AUCTION EXTENSIONS FOR BUYERS

[amricons]

Hi, would anybody object to eBay extending auctions that have activity in the last few minutes, like 5 ? Sellers may get more money, eBay would get more mony and buyers would have the opportunity to make a higher bid.  Lastly, it would elimate sniping, which still happens on ebay, is an violation of eBay pilicy, which ebay' acknowledges and still happens.  One reason I think it would improve the experience for eveybody are sveral. 

We often bid on multiple item from 1 seller and many list the items with close times within minutes of each other. 

Amyway, other auction sites do this, ie if an item has a bid they extend the auction time.

IMHO,  we would be spending a lot more money on eBay, LOl or keeps me from spending too much.

We have asked eBay why many, many times, as they seem to be seeking more top libe sales , this would increase sales at min cost and help all parties.

[cherry*fizz]

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@amricons wrote:

Hi, would anybody object to eBay extending auctions that have activity in the last few minutes, like 5 ? Sellers may get more money, eBay would get more mony and buyers would have the opportunity to make a higher bid.  Lastly, it would elimate sniping, which still happens on ebay, is an violation of eBay pilicy, which ebay' acknowledges and still happens.  One reason I think it would improve the experience for eveybody are sveral. 

We often bid on multiple item from 1 seller and many list the items with close times within minutes of each other. 

Amyway, other auction sites do this, ie if an item has a bid they extend the auction time.

IMHO,  we would be spending a lot more money on eBay, LOl or keeps me from spending too much.

We have asked eBay why many, many times, as they seem to be seeking more top libe sales , this would increase sales at min cost and help all parties.

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No. The ending time is there for everyone to see. Everyone can bid their maximum bid whenever they want. If they wanted to pay more and get outbid before the auction is over they should be more mindful of their max bid. And remember, it's tempting to think you might have won it for just one incriment over the winning bid, you don't know if that person had been willing to pay more and bid that earlier. IMO there is no reason to extend auction times. 

[estjoh-2]

Another thing to consider, sellers have to set a shipping time requirement. Very often a seller will set their options based on their personal schedule. If that seller has to go out of town while on auction is still being bid up due to extensions, it can cause them not be able to ship within their shipping and handling time.

That can lead to serious consequences for the seller's account.

[eburtonlab]

@amricons

We often bid on multiple item from 1 seller and many list the items with close times within minutes of each other. 

Auction extensions make this problem much more complicated; if you can't bid on the second auction until you see the results of the first, what if the first auction is extended after you have already bid?

The solution is to bid your maximum once, late in the auction, for whichever auction is ending soonest, aka sniping.

Bidding extensions are a solution in search of a problem. You don't need eBay to extend auctions: what would you do differently in that extra five minutes? Bid higher? Just do that exact thing, only five minutes earlier.

[castlemagicmemories]

Many just don't see the big picture.

[Anonymous]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
Sniping is not against any eBay policy.   In fact, eBay specifically encourages all bidders to bid their true maximum bid before the time runs out. If buyers did that, then sellers would not lose out due to stingy buyers who fail to bid their true max as eBay advises.

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If they tried to make sniping against policy can you imagine the reaction from buyers who found the item in search just a few minutes before it ended only to learn it was too late for them to place a bid? It would be ridiculous to try and manage that.

Sniping happens - buyers who don't like it should bid once and bid their max. If the buyer loses the auction then they should be comfortable with the fact that they weren't caught up by the need to win and bidding more than they intended.

[amricons]

That is what I was told by CS many times.  Besides as a conversation point, do you want sniping or not.  ie Are in favor of it ?

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Sniping has NEVER been against the rules. In fact if I remember correctly it is described in the rules and they say it's ok.

Sniping rules! Why should anyone commit to buy until the last minute? It lets you leave your options open and only buy things you really want. It limits you being a target for nibblers and shilling alike.

In my experience in general, snipers tend to be the most experienced buyers and the quickest to pay.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Here's one page out of the Ebay help files. Note how it says sniping is allowed.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/bidding/bid-sniping?id=4224&st=3&pos=1&query=Bid%20sniping

[juststuffisell]

Well, as a lot of poster noted above, there are opinions on both sides.

Re: Max bid - don't do that at an auction where someone has a chance to bid again - timed or auctioneer managed events - because if someone wants it they are going to bid again and again until they get the item. If it's your item being sold - you're like Yeah Baby! That means more money for you at the end of the day.

Shill bidding - man, if someone wants to shill bid their auctions, they are gonna figure out how to do it, I mean - get a friend in another state and bingo, you got a shill bidder for an item if you need one in the pocket. Relative?  whatever. Sketchy sellers are gonna be sketchy no matter where they are selling.

Some of the most expensive items that sell on ebay sell during live events where bidding ends when the auctioneer says the bid is over, not when the clock says it's over. Simply put, you or I are not gonna pull down the same amount that live event pulled. Why? Because bidder bid until someone said mercy.

Buyers don't like it - and I am one of them when buying for resale - because in many instances you pay more for a lot than you'd prefer cutting into your margins. Even the every day joe doesn't care for it. I mean, everyone wants a deal right? More please...for less please.... Great for the buyer - bad for the seller.

Just this morning I was at an auction for a very specific lot of jewelry. I didn't really want to spend more than 100 bucks on it. Darn other bidders, I walked out spending 150 bucks for that lot to get it. Will I make money? Sure - but not as much as I wanted to make. 

Friday I was at an auction for specific lots of antique jewelry. My budget was 1000.00. Dang if at the end of the day for those lots I wanted I walked out spending 1812.00 to get them and still had to pass on two of them because they went full kamikaze retail. Darn auctioneers and persistent bidders willing to pay more than me. Will I make money? Heck yeah, but I could have put myself in a position to make more... if it was a drop dead event - I would have been the high bidder on every lot.

I mean, I picked up a lot of jewelry for $500 bucks a few weeks ago that when said and done, I'll make 3 grand on - that's the kind of deals we all want to work as sellers. But...darn the pesky other bidders driving up the costs. I knew what I was looking at as did one other bidder.. could have had the entire lot for 125 bucks if not for them....darn live bidding.

So, I personally as a seller would love to have a more "live" like event where time is extended with every bid at the last minute in 3 or 4 minute increments. It's more exciting for the bidders and as a seller, you will make more money on some items than you might otherwise make.

There are a number of very popular "live" auction sites where you can watch items auction off for WAY more than you can ever hope to get for them on eBay at fixed price. WAY more. Why? because when you have two buyers that want the same thing....price is limited only by what one is willing to spend to have it and many times on eBay - we simply never realize what that maximum price is that two people are willing to spend in a knock down drag out bidding battle.

Do buyers for resale like it? Heck no - kind of irritates me when i am buying for resale. But when I am selling, it's like why can't my auctions on eBay bring that kind of cash - I mean millions of buyers offer SO MUCH potential. Having it as an auction option on eBay would be great - just so I can see if it works for me so some items can be time extended and some can be old school drop dead time ending depending upon YOUR preference as a seller.

I venture as whole, I would make more on a time extended event than the current system used by eBay - and if you've been to live auctions, you know just how much fun it is with anticipation and adrenaline running knowing you better bring your A game to buy right. Especially when you have a nice mix of items for auction (something under the current eBay format you better do with care....) It's exciting - something eBay auctions are not. Snipe high bid - you either win it or you don't....and you think about it after the fact thinking, darn - I should have gone 20 dollars more....no chance with eBay..but in a live event you have time to evaluate and think on the fly and that can make the buying experience VERY exciting.

I like options and even more, I like getting the most for my items that I possibly can.

Cheers!

[amricons]

In 2018 we have made over 2000 purchases,  many auctions.  2 days ago we had bid on let say 11 items . They closed within minutes of each other. we ended up winning 5 and lost the others. On nthe one we lost, we lost by $1 over our high bid.  It also takes several minutes for the site to notice you dib. anyway, in that auction we wanted the last 2 items, one we syayed to make sure we won it, and when we went to the 2 nd it had closed.

We have had this happen many times.  Somebody said, well you just bid you max and forget it. Yes, you can bid a million and probablely win evry auction, but we have a budget . There are many scenarios, here just one for example.  Looking at 10 auctions  and have a budget. It depends on the 1st item, if it a winner, I have less to bid on the others but if I lose, I can bid more with if I choose. Also, if they all close within a minute it becomes impossible to to catch up with the string, you have to skip down several items to get to one that is still active.  In any case, if you as a buyer have not had this problem then this discussion does not mean anything to you.

The benefit to sellers and eBay is obivios and too buyers it is a matter of more options and choices. I may well let an item go for a final amount, but if I am overbid by a $1, I may go the extra whatever, ie $1 or more or just pass. At least I have the optionh.  Choices which by the way happen at a live auction.  Bought a lot of art in my l;ife and at live auctions, once you bid, the auctioneer will notice you and in mast cases give you a look before ringing down the gavel.    It is a part of numan nature, in the heat of the moment,  you may go that extra amount or not.

Auctions are not for everyone.  EBay is supposed to be about options and choice and win - win. The trend recently mis the elimination of choice.   I wish people, buyers and sellers would think outside the box. EBay has been shrinking the opions and freedom on the site . They however, seem to never do things that have the potential to increase winning for everybody.  Auctions are the heat of the moment. Fixed listing are not.   eBay is becoming a zero sum gane where eBay gets more and well everybody else gets less.  That pie  needs to get bigger.

My discussion is to expand the conversation.  Looking for solutions as I gather many of the memebers that post here are not 100% happy with their situation.   We are always looking for tools , fixes, and helpful talk and experiences.   Had a great follow up from our last post and learned something that we did not know.  You may be all happy and satisfied with your situation but  people may open topics of concern to them and evebn though it may not apply to you, one day it might. The more options that you develop for you uses can only help you. 

Persoanl note, I wish it was not like this but it is what it is.

In the past, we have posted about postal and shipping rate increases,  alternate payments and other gerneral topics. I wanted to get general conversations  goiong and while we got some constructive comments, som,e support and ideas,  we got many well what I would call pokes in the eye that left all of us blind.    We have been on eBay for over 20 years, our current business for over 30 years and business in general since 1971.  The saddest ones are the comments that they were very happy with the current situation and they did not want any change no matter waht and the attacks there upon.   I am sad and happy at the same time. ( Irony)

One last observation.  The CEO of eBay has been talking to Wall Street, as you all know the stock is down. one critical change is Wall Street has reclassified eBay from a Tech company to another catagory, one with a lower p/e ratio that tech cos enjoy.   In the eyes of wall steet  eBay has become an annunity.  There is a link between that change and what eBay has been doing for many years.   One of our largest sales catagories is MTG and one of my favorite cards is " Frankensteins Monster" .    "nuff said"

[amricons]

More options which is worth something to a buyer. I can cite many cases but getting sniped is one and not having an opportunity to rebalance on an item I wnated due to 2 items we wantted closing withiun 2 minutes or less from each other is another.    You know why sellers put in auctions witjin minutes of another ?

eBay';s system has other serious flaws of a more complex nature. The point is that they do not listen even if evidence of other more sucessful sites are shown to them,  like Si*** in coinc, HERT*** in comics, Chris*** etc. EBay system is old, and there are many way to bring the site up to standards.

[amricons]

Oh, I am wriring from a buyer's POV, we try to pratice the "pay it foreward" philosopjy.  When we have a good day, we go on eBay and buy things from other sellers. I think many sellers do that. It leads to the nultiplier effect.  Apprently eBay does not hire economists as they seem to not know what Ia m taking about even after several conversations with them.     $1 in sales become more than just $1 and the resulting fees are gotten thru little or no cost to the system. Thus they should do things to enhance that experience rather than the corection method where as 1 does wrong to correct the problem, punish everybody.  One takes personal attention the other an autobot.  Those that have gotten mystery emails from robot central know what I am talking about , unless you belong to the class that does get personal attention and  to whom rules do not apply.   Note autobot emails seem to been always "your a bad boy"  and never , they you did a great job notes.    Cost nothing to send the nice note out and hey you tell somebody something enough times, they may even believe it, LOL

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I don't know why sellers launch auctions close together. Maybe they think buyers won't want to wait to pay until all are ended?

We'll just have to agree to disagree on the sniping thing. I don't think Ebay's hard ending is dated or should be changed. I've been on the boards for nearly 20 years and seeing this topic come up frequently. I've never heard a good reason to change this functional hard ending yet. This system functions beautifully for anyone who learns how to use it well.

In fact if I had my way buyers would only be allowed to bid once. Then for sure they would think about what their max should be.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I am also posting as mostly a buyer now. I haven't sold significantly on Ebay for over a decade. Now it's just used clothes and puzzles when I get around to it.

For the last 20 years I have been buying hundreds of items a year. I used to spend about $5k a month here buying inventory for my business. As I said I have been posting to the boards since 1999.

Between  unhappy snipers and bad programming I think changing the system would cause FAR more trouble than it would solve.

[postingid2017]

With all the bidding sites that I am aware of that extended bidding - they no longer exist. There was one site with an item that I was interested in - the extended bidding on that site went on for hours, like almost three (maybe four, I can't recall the exact time). It closed sometime after that.