Auctions need better, more obnoxious notifications!
Summary: juicydrupes expressed frustration with missing auction bids due to inadequate notifications and suggested implementing more noticeable alerts. kathiec recommended using sniping tools or setting a maximum bid in advance. There was a debate on the practicality of loud notifications, with some participants suggesting alternative solutions like personal alarm systems. mudshark61369 and others offered ideas for setting custom alarms or notification sounds on devices. Overall, the discussion weighed practical tips against the feasibility of modifying platform features.
Every single day - I miss out on bidding on something because, I'm too busy to sit there for the last 15 minutes of an auction with my attention fixed.
I need something that makes a lot of noise in the last FIVE minutes. Its too easy to step away at the 15 mark - get distracted for a second - and miss the bid.
Sellers - you are being screwed daily by this lacking feature.
More - better - please!!!
yeswayrecords
·1 week ago@juicydrupes Yes, the option to add an attention-getting notification on watched auctions would be so helpful!
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 week agoThere are at least two, well known ways to avoid time critical problems buying on Ebay auctions.
Bid the maximum that you are willing to pay for the item and let Ebay bid automatically as competition requires.
Use a snipe site, have it bid the maximum you are willing to pay for the item, just before the auction closes.
Neither solution will require Ebay to prioritize your request for a new function affecting a declining portion of Ebay's business.
mudshark61369
·2 weeks ago@juicydrupes ,
I want "Ding" at 15 minutes.
"Ding Ding" at 10 mintues
"Ding Ding Ding" at 5 minutes.
If you want obnoxious notification or alarm sounds for a phone or computer there are apps and programs that allow you to add custom alarm/notification sounds to devices. Do an online search for; "Is there an app or program for changing a phone's or computer's notification sounds"
There are ways to add custom sounds to a device's notification sounds for Android, IOS, Mac, Windows... My alarm is set to play the opening bells from Pink Floyd's "Time" song at my phone's loudest volume. A friend has "Danger Will Robinson" set for calls from his Ex.
If your device allows you to start its browser/App quickly just set an alarm for 5-7 minutes before the end time, after making sure the device is synced with the atomic clock.
kickin.assets
·2 weeks agoThis is exactly what works! For everything! Especially for people with ADHD like myself. A different tune for each task works surprisingly well. I also have Siri announce sales because my brain for some reason tunes out the Cha Ching.
Personally my reminder notification is “Crazy Train” Ozzy ~ Works wonders when you hear Ozzy yell ALL ABOARDDDDD … scared a small child in Target once with that, but got a good laugh from the parents. 😂😂
mudshark61369
·2 weeks ago@kickin.assets ,
Crazy Train is my wife's general ring tone. I guess great minds think alike. The one I use for her calls is You Really Got Me, by The Kinks. Hers for me is The Lunatic is in my head from Pink Floyd's Brain Damage. Not sure why though? Well They're coming to take me away hoho hehe haha, to the funny farm...
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 week ago · Edited@kickin.assets I always knew I liked you. Now I like you even more!
monroe67
·2 weeks ago · Edited"Its too easy to step away at the 15 mark - get distracted for a second - and miss the bid."
Seems to me that YOU are too easily distracted.
If you really really wanted the Thing, you would find a way not to be distracted as the end of the auction approaches. Let the microwave beep. Let the phone ring.
Unless somebody is bleeding or there is a fire, try to stay focused and place your bid as close to the final moment of the auction as possible.
"Sellers - you are being screwed daily by this lacking feature."
eBay sellers who use the auction format understand that the person who has placed the highest bid at the end of the auction wins that auction.
If that highest bid did not come from you, it came from somebody else.
The seller will have met his/her objective.
juicydrupes
OP2 weeks agoAnother typical "You're not doing it right" post...
Please do not dictate how I use eBay.
juicydrupes
OP2 weeks agoI want "Ding" at 15 minutes.
"Ding Ding" at 10 mintues
"Ding Ding Ding" at 5 minutes.
participatrophy
·2 weeks agoYou on a phone or computer?
juicydrupes
OP2 weeks agoComputer usually. I used to use the phone until they improved the bidding dialog on PC.
participatrophy
·1 week agoyTimer2 from Spacejock Software was made by a dude with pretty much your exact use case in mind.
UK's Kalender from UKrebs software is a hidden gem that includes the functionality you're wanting.
Alarm Clock Power Pro from brain-75 on github is another option, and the newest of the four.
ToDoList 9.2.6 from AbstractSpoon Software is yet another option in case you don't like any of the others.
mudshark61369
·2 weeks ago@juicydrupes ,
Besides the great suggestions already posted, there old school ways not to moss auctions. Set an alarm on your phone, smart watch or even on an alarm clock set to go off with enough time to boot up your device an place a bid. Keep in mind that it is not always the last bid received that wins an auction, but the highest one.
juicydrupes
OP2 weeks agoThe Phone Alarm seems the best fix for now...I understand how bidding works, thank you.
kathiec
·2 weeks ago@juicydrupes
I do hope you realize that for every buyer who wants loud, obnoxious notifications there are at least 10,000 who don't. This honestly sounds like a you problem, not an eBay problem.
But there is an easy solution to your problem. Actually two. The first is to use an online sniping tool. I use one that's free. They never have bidding ADHD. The second is to just bid the highest you're willing to bid, plus a bit to account for ties, at any time during the listing. Then if you lose you know it's because someone was willing to pay more.
juicydrupes
OP2 weeks agoYou can select all sorts of notifications - turn them ON or OFF. One might assume it would be easy to set the notifications to what ever increment, or last minute you like.
All too typical - "you aren't doing right" response that appears on this forum.
kathiec
·2 weeks agoBecause sometimes you aren't. You'll notice that every post also gave you ways to solve your problem.
juicydrupes
OP2 weeks agoIm just asking for a better feature - thats all. Sheesh!
Yes - some people were able to offer good suggestions without being jerks.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 week agoI guarantee you that loud noises would generate far more complaints that thank yous. Respectfully, it is not a good suggestion IMO. Just think of all the people who are at work, sneakily trying to bid on a last minute auction in their cube :-) In all seriousness, the majority of people hate loud noises & flashing lights. So much so, that now many videos & movies have warnings about them.
juicydrupes
OP1 week agoGenerally notifications can be turned on and off.
Your remarks apply to the current notifications too...so another meaningless "cant do" reply
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 week agoI never said they CAN'T do it. I simply explained why they are unlikely to do it. To the relief of many.
maysherip
·1 week agoMy goodness. After seeing your profile it’s apparent that you certainly like being combative with those that don’t meet with your approval.
Try and be nice.