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What is proper seller/bidding etiquette?
There’s an item I’m watching. Bidding closes soon. 25 bids but most from the same few bidders submitting multiple bids in a row essentially bidding against themselves and driving up the price. Just curious if this is typical behavior or the seller trying to increase the sale of their item.
2 comments
gosimus
Mentor1 year ago@jesicmcwalter0
< the same few bidders submitting multiple bids in a row ... driving up the price >
They're reacting to the leading bid, pecking at it at a quarter a pop. Reactive bidding is famous for losing. The best tactic is to determine the amount that's the most that the item is worth to you and not a dollar more – take into account shipping and tax – add a few odd cents to that amount, and bid it as near the end of the auction as you can manage.
Adding the few odd cents to your bid is to beat a tie. In case of a tie, the earliest bid wins. Since you'll be bidding as late as possible, the other bid will be earlier. So add an extra 17¢ or pick another amount that you prefer, but mix up the amounts so competitors won't be able to detect a pattern.
The purpose in bidding as late as possible is so that you don't leave the reactive suckers enough time to nibble at your bid.
disneyshopper
Mentor1 year agoSellers cannot bid on their items. The software prohibits it. Are the buyers new? New buyers will often make multiple bids. Experienced sellers will bid one time, the most they will pay, as late in the auction as they are comfortable with.