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Bidding
Why is it allowed that someone can bid in 0 seconds. I bidded on an item recently and I refreshed the page to the last second showing I was the highest bidder and someone bidded 50cents higher than me some how and it never informed me or anything the entire time. It feels very unfair and okay for people to be using robots or bidding like this I would just like help because each time I’ve tried to bid on an item people are using these ways and it feels unfair.
2 comments
woodland_gnome
·2 years agoIt is NOT "unfair". You are bidding sub-optimally and should change your strategy if you want to win more.
Sniping (bidding one time at your TRUE maximum in the last seconds of the auction) is a defensive tactic that is the best single defense against shilling sellers. You have no need and no right to know anything about my bid to be able to bid effectively. Just bid your TRUE maximum the first time you bid. Since the price is set by the second highest bidder and the amount of his/her bid will have already been figured into the price you will pay if you bid more (or the same amount earlier) than him/her, you do not have to figure it into what you bid. Again, bid your TRUE maximum that you are willing and able to pay for that item as listed.
eBay's auction format is what makes it fair to those in up to 24 timezones with different work/sleep/computer schedules. Anyone can bid what the item is worth to them at any time and anyone can set up with a third party (there are reliable and secure ones which offer free limited use) to submit that bid in the last few seconds to get the defensive benefits of not having one's hidden maximum out there for others (again, including shilling sellers) to probe or otherwise base their bids on. Making it so those who are able to be there to react at the end have the advantage would be unfair.
lady_madonna
Mentor2 years ago@ev3tar0
It is possible for bidders to place a bid with 0 seconds left in the auction. No "robots".
Highest bid wins, not the latest, so the reason why you did not win is because someone else was willing to spend more than you were.