bid $42.78. I win about 95% of my bids using this method. 'Course, I don't bid very often. If Buy It Now is an option, and the price is within what I would pay, I just do that and be done with it.

ClaireBear

12/06/04, 12:03pm

The whole biddy thing scares me... so I only ever "buyitnow"... :shrug:

Yup! I'm crap...

Professur

12/06/04, 12:10pm

Well go ahead, this doesn't seem to be drawing much attention. Or would you rather pm?

What do you know about the Hoyt Superslam bow? It seems I'm now the owner of one (don't ask), strung to 70#, and information is sorely lacking, except that Hoyt no longer supports it in any way, shape or form, and that manuals and parts are an endangered species.

HeXp£Øi±

12/06/04, 12:21pm

I did about 10 bids on some memory a couple weeks ago in the last two minutes. Fucker kept upping my bid by .05. So, Prof. Buy some memory on E-bay lately?

That is the worst thing you can do. First of all you should only bid once and when you do bid you should know how much you're willing to pay for an item. Secondly, others have the tendancy to fall victim to multiple bidding behavior as well so if you bid early they become tempted to bid higher. Bid once in the final minute(s) and you are assured the best deals. Granted this takes discipline. One bid and one bid only. If your first bid reflects what an item is worth to you then you don't have to bid again. The item DOES NOT become more valuable just because someone outbids you. If it wasn't worth that much to you 5 minutes ago then it's not worth it now.

12/06/04, 12:41pm

What do you know about the Hoyt Superslam bow? It seems I'm now the owner of one (don't ask), strung to 70#, and information is sorely lacking, except that Hoyt no longer supports it in any way, shape or form, and that manuals and parts are an endangered species.I know Hoyts are generally pretty good bows. 70# is a heavy bow, eat your wheaties if you plan on using it much. As for parts and whatnot, most of the rests, sights, etc are pretty universal. As for the manual I can see what I can find, my FiL used to carry some Hoyts, he may just have one laying around. I'll find out this week. About the only parts you might have trouble replacing are the limbs or the pulleys, but even then if you have a decent pro shop around they should be able to find a suitable replacement for the pulleys.

Professur

12/06/04, 01:00pm

12/06/04, 01:05pm

the pulleys look like excentrics. If need be, I'd just have a machine shop make me new ones. It's the limbs that worry me. I should be able to get it down to 55# safely, but that's still pretty high. And any weakness in those limbs ... and I'm the proud owner of a paperweight.Yep, and unfortunately there isn't a whole lot that can be done about it. Except maybe look on ebay for one just like it, and use it for spare parts. Although with a bow that age, there's no guarantee it will be in better shape. Have you inspected the limbs pretty close? Any cracks, splinters, indentions, anything that doesn't look right? If they look pretty good I wouldn't worry about it, but I would crank the poundage down. Just be careful backing those screws out, they usually say about two full turns from rock bottom is about all you want to go safely.

samcurry

12/06/04, 01:18pm

hey guys lets start a new one on bows, i want to jump in too. looking for a new one meself. http://www.otcentral.com/forum/showthread.php?p=377697#post377697

on the ebay part. Im the swoop in at the end and instantly take it up to what im willing to spend. messing around with the smaller numbers always messes me up.

Professur

12/06/04, 01:24pm

hey guys lets start a new one on bows, i want to jump in too. looking for a new one meself.

on the ebay part. Im the swoop in at the end and instantly take it up to what im willing to spend. messing around with the smaller numbers always messes me up.

If you're looking, there's a real nice Cheetah (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7117815446&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT) about to go. I'd be more than willing to relinquish. More than willing.

BeardofPants

12/06/04, 03:51pm

Sniping. Wait till the last minute, and swoop in, taking your prize from your opposing bidder. {hint} Only works with items that are obscure...

That's what I do. I post relatively obscene amount at the very last minute, ie the last 20 seconds on the clock. Hasn't backfired yet. Of course, I only buy stuff on there that I can't get in NZ, so I'm already forking out more than I should.... :blank:

PrincessLissa

12/07/04, 12:57am

I swoop in at the last minute with an odd numbered bid like $42.27 ro beat out those $42.05 people. I usualy win what it is I am betting on unless someone puts in a really high bid that I am not willing to outbid.

Professur

12/17/04, 02:10pm

Dumb fucking, cock sucking, retarded son of a pile of monkey shit.

I just got the Hoyt today. The fucking retard listed a value. Worse, he listed a value 2.5 times what I paid. I just had to pay taxes and duties on $120. And to top it off, the cunt didn't ship the screws for the sight either.

12/17/04, 06:37pm

Um, dude. You just paid 50 bucks for a Hoyt? Is that Canuckian? Even if it's not, that's not a bad deal with the taxes and duties.

Professur

12/18/04, 10:28am

Here's the bill.

$38 US bid for the bow
$27 US shipping (actual 17.75 shipping means nearly $10 US handling)
$23.16 Cdn taxes and duties.

I don't mind paying a handling charge, but if you're gonna charge me, at least have a fucking clue what you're doing.

12/19/04, 03:55am

Well, I agree. I'd probaby be pissed too. But anyway, how does it shoot?

Inkara1

12/19/04, 05:23am

Usually by holding it with one hand while you pull back the bowstring with the other, then letting go of the string... :lloyd:

Professur

12/20/04, 01:33pm

Well, I agree. I'd probaby be pissed too. But anyway, how does it shoot?

I'll let you know tomorrow. Tonight's practice.

Professur

1/25/05, 10:33am

Well, it shot like shit. At least it did. Then the old boys at the club took it off me, and went to work. Holy mother of Gawd. Sweet is the only word to describe it. Shot a 2" cluster at 15 yards. I hadn't a clue there was so much they could do with a well founded machine. Not to mention that it gave the club a chance to buy and play with some new tools. First they trimmed the draw weight from 70# to 53#. Reset the draw to 29". Tuned the tiller. Adjusted the rest. (They're after me to change it to a QuickTune 1000). Confirmed the nock placement, inspected and rewaxed the strings. Installed lock screws I didn't even know were missing.

And last, but long from least, made me change arrows. I'd have never thought that too much arrow could be a problem. They consulted charts, measured, and had me fire arrows from damn near everyone's quiver until they handed me a shopping list. Well, yesterday I was near the archery supply they suggested, with a few minutes on my hands, so in I went. Half an hour later, I walked out $60 poorer, with half a dozen Easton Camo-hunters. 2114@29 xx75. Flights, nock, insert and 100g point. Well, last night I shot them for the very first time. And promptly gave away my old 2216@31 Easton Gold Stalkers. DAMN. SWEET. Motherfucking dangerous.

Maybe I will look into that QT1000 after all.

greenfreak

1/25/05, 01:34pm

My orchid friends bid on plants on ebay all the time and some of them use sniping software. Does it all for you, up to the last seconds of the auction. They claim that ebay knows it goes on and doesn't expressly forbid it.

One link they posted: http://www.auctionsniper.com/?how=nmatch-www.ebaysnipe.com

Professur

4/08/05, 02:05pm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=318&item=5967321672&rd=1

You have to read it to believe it.

HomeLAN

4/08/05, 02:23pm

Nobody's bid on it in 5 days. Wonder why. You can't publicize that kind of thing very widely.

Gato_Solo

4/08/05, 03:23pm

Nobody's bid on it in 5 days. Wonder why. You can't publicize that kind of thing very widely.

You can if you do porno movies... :lol2:

chcr

4/08/05, 03:25pm

You can if you do porno movies... :lol2:

Well, PT would see it anyway... :D

HomeLAN

4/08/05, 03:28pm

Like I said, very widely. Limited audience.

tonksy

4/08/05, 04:25pm

i couldn't see it. said it was invalid or something...ironically enough, i have just discovered e-bay and in the fast 2 days have make two purchases.

Professur

4/08/05, 04:33pm

Be careful. E-bay is seriously addictive.

pc_builder

4/08/05, 04:48pm

I'm not really the sniping kind, although I've done it a couple times.

The first thing I do is look for the auctions with "buy it now" prices. If the price and shipping is within what I'm willing to pay, then I buy it. Otherwise, I bid what I'm willing to pay. If someone outbids me, I just look for similar items with lower prices. I don't win all the time, but I get my stuff pretty cheap when I do win.

True, ebay can be addictive. I once bid on a bunch of stuff at the time (all which I thought I badly needed), and immediately realized I had no way of paying for all of it if I won it all. Luckily, I got outbid on everything. So now I just bid on one thing at a time. After I place a bid, I tend to keep looking, but I stop myself and logoff before I go overboard.

4/08/05, 05:54pm

Well, PT would see it anyway... :DI missed it! :sad:

tonksy

4/08/05, 07:34pm

Be careful. E-bay is seriously addictive.
i know! but it's a money saving addiction...for the most part. i bought a dozen pair of those shoes i bought in montreals china town and i got them all for $18. my second purchase was 12 assorted baby plants for $7.

chcr

4/08/05, 07:38pm

i know! but it's a money saving addiction...for the most part. i bought a dozen pair of those shoes i bought in montreals china town and i got them all for $18. my second purchase was 12 assorted baby plants for $7.
Ahh women. They can save you money by buying stuff. :confused:

tonksy

4/08/05, 07:41pm

Ahh women. They can save you money by buying stuff. :confused:
i'm not saving "you" money, i'm saving me money! :D
seriously. i've been buying thee shoes here at $5 a piece and i'm constantly buying new plants. right now i'm bidding on some bras that would normally cost me about $40 a pop because i have to special order them. so... a penny saved is a penny earned.

Professur

4/11/05, 12:11pm

Which auction? Linkage please. I might be able to save a penny on the missus.

Aunty Em

4/12/05, 07:08am

Bidding strategy? I wait till about 1 minute from the end of the auction then put in a bid and hope it's too ludicrous an amount for anyone else to pay. Dunno if I'd call it a strategy though... :)

Professur

4/12/05, 01:56pm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5572986850

It never rains, but it pours stupidity

Aunty Em

4/12/05, 07:01pm

i love a quirky sense of humour.. :p

Professur

9/07/05, 03:18pm

http://cgi.ebay.ca/IBM-THINKPAD-A20M-700MHZ-PARTS-MACHINE-14-INCH-LCD_W0QQitemZ6799058523QQcategoryZ31553QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

Another champion of capitalism taught at the Barnum and Bailey School of Business.

HomeLAN

9/07/05, 03:28pm

Good for parts?! There's hardly any parts left in the damn thing.

Professur

9/07/05, 03:30pm

Yeah, that's about what I got out of it too.

Did ya note the shipping charge? On top of the asking price?

Inkara1

9/07/05, 05:55pm

Have Leslie or Paul pick it up! It's in Barrie.

paul_valaru

9/07/05, 06:25pm

lol, I saw that one in the store 2 weeks ago, that exact one.

Professur

9/19/05, 03:14pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:BCA:US:11&Item=7546084278

Yay, I won. Now what the hell do I do with it?

SouthernN'Proud

9/19/05, 03:29pm

Nice feedback ya got there prof. You are an asset to ebay. :winkkiss: :lloyd:

Professur

9/19/05, 03:35pm

Beats being an ass on e-bay. I've seen that one.

SouthernN'Proud

9/19/05, 03:35pm

I've dealt with a couple.

Professur

10/12/05, 02:01pm

Freddie Mercury's Rolls Royce Silver Shadow is being offered for auction by his family and represents an overwhelmingly rare opportunity for you to acquire an item of truly personal significance to him. (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Freddie-Mercurys-Rolls-Royce_W0QQitemZ7552598326QQcategoryZ2355QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

The car's last public appearance was at the London premiere of We Will Rock You, having transported the Bulsara family to the Dominion Theatre. It has been in occasional use and has travelled less than 5,000 miles since Freddie's sister (the vendor) acquired it.

The car comes with the Kleenex Mansize Tissues box that Freddie kept in the car and is complete with the remaining (unused!!) tissues.

We regret that viewings of the car cannot be undertaken, but original documents and a letter of authenticity from Freddie's sister will be available for inspection prior to completion. These will accompany the car to its new home.

The current V5 document lists Goose Productions as the previous registered keeper. This was one of Freddies companies.

Technical Information:

Make: Rolls Royce

Model: Silver Shadow 1 6,750cc

Year: 1974

Transmission: Auto

Colour: Silver

Interior: Grey Leather with wood trim

Mileage: 62,000

MoT: June 06

Tax: Feb 06

1st Registration: 18 June 1974

Previous Keepers: 2

Features: Auto locking, Electric windows, Car phone (obsolete technology?), Radio cassette player.

The Car is in the same visual condition as it was when Freddie used it, but a modern alarm system (Cobra) has been added, and the vehicle has been converted to run on unleaded petrol.

The car is in good condition, as you would expect for a car of this age that has been looked after, but used. It has the odd small patch of rust, mainly around the wheel arches and on the rear corners of the chrome bumpers. It is in good running order, the engine bay and undersides are clean and the bodywork is polished. The interior is clean, no tears and the leather shows the patina of age.

MrBishop

10/14/05, 12:29pm

Anyone on here sell on eBay?

I have a house-full of stuff that I'd like to trim down and it seems to beat the ol' garage-sale method.

Leslie

10/14/05, 12:46pm

Freddie Mercury's Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
wow.

That's awesome.

Professur

11/25/05, 09:47am

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4593007999&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1

Just .... just look.

Gonz

11/25/05, 01:26pm

I'm considering buying a DishNetwork upgrade receiver & looked on ebay. These people don't quite get teh whole auction thing do they?
US $88.99 Nov-25-05 02:43:49 PST

US $87.99 Nov-24-05 18:16:17 PST

US $85.05 Nov-24-05 01:03:29 PST

US $75.00 Nov-22-05 18:23:39 PST

US $35.00 Nov-20-05 14:03:50 PST

US $30.00 Nov-22-05 16:48:03 PST

US $5.01 Nov-19-05 06:51:34 PST

from 5 to 30 to 75 in 4 hits. :rolleyes:

Professur

11/25/05, 02:50pm

People don't want to sit watching their bid all day, so they bid in a high maximum amount. I could bid $75, and the system will sit at .99 until someone bids against me. Unfortunately, if they do the same as I did, and put in an $80 bid, It'll shoot from .99 to $76 in one bid. Not that either of us really wanted it to go that high.

Gonz

11/25/05, 03:43pm

I thought you could put in incremnents of auto upbids (say, $5. more everytime someone outbids you) up to your predetermined max.

Professur

11/25/05, 03:48pm

http://cgi.ebay.ca/100-SHOCKING-SICK-CD-ONE-FOR-THE-LADS_W0QQitemZ5638980963QQcategoryZ1469QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

Gonz

11/25/05, 03:58pm

Alright, there may be such a thing as too big.

Professur

11/25/05, 04:10pm

Alright, there may be such a thing as too big.

May Gawd forgive your blaspheme.

Spirit

11/25/05, 04:27pm

ahh.. yes. But he's kinda right.

Professur

11/25/05, 06:16pm

http://cgi.ebay.ca/TONGUE-JOY-ORAL-VIBRATOR-SO-SMALL-FEELS-SOOO-GOOD_W0QQitemZ5637840090QQcategoryZ36452QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem

Get in line for this one.

HomeLAN

6/07/06, 11:24am

Bwahahaaa! Read down through the replies to comments on this one.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4633452260&ru=http://search.ebay.co.uk:80/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=4633452260&fvi=1

chcr

6/07/06, 11:43am

SouthernN'Proud

6/07/06, 11:55am

Luis G

6/07/06, 12:07pm

Jeeezzzzz.........