why do people bid on ebay?

  • 54 results
  • 1
  • 2

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#1 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
im trying to get a copy of final fantasy 7 new, at its start price its like $5, but buy the end of the auction it goes for freaking $400

why dont people leave it all the way to the last minute, then everyone throws down a bet, and gets a $500 item for a couple of bucks? why do people continue to bid and make the price higher and higher and higher and higher?
Avatar image for chip_money
chip_money

2748

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#2 chip_money
Member since 2006 • 2748 Posts
they really want it and  have money to spend...
Avatar image for SolidSnake_108
SolidSnake_108

11952

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#3 SolidSnake_108
Member since 2006 • 11952 Posts
Because if they did that....the sellers would get no money. :|
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#4 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
thats crazy talk

even so, if you REALLY want it, and its like $5, throw down a $60 bid with 2 seconds remaining. your still going to spend less than if you had a bidding war. i think im starting to see it a bit now, people leaving this FF7 copies at like $20 - while others are going for close to $400.

maybe in a perfect world...
Avatar image for Yarcofin
Yarcofin

3396

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

#5 Yarcofin
Member since 2006 • 3396 Posts
im trying to get a copy of final fantasy 7 new, at its start price its like $5, but buy the end of the auction it goes for freaking $400

why dont people leave it all the way to the last minute, then everyone throws down a bet, and gets a $500 item for a couple of bucks? why do people continue to bid and make the price higher and higher and higher and higher?
BobSacamento
See, you're talking logically and rational. Most people are anything BUT logical and rational. Your average person seems to have a very low level of intelligence and is incapable of thinking a few hours into the future. For example, think of killing other parents for the last Tickle Me Elmo or paying $500 on eBay for it, when the store will be loaded with tons of them that nobody wants any more just a week after the fad started. Most people live their entire lives this way, constantly acting in a mad instinctive rush, instead of thinking logically. Consider yourself blessed, and in fact, take advantage of it. These people are SHEEP that will make you easy money.
Avatar image for staindcoldlp
staindcoldlp

15121

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

#6 staindcoldlp
Member since 2004 • 15121 Posts
I'm a fan of sniping myself on Ebay. Bidding wars are pointless to get into.
Avatar image for PhoenixMDK
PhoenixMDK

3258

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#7 PhoenixMDK
Member since 2005 • 3258 Posts
Err...because it's an auction. That's how auction's work. Sniping was an unavoidable side-effect of eBay - symptom, not an intention. The idea was that each person enters the highest value they are willing to pay and eBay gradually increases the bidding price as if it were occurring in an auction. However people realised they can get better deals by last-minute sniping to prevent the other person returning a higher bid, so sniping became more common in order to outdo other snipers. I've automated the process since I don't have time to sit in front of the screen as every auction closes. Unless everyone can be there in the closing minute your idea doesn't work - the auction essentially lasts 1 minute and so having the item open for bidding for 3-5 days before is completely pointless.
Avatar image for kitty
kitty

115479

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#8 kitty  Moderator
Member since 2006 • 115479 Posts
I'm a fan of sniping myself on Ebay. Bidding wars are pointless to get into.staindcoldlp
Avatar image for Bourbons3
Bourbons3

24238

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

#9 Bourbons3
Member since 2003 • 24238 Posts
Because its sometimes cheaper than retailer
Avatar image for brickbazooka05
brickbazooka05

257

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#10 brickbazooka05
Member since 2006 • 257 Posts
Because they want it?
Avatar image for Cyrax-Sektor
Cyrax-Sektor

12060

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 18

User Lists: 0

#11 Cyrax-Sektor
Member since 2006 • 12060 Posts
Personally, I think the sellers are using alternate accounts to raise the price and some real bidder has to pay that much or lose it.
Avatar image for MotherSuperior
MotherSuperior

3745

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#12 MotherSuperior
Member since 2003 • 3745 Posts
That is what an auction is.
Avatar image for kongking948
kongking948

35

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#13 kongking948
Member since 2006 • 35 Posts
my dad has one of those accounts and he says that at the last minute at like ...4:00 in the morning your not gonna be on ebay so THATS why they do that =)
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#14 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
i realise that they want it, but take FF7 for instance, dozens of new copies of that thing get put up every day. you can still want it, but you do not have to pay nearly the amount you'll end up paying if you partake in a bidding war. these things go back and forth all the way up to $500 - even if everyone waited till the last minute, and you threw up $50 more than the starting price of $10, your still gonna end up spending a lot less money.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#15 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
if it was the last copy of FF7 in existence, then i could see the back and forth. but those things are all over the place. 
Avatar image for PhoenixMDK
PhoenixMDK

3258

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#16 PhoenixMDK
Member since 2005 • 3258 Posts
Not really. If people are willing to spend $500 in the first place and bid that at the last minute, they are still going to win over anyone who put down $60. People bidding early is actually helpful to me because I know which auctions to ignore because the price has already gone outside of the range I am willing to spend.
Avatar image for TheOT_King
TheOT_King

6359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#18 TheOT_King
Member since 2005 • 6359 Posts
[QUOTE="PhoenixMDK"]Not really. If people are willing to spend $500 in the first place and bid that at the last minute, they are still going to win over anyone who put down $60. People bidding early is actually helpful to me because I know which auctions to ignore because the price has already gone outside of the range I am willing to spend.BobSacamento


not bid $500 at the last minute, im saying if you go back and forth for 5 days, it will get up to $500

if you leave it from the start, at the starting price of $10, you could throw down another $50 with 2 seconds left and still end up paying less.

Yes, if another person doesn't throw down another $10 one second before you. Besides the people who were auctioning stuff on ebay would realize this and just give their stuff higher starting bids.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#19 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
everyone would just throw down a last second bid, and end up getting an otherwise expensive item, for very little money. this is why a lot of the people who put things up for auction have a minimum that it will sell for. but every so often you will see Xbox 360 - $1.50 - 3 days remaining. Instead of going back and forth and have it end up going for more than the shelf price, everyone would just wait till the last second, throw down a random bet around there, and get a 360 for $10. Get it?>>>??
Avatar image for not_grape
not_grape

2156

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#20 not_grape
Member since 2006 • 2156 Posts
I get bored.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#21 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
but still, at least ONE of you will get a 360 for $10 right????

that is hardcore
Avatar image for PhoenixMDK
PhoenixMDK

3258

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#22 PhoenixMDK
Member since 2005 • 3258 Posts
No, you're still not understanding how it would work in practice. You can't restrict what someone's maximum bid will be, so the people who really want an item will still be willing to throw down $500 at the last minute to be sure of getting it. So a bunch of people will wait until the last minute and bid $50 or $60 while 2 guys who really want it will bid $400 and $500. The winner will then be the highest who gets it for $410 and is still perfectly happy, having paid less than he was willing to. All this does is inflate the price jump people will make when sniping.
Avatar image for ice_radon
ice_radon

70464

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

#23 ice_radon
Member since 2002 • 70464 Posts
Its just a way the auction style stuff works.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#24 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
perhaps,

nobodies putting down $500 on an item thats currently at $10, when tons more of this item will be up for sale the next day
Avatar image for TheOT_King
TheOT_King

6359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#25 TheOT_King
Member since 2005 • 6359 Posts
everyone would just throw down a last second bid, and end up getting an otherwise expensive item, for very little money. this is why a lot of the people who put things up for auction have a minimum that it will sell for. but every so often you will see Xbox 360 - $1.50 - 3 days remaining. Instead of going back and forth and have it end up going for more than the shelf price, everyone would just wait till the last second, throw down a random bet around there, and get a 360 for $10. Get it?>>>??
BobSacamento
Listen. Everyone on ebay basically does already wait until the last couple of minutes of the auction anyways to bid on stuff. But the item for auction will not go that far under of what the actual value of the item is worth. Why? Because in the last 10 minutes someone sees an Xbox 360 for $1.50, he bids on it and ups it to let's say $10. The next second someone else bids and then the next person and the next person... the prices inflate very quickly on ebay... prices do not reach high levels until the last minutes usually.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#26 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
everyone would have to be in cahoots, how much betting could possibly happen in 10 seconds? thats like a page refresh. the point is, its not guaranteeing that you'll get it, your just guaranteeing that SOMEONE will get something for pennies, this only applies to something that is readily available and always on ebay. thats why i dont get it with final fantasy 7.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#27 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
i think we should end this topic now lol
Avatar image for PhoenixMDK
PhoenixMDK

3258

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#28 PhoenixMDK
Member since 2005 • 3258 Posts
So you're talking about a "social auction" in which no one is trying to get it for themselves, just for someone to get it? Have you met humans? :P
Avatar image for portujoel5
portujoel5

745

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#29 portujoel5
Member since 2003 • 745 Posts
some times "people" that places bets are friends of the item owner :D so he real bets need to go higher.... and higher... and the real people need to pay the big bucks...
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#30 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
no you wack, im just saying, everyone throwing down a bet at the last second would ensure you get it for less than if you bit back and forth for 5 days. you can still throw down a huge bet at the end, say its at $5 and 3,2,1 $70!!!!!

nobody is going to throw down $500 on an item that gets put up every day, this might not work the first time, but if you keep doing this at 5 different auctions, eventually your going to be the one who throws down the highest last second bet.
Avatar image for TheOT_King
TheOT_King

6359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#31 TheOT_King
Member since 2005 • 6359 Posts
everyone would have to be in cahoots, how much betting could possibly happen in 10 seconds? thats like a page refresh. the point is, its not guaranteeing that you'll get it, your just guaranteeing that SOMEONE will get something for pennies, this only applies to something that is readily available and always on ebay. thats why i dont get it with final fantasy 7.BobSacamento
First of all for hot items there are thousands, tens of thousands of people trying to get it. There is no chance in Hell that you are going to coordinate with all of them "Listen you guys if we all wait till the last ten seconds and bid on a $1.50 XBox one of us will get it" There's no way to coordinate this and somebody who wants something really bad and is willing to put down money for it is going to bid a lot more on it. Not to mention your chances of getting the item like this are REALLY low. You could try this method thousands and thousands of times and still not get the item you are trying to get. What you are trying to turn ebay into is basically a raffle system. You pay $3 for your ticket and you have an extremely low shot at winning the prize. That is not what ebay is. It's an auctioning system where people who have the money for something go to get it.
Avatar image for TheOT_King
TheOT_King

6359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#32 TheOT_King
Member since 2005 • 6359 Posts
i think we should end this topic now lol
BobSacamento
Yes, because what you are proposing is completely unrealistic.
Avatar image for MIYAMOTOnext007
MIYAMOTOnext007

3061

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#33 MIYAMOTOnext007
Member since 2006 • 3061 Posts
Personally, I think the sellers are using alternate accounts to raise the price and some real bidder has to pay that much or lose it.Cyrax-Sektor
Yes sometimes I think sellers or there friend bid on an item with no intention of buying it but just trying to get other people to bid more to buy the item.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#34 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
i dont think you understand what im saying. im not saying call up everyone and coordinate some scheme. if everyone was smart, and realised that if you wait, you'll get an expensive item for cheap, then it would work. like the guy above me said, people do this, its not uncommon. like i said, if this was like, the titanic, then bidding wars would be appropriate, because its the only one and someone might really really want it. but if its something like, i dont know, a copy of Halo 2, that item is all over ebay, and will continue to be, then this would be smart. if theres more of it, why not try to abuse the system?
Avatar image for TheOT_King
TheOT_King

6359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#36 TheOT_King
Member since 2005 • 6359 Posts
i dont think you understand what im saying. im not saying call up everyone and coordinate some scheme. if everyone was smart, and realised that if you wait, you'll get an expensive item for cheap, then it would work. like the guy above me said, people do this, its not uncommon. like i said, if this was like, the titanic, then bidding wars would be appropriate, because its the only one and someone might really really want it. but if its something like, i dont know, a copy of Halo 2, that item is all over ebay, and will continue to be, then this would be smart. if theres more of it, why not try to abuse the system?BobSacamento
Because your chances are EXTREMELY LOW of winning. You can do this thousands of times and still not win. Besides think about it. People would think "well a new Halo 2 in the stores costs $20... I'll bid $19 so that way if I win I paid one whole dollar less than I would have in the stores" which is not a difficult price to find it on ebay at anyways... really your method doesn't work.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#37 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
they are lower, actually i find if you go back and forth, someone always screws you at the last second..

dont you see, when you go back and forth for 5 days, the last 10 seconds are still the same!!! everyone throws down a bid at the last second. only instead of who puts the highest amount over $500, its who puts the highest amount over $10!!

get it!?!?!?
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#38 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
its still the same ending, everyone throws down a random bet - your just saving money, its REALLY quite simple.

i dont get why theres all this dicussion lol, lots of people do this, i just doont get why more people dont realise it.

all your doing is skipping the middle man, instead of having 5 days of pointless betting, you just wait till the only part that actually matters, the last 10 seconds.
Avatar image for TheOT_King
TheOT_King

6359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#39 TheOT_King
Member since 2005 • 6359 Posts
they are lower, actually i find if you go back and forth, someone always screws you at the last second..

dont you see, when you go back and forth for 5 days, the last 10 seconds are still the same!!! everyone throws down a bid at the last second. only instead of who puts the highest amount over $500, its who puts the highest amount over $10!!

get it!?!?!?
BobSacamento
I'm done with this thread, it's pointless. What you want is a raffle website, ebay is an auction website. People try to win auctions. Your odds of winning a raffle are extremely low. Not to mention someon is still going to bid way over $10 in the last minute. Like I said with my Halo 2 example: People would think "well a new Halo 2 in the stores costs $20... I'll bid $19 so that way if I win I paid one whole dollar less than I would have in the stores" which is not a difficult price to find it on ebay at anyways. bye.
Avatar image for PhoenixMDK
PhoenixMDK

3258

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#40 PhoenixMDK
Member since 2005 • 3258 Posts
TheOT_King is quite right, but I think both sides of this discussion have been aired so this thread is done.
Avatar image for DarkHero1
DarkHero1

3704

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#41 DarkHero1
Member since 2006 • 3704 Posts
they really want it and have money to spend...chip_money
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#42 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
scenario:

Playstation 3, people bidding on it for 5 days, up to $1000 - its the last 10 seconds, a bunch of people sitting at their computer waiting to throw down a couple bucks over it. Auction over - Item sells for $1050.

scenario2: Playstation 3, nobody bids on it, its at $10 - its the last 10 seconds, a bunch of people sitting at their computer waiting to throw down a couple of bucks over it. Auction over - Item sells for $25.

First guy paid $1050 for his Ps3, Second guy paid $25.

the last 10 seconds of a random bid, will happen no matter what the price is at. So why not do it with $10 instead of $1000?

does anyone in here understand what im saying lol

i understand what you're saying about the maximum someone will bid, it doesnt matter if its at $10, if they're willing to pay, they will still throw down $500. but the truth is, thats unrealistic? nobody would pay that much over what its currently at. you don't know what your willing to pay, until the auction gets heated and your going back and forth.
Avatar image for MIYAMOTOnext007
MIYAMOTOnext007

3061

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#43 MIYAMOTOnext007
Member since 2006 • 3061 Posts
it is not possible someone would want the item more than other people and while everyone else is putting up $10 someone would just say " wow I could win this cheap and just put down $ 200 dollars. You will not win if you don't put up a price close to the items value.
Avatar image for MIYAMOTOnext007
MIYAMOTOnext007

3061

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#44 MIYAMOTOnext007
Member since 2006 • 3061 Posts
scenario:

Playstation 3, people bidding on it for 5 days, up to $1000 - its the last 10 seconds, a bunch of people sitting at their computer waiting to throw down a couple bucks over it. Auction over - Item sells for $1050.

scenario2: Playstation 3, nobody bids on it, its at $10 - its the last 10 seconds, a bunch of people sitting at their computer waiting to throw down a couple of bucks over it. Auction over - Item sells for $25.

First guy paid $1050 for his Ps3, Second guy paid $25.

the last 10 seconds of a random bid, will happen no matter what the price is at. So why not do it with $10 instead of $1000?

does anyone in here understand what im saying lol

i understand what you're saying about the maximum someone will bid, it doesnt matter if its at $10, if they're willing to pay, they will still throw down $500. but the truth is, thats unrealistic? nobody would pay that much over what its currently at. you don't know what your willing to pay, until the auction gets heated and your going back and forth.
BobSacamento
No someone would always want to be sure theyed get it. Your plan could not possibly work on popular items.
Avatar image for PhoenixMDK
PhoenixMDK

3258

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#45 PhoenixMDK
Member since 2005 • 3258 Posts
OT_King has already explained it's a question of numbers which you are ignoring. In scenario 1 about 10 people will be bidding at the end for a price of $1000+. In scenario 2 about 5000 people will be bidding due to the ridiculously low price. You would be turning eBay into a raffle site which it is not. It is an auction site where those who have the money can guarantee they get what they want by outbidding others. I too am now done with this thread.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#46 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
your right, this is going nowhere lol

NOBODY MAKE ANYMORE POSTS AND MOVE THIS TOPIC TO THE TOP OF THE BOARD

/thread
Avatar image for MIYAMOTOnext007
MIYAMOTOnext007

3061

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#47 MIYAMOTOnext007
Member since 2006 • 3061 Posts
your right, this is going nowhere lol

NOBODY MAKE ANYMORE POSTS AND MOVE THIS TOPIC TO THE TOP OF THE BOARD

/thread
BobSacamento
lol ok...so you admit defeat? ( o sorry I wasn't suppose to post)
Avatar image for dallas_cowboys3
dallas_cowboys3

5549

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

#48 dallas_cowboys3
Member since 2006 • 5549 Posts
$400 for a game?!?!?!?! Silly.
Avatar image for BobSacamento
BobSacamento

4340

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#49 BobSacamento
Member since 2003 • 4340 Posts
[QUOTE="BobSacamento"]your right, this is going nowhere lol

NOBODY MAKE ANYMORE POSTS AND MOVE THIS TOPIC TO THE TOP OF THE BOARD

/thread
MIYAMOTOnext007
lol ok...so you admit defeat? ( o sorry I wasn't suppose to post)



never lol

im just saying, there are who agree and disagree and that doesnt seem to be changing.

ok, NOW NOBODY TALK
Avatar image for nickmag
nickmag

6710

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#50 nickmag
Member since 2006 • 6710 Posts
The only thing bidding early does is rack up the price of the item as other people are always going to contest it. The only way to do eBay properly is to bid in the last 10 seconds or so.