Rea! Rea!! Rea!!!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

I was thinking the same thing. Get my bids in and save the push for the final night. Instantly being outbid on day 1 is the norm, I'll pick my battles on the 6th.

Right. Who cares if you aren't ahead?

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Right. Who cares if you aren't ahead?

Now you know why you never win anything in REA.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Now you know why you never win anything in REA.

I don't necessarily agree, but this is funny.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Sean

I don't necessarily agree, but this is funny.

I just don't understand the pissing contest right out of the block. How is that calculated to help you (not you Sean, just in general) win at the best price?

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I just don't understand the pissing contest right out of the block. How is that calculated to help you (not you Sean, just in general) win at the best price?

I understand it in theory: getting the price up quickly to discourage people from bothering to bid. Also, perhaps to put a max bid in first at the price the card is worth I suppose. For me, I put in placeholders just so I don't forget. I don't even go back to REA until the auction is well into extended bidding. If the cards I'm after are still within a range I'm willing to pay, I bid; if not, I don't.

[Peter_Spaeth]

As I said, I get the max bid, if the price is fairly predictable, you want to lock up a bid level and make someone really overpay to beat you (which in my case they doubtless will anyhow). I don't see how driving up the price early is going to scare someone who really wants the card off it. It's just going to make it more expensive.

[PiratesWS1979]

You know what annoys me about REA? All these barn outbid notices...SO STOP BIDDING!!

[Sean]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I understand it in theory: getting the price up quickly to discourage people from bothering to bid. Also, perhaps to put a max bid in first at the price the card is worth I suppose. For me, I put in placeholders just so I don't forget. I don't even go back to REA until the auction is well into extended bidding. If the cards I'm after are still within a range I'm willing to pay, I bid; if not, I don't.

This is what I do as well. I've been outbid on half of my bids so far, but none of it matters until about midnight May 6th.

[RedsFan1941]

Anyone received their catalog?.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I understand it in theory: getting the price up quickly to discourage people from bothering to bid. Also, perhaps to put a max bid in first at the price the card is worth I suppose. For me, I put in placeholders just so I don't forget. I don't even go back to REA until the auction is well into extended bidding. If the cards I'm after are still within a range I'm willing to pay, I bid; if not, I don't.

There are several reasons I will “tangle” day 1 - First, as Jeff suggested, if it’s something I really want, I put in a large max bid so that 50% of the bids getting there are mine, thus potentially limiting the number of competitors in extended bidding. Second, sometimes I want a certain spot, or want the last bid before a bid-increment cliff (like when bids go from $500 to $1000), so I put in my max bid to ensure I get that spot if it gets there. That said, I only do this with cards I really really want, otherwise I may have too many large bids on too many large items (large being a relative term)

[mechanicalman]

Personally, I don’t put any credence into Day 1 bidding strategies. There are too many dudes with deep pockets going after the best cards. No one who really wants a blue chip is going to be “shut out” of the extended session because of aggressive early bidding, in my estimation.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

There are several reasons I will “tangle” day 1 - First, as Jeff suggested, if it’s something I really want, I put in a large max bid so that 50% of the bids getting there are mine, thus potentially limiting the number of competitors in extended bidding. Second, sometimes I want a certain spot, or want the last bid before a bid-increment cliff (like when bids go from $500 to $1000), so I put in my max bid to ensure I get that spot if it gets there. That said, I only do this with cards I really really want, otherwise I may have too many large bids on too many large items (large being a relative term)

With that strategy you will be able to limit the number of competitors. The problem is you will be limiting the wrong ones.

The guys you knock out probably weren't going to win the lot anyway. The ones who are likely to win it are still there. So you are only creating the illusion of less competition.