When is the best time to put a bid in on Ebay?

Question

I tend not to bid on Ebay and prefer sellers that ask a fixed price. I'm after a couple of fishing lures that were discontinued about 5 years ago and the starting bid is very attractive but I know if I bid to soon there's a chance the seller will play silly buggers and start a bidding war.

So far no one has bid, they're about £18 each but given their discontinued status could possibly go 25 to 30 which I ain't paying.

So when is the best time to put in a bid?

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

I know a lot of people who think bidding near the very end of the auction time reduces being outbid.
There are probably better ways to find what you’re looking for though. In the US, there are stores that specialize in clearing discontinued merchandise. You can contact the manufacturer and ask if they cleared the merchandise themselves or if another company or individual bought them out. Then chase down that lead. Most companies disco items that don’t sell well at a given price point. But they still want to minimize their losses. So there’s very likely a warehouse somewhere with hundreds or even thousands of exactly what you’re looking for just collecting dust. The downside is that sometimes the new owners might not have retail outlets. So they may want you to buy in bulk.
Most likely you’ll find yourself in a flea market, discount shop or specialty popup. The US has traveling sportsman’s shows. The vendors there often have the rare goods for cheap.

AviatorTom · Accepted Answer

I sometimes bid on items on eBay.

It's important to understand eBay's bidding process. When you bid more than what's required, eBay automaticlly makes your bid the inidcated amount over the current bid. It will then keep increasing your bid, keeoing your bid the highest bid, until it hits your bidding limit.

Keeping that in mind, I've been most successful putting in a high bid soon after bidding is opened, and then monitoring my bid as others place bids. If it's something you really want, you can make an unusually high bid (over the latest high bid) about 30 seconds before bidding ends. Many people won't have time to react to that.

Most important, don't get caught up in bidding fever. eBay is like gambling. Set your realistic highest amount you're willing t pay, and stick to it.

Natasha1995 · Accepted Answer

About a minute before it ends. It may be that your bid is immediately outbid. In that case, wait for the last few seconds to submit your new bid. Fingers crossed. Make sure your internet connection is good.

Bidding days in advance is counterproductive. It will only stir up the price if two people start outbidding each other.

Nikki1989 · Accepted Answer

Set your spending limit, and then wait until the last minute to bid if the asking price remains within your reach. I regularly win auctions, but I do my homework first.

Levin · Answer

It's last minute. I used to do so for rare cd's and other stuffs.

If you put it in before hand you give the competition chance to respond with their bid.

Leave it to the literal last minute and keep refreshing the page. Make sure you're signed in ready etc. Just remember that your competition may have put a crazy bid in (you won't know until you bid). So you still won't win the bid if they put in a bid of £40 and you bid 30.

Chu got this Welshy!

mstbooblover · Answer

Any time you fancy is good to place a bid. Let's say near the end of the auction, but if really you want a particular item, just put a bid largely higher than the average value of that item, and I'm don't think the moment you place that bid will have any relevance.

Jersey2 · Answer

I haven’t done ebay in years but when I did I did 2 things:

- put in a bid that I was comfortable with and only check if someone paid more or I won. I wouldn’t bid again. If i won great if I didn’t I didn’t pay too much.

- For things I really wanted I would bid 5 to 8 seconds before it ended. It was called “sniping”. They may have added a functions to add a minute or more when someone tries that now.

Iron_Man · Answer

Isn’t that kind of a cheap place that sells a bunch of junk? And do you really trust the seller to really send your stuff to you? Sometimes those people don’t even send it. I ordered a book one time many years ago and the seller never sent it and I lost my money. If you want interesting stuff go to the mall or go to your local craft show and buy your little toys.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Depends on what has been going on before. If it’s a „hot“ item, I try to bid five seconds or so before closing time.

Abbycado · Answer

I have only done it a few times. I use the auto bid feature that puts them in until it reaches my limit. So, it could be anytime.

Ill_made_Knight · Answer

Very near the end. And be ready to up the bet if you're willing

Shiprex · Answer

Seconds before the end of the bid or send a message to the seller after the auction

loveslongnails · Answer

10 minutes before it ends.

Paige2006 · Answer

I didn't know there was a best time

When is the best time to put a bid in on Ebay?

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