Why do people bid at the very last moment?

[breatheslowly]

I don't really get this. Why not just put in your maximum bid and sit back and see if you have won?

*put not but

If everyone actually put on the highest amount they'd be willing to pay and stuck with it then every item would go to whoever was willing to pay the most for it and there would be no need to bid at the last second.

BUT people will bid £10 for an item and, if they see that you have bid higher, they may choose to put in a bid for £15. Really they should have put in £15 to start with, but they didnt know that they were willing to pay more until they felt the threat of losing. So to beat these people you put your bid in at the very last possble point so they don't have the chance to put in their higher bid.

(the phrasing as "win" rather than "buy" and "lose" rather than "it's too expensive for you" make a big difference to people's behaviour I think)

Another way to get good used prices on ebay is to think about what brands you buy new. Brora, Boden, Cath Kidston, Hobbs and Toast all make really good secondhand prices - in fact if you buy new in the sale and wear for a couple of years and sell on in good condition you get about 1/2 back, so no more expensive than buying cheaper clothes you can only give to the charity shop when you are through. If someone is only getting £10 back from an expensive designer dress they are buying the wrong brands, or photographing/describing very poorly. I am ashamed to confess once having bought a very expensive Country Casuals dress, just because it looked just right for one event I had to go to that week. I paid over £100 and got £9.99 back - brands that are thought of as being for older people don't do well.

The dress I sold was Amanda wakely elements which I sold with matching jacket, I started it at £20 for a week it got no bids or watchers then I relisted for another week at £10 which it sold for, but even then it ended with no bids and I got an email asking if I'd sell it for the asking price as the person was watching but couldn't bid on time.
It had a picture of the dress and a separate pic of the jacket I explain that it had only been worn once etc, was quite a formal dress that u might wear to a wedding. I think people just want stuff for ridiculously cheap right now

Ps for those wondering about my name it refers to twilight/true blood not a baby

EorE, I just had a quick look to see if I could find it and I think I did. Assuming it's the same one, I'd suggest showing the dress as the main photo if you're selling both. Maybe with the jacket to the side of the photo. I imagine people would be looking for a dress foremost, then the jacket would be a bonus. Having said all that, I still think it sold cheap.

Oops. But I'm glad I was wrong about your name

I bid at the last minute, mostly via Goofbay. That way, I don't dither about putting in a higher bid just to be the highest bidder. I don't like hanging around watching the last few seconds. If I don't win, then it's too expensive for me.

EorE - definitely Eric :-)

I always figured if I put the max bid in early, then don't hang around watching it, I won't be tempted to increase my bid at the last minute... well it's one way to budget!