Different bidding patterns

[Peter_Spaeth]

My guess is that bidding strategies designed to impact the motivation/behavior of other bidders are wishful thinking and in a controlled experiment would not work out any differently than bidding late.

[Snapolit1]

I'm guessing the best bidding strategy is prob to bid for the first time 5 seconds before early bidding closes. In that case you have affected nothing and done nothing to draw attention to the auction.

But what fun is that.

[ALR-bishop]

I guess I need to devise a strategy.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I guess I need to devise a strategy.

You will be OK Al. I have tried many bidding strategies on eBay to scare away other bidders with no luck.

[perezfan]

The phenomenon I will never understand is this (which happens ALL THE TIME...)

An item goes over a week with no bids at all. Then I place the initial bid on it. Within one minute it gets another bid (after a week or two of complete stagnancy). I can't count the number of times this has happened.

Are there really vultures who refrain from bidding for a week to 10 days, but are watching so closely that they pounce as soon as someone else bids? And what good is that strategy, given the fact that the closing is still a few days away?

What possible rationale do they have and what benefit do they derive from it?

[ruth-gehrig]

Originally Posted by perezfan

The phenomenon I will never understand is this (which happens ALL THE TIME...)

An item goes over a week with no bids at all. Then I place the initial bid on it. Within one minute it gets another bid (after a week or two of complete stagnancy). I can't count the number of times this has happened.

Are there really vultures who refrain from bidding for a week to 10 days, but are watching so closely that they pounce as soon as someone else bids? And what good is that strategy, given the fact that the closing is still a few days away?

What possible rationale do they have and what benefit do they derive from it?

Not a whole lot makes rational sense when it comes to bidding strategies in my opinion. I gave up on thinking much about it a long time ago . I think people allow their emotions to get involved which really throws clear thinking out the window lol

[Yoda]

I think whatever your strategy you have to figure in bidder madness during extended bidding.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by perezfan

The phenomenon I will never understand is this (which happens ALL THE TIME...)

An item goes over a week with no bids at all. Then I place the initial bid on it. Within one minute it gets another bid (after a week or two of complete stagnancy). I can't count the number of times this has happened.

Are there really vultures who refrain from bidding for a week to 10 days, but are watching so closely that they pounce as soon as someone else bids? And what good is that strategy, given the fact that the closing is still a few days away?

What possible rationale do they have and what benefit do they derive from it?

Does this happen more with particular auctions?

[Snapolit1]

Many times I visit auctions I check out "Recent Bids".

I often see something cool this way and throw down a bid. Gets me out of my usual searches.

I do appreciate how this can look odd, coming out of nowhere.

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Does this happen more with particular auctions?

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Does this happen more with particular auctions?

Here's who comes to mind, regarding that circumstance...

Huggins & Scott
Heritage
Lelands
Clean Sweep
REA
Hunt's
Mears
Memory Lane
Mile High
Hake's

Other than the fact that REA now owns Huggins, I see no commonality there. So I would say it's a widespread phenomenon.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by perezfan

The phenomenon I will never understand is this (which happens ALL THE TIME...)

An item goes over a week with no bids at all. Then I place the initial bid on it. Within one minute it gets another bid (after a week or two of complete stagnancy). I can't count the number of times this has happened.

Are there really vultures who refrain from bidding for a week to 10 days, but are watching so closely that they pounce as soon as someone else bids? And what good is that strategy, given the fact that the closing is still a few days away?

What possible rationale do they have and what benefit do they derive from it?

With our auction this actually makes sense. If an item only gets one bid it doesn't go into extended bidding (because there can be no competition) so some people hold out hope that they can scoop it up for that one bid right before extended bidding. Basically sniping it. But as soon as someone else bids they have to get their placeholder bid in so that they can bid in extended bidding. If you have several people watching the item what you described isn't just possible, but likely.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

With our auction this actually makes sense. If an item only gets one bid it doesn't go into extended bidding (because there can be no competition) so some people hold out hope that they can scoop it up for that one bid right before extended bidding. Basically sniping it. But as soon as someone else bids they have to get their placeholder bid in so that they can bid in extended bidding. If you have several people watching the item what you described isn't just possible, but likely.

I don't think Mark meant the item had NO bids and then he opened it, I think he meant there had been no ACTIVITY for a week, but he can correct me.