pls advise an ebay dummy

[bemybebe]

I have never ever bought anything on ebay auction before. Now I fancy a small article, but confused about the bidding system. Please advise.

There is something i want to buy that is listed in the shops at 100£. Current bid is 25£ and I am happy to pay at least 50£. I entered 50£ and my bid is now 26£ with suggestion to other bid over 51£.

I do not want this article to go to someone else at 51£ in the last seconds. What do I do, do I up my max to, say 70£ and hope it stays at 25£? I will not want it at 71£ that will be too much. Would or rather CAN the seller cancel the sale if the price does not go above 26£?

I am confused by the rules...

I wait until the last 15 seconds then put in my maximum bid. I never bid early as that just pushes the price up.

I don't know. But I thought your title meant you were thinking of buying a dummy on eBay!

"hope it stays at 26£"

Wobbly hahaha sorry to confuse you...

I always put in the maximum bid I am prepared to pay. For you, that sounds like £70 since you said £71 would be too much. If you leave it until the last minute to put your top bid in, the chances are you will forget about the auction, being doing something else, and be outbid by someone bidding £51.

OTOH, a lot of people seem to employ automated bidding so that whatever you bid, they bid £1 more than you, literally in the last second of the auction, and you lose out. But if they are going to do that anyway, there isn't much (anything?) you can do to prevent that.

So put in the max you want to pay and fingers crossed.

TheVisitor this part I do not understand at the moment, so I would really appreciate if you explain.

Why my maximum bid would push the price if there is someone else willing to pay more? Do you mean that in the last few seconds people just battle in 'musical chairs' fashion? I am happy to pay 50£, but progressively less so up to 70£. If someone places 71£ bid right now, I am happy to walk away.

Thanks Guttersnipe

I find most bidders bid in the last minute or so. I always try to bid in the last 15 seconds if possible.

If possible you should bid once, late as you dare and your maximum amount. This stops earlier bidding wars which can push the price up.

It this right to assume that my maximum is not visible to other buyers?

Early bidding encourages other early bidders, therefore putting the price up, whereas if there are no bids, you stand more chance of getting the item at a lower price. Your maximum is not visible.

Thank you everyone! I can see myself getting hooked on this