Bidding in an eBay auction is all about getting a bargain price for the item you want. Once a seller mentions the starting price, it’s you against other buyers competing to place the highest bid before the listing ends. However, there are some tricks you can use to help you win and keep your wallet happy. Here’s how eBay bidding works.
Read more: Five best auction apps for Android
FAST ANSWER
To place a bid on eBay, wait for the auction-style listing to close, enter the maximum amount you’re willing to pay, and click Place Bid.
SKIP TO IMPORTANT SECTIONS
How to bid on eBay
eBay auctions often have multiple competing bidders, but you can increase your chances of winning by using a sensible strategy. Do some research before bidding on an item. The goal is to find the offer that gives you the best chance of winning for the lowest possible price.
Think about how much you are willing to pay, set your maximum bid and stick to it. Never place a bid if you are not ready to buy the item as you commit to the purchase if you win.
Tips and tricks
You can see items sold on eBay to see the highest bids on previous auctions for similar items. In addition, try using different keywords to see all currently available auctions on the site. For example, use misspelled words like “porcelane” instead of “porcelain” in your search. If a listing title has a typo, fewer people will find it, meaning fewer bidders to compete against.
Adam Birney / Android Authority
Note what time the auction ends and how many other users are viewing the item. A common tactic on eBay is bid snipping, which involves people trying to barge in with a winning bid at the last minute. You will see a lot of activity as auction style offers are about to expire. In that regard, bidding your time is crucial. Placing your highest bid in the last seconds increases your chances of getting the item. If you see that you are immediately outbid, try to bid an odd amount, say $10.63 instead of $10.50. Why? Because people often set maximum limits in even numbers. More about this in the last paragraph.
Reserve prices
A reserve price is an amount for which the seller is willing to sell an item. The way it works on eBay is if no one bids up to the reserve price, no one gets the thing. In other words, even if you are the highest bidder at the end of an auction, you will not win the item if you see the “reserve not met” message after placing the bid.
There are cases where a seller lowers their reserve price during an auction if they don’t see much activity. However, do not rely on these cases to win an auction. If an auction has a reserve price, it’s best to bid up to that amount as early as possible so that a low starting price doesn’t attract other bidders.
Consider downloading the eBay app to receive auction notifications and bid directly from your phone.
Set up automatic bidding on eBay
Automatic bidding is a way to let eBay bid on your behalf while you are away. It’s a handy feature when the auction ends late at night, as it’s difficult to monitor incoming bids while trying to stay awake. To set up automatic bidding, simply enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for an item and click Bid. eBay will place slightly higher bids to keep you in the lead, but only up to your limit.
You’ll be notified if someone outbids you, so you can decide if you want to increase your maximum bid. When setting a maximum bid, keep in mind that you also have to pay shipping costs. So make sure you feel comfortable paying the total amount if you win the auction.
That’s all you need to know about how eBay bidding works. Keeping these tips in mind will help you win auctions in no time. Good luck!
Read more: Search for a specific seller on eBay
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my maximum bid on eBay?
Yes, you can increase your maximum bid before the end of the offer. To do this, click on Offer Now in the offer. Note: you cannot lower your maximum bid.
Can you bid on your own item on eBay?
No, this is called shill bidding and it is strictly prohibited on eBay. If you or a friend or family tries to bid on your own items, eBay will block your accounts.
Is shill bidding on eBay illegal?
Yes, shill bids are not allowed on eBay resulting in a permanent ban.
Can I cancel a bid on eBay before it expires?
Yes, you can withdraw a bid. Read more here.
Does eBay show the highest bid?
Yes, eBay shows the current highest bid on auction-style listings.
What happens if no one bids on eBay?
If the listing ends with no bids that meet the reserve price, the seller has the option to relist the item or close the listing.
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