I recently bought two notes through an online auction. I expected to win one with out a problem (and did) but I wasn't sure I would get the other. I ended up winning and did so for $65 less then my max bid. This ended up being about 70% of my bid. I was very happy with this, thinking back I can't remember ever winning an item for that much under my max bid. I was wondering what experiences others have had- Do you normally end up paying close to your bid or have you experienced what you would consider a great deal? (more often then not the bid ends about $1 over my bid, 2nd place=1st loser)
I wait until the last few seconds before entering my bid and I enter the most I want to pay even if the current bid is quite low. Occasionally I get it for just over the current bid but more often than not, I'm out bid even at my high bid. Just part of the game.
I actually found a single note for a decent price, that bill completed my 1929 set (my first complete set of currency) I have all 12 Federal Reserve banks along with a 5,10,20,50 from SF. (SF $5 is not FR though).
I do the same. Some times I type in my bid, click submit, and during those few seconds my bid already isn't high enough. The increase during those last 15 seconds can be amazing. I didn't think I would get this one since the price was already over $100 with a day to go. The price didn't shoot up at the end like most do.
snipe bids lol I do the same, but i usually save that type of bidding on notes i REALLY want (which is really often)
I try to always just bid once on an item I really want. The way my schedule is, it's hard to get that last second bid in a lot of times though. Like you I've been pretty surprised a few times when I got items well below my max. And shocked at what some people have been willing to pay for a few things too.
When I first started bidding on EBay, I'd get frustrated at being outbid by snipers, now I realize it's just part of the game. If you can't beat 'em join 'em. Now I wait until the last 30 seconds or so before submitting my bid. If it's an item I really want, I'll bid a certain percentage over the last bid showing, and set my cap at the red book price for a given coin. Using this method more often than not, I'll win the item, but some sniper almost always bumps the price up by a fraction in the last few seconds of the auction. I generally end up paying around Greysheet bid for most coins, and every now and then, I'll get a great deal. The worst I can do using this method is pay redbook for a coin. That doesn't happen too often, but on occasion, you'll see some bidders go over Red-Book to win a coin.
I use snip.pl. They only charge for successful snipes, and you get like 30 for $5. Best money you can spend. What is best about this is you can place your "bids", and change them anytime before the auction ends. There have been many auctions where I first wanted to bid, but a couple of days later I was grateful I was able to "unbid" since I changed my mind. If they showed user id's on Ebay anymore, you would never see mine except with 5 seconds to go.
I have heard mixed reviews about many sniping services, I enjoy doing in person when ever possible. If I had heard of one that works consistantly I might change my mind.
I have been with snip.pl for years and never bid without it. I have never had a bad bid in 8 years or so. I like being away from the computer so as not to "convince" myself to go $100 higher, lol. Full disclosure, I have no idea who owns snip, I don't own them, blah blah blah. Its just a cheap service for sniping, which to me is the most efficient way to use Ebay since I can cancel any bid until time of auction ending.
By putting in my max bid in the last few seconds prevents me from getting caught up in auction excitement. If I don't get it for my top bid, that's the end of it.
Yeah, but with sniping I can be bidding when my wife makes me go shopping with her, at a show, anywhere. It particularly useful for those auctions that end in the middle of the night or early morning. I don't do mornings well.
I'm going to check out some of the snipe sites. You see, I'm a morning person not a night guy and I just can't stay up for the west coast auction closings.
