I AM AN EBAY VIRGIN,HAVE BID ON SOMETHING AND REALLY WANT IT

[hifi]

the sale ends in 2 days and theres one other bidder,its a low price item.do people put bids in at the last minute to get items? will i get a chance to better the bid?

You can increase your bid right now, you don't need to wait to be outbid. If You REALLY want the item, decide what the ABSOLUTE maximum you're willing to pay is, and put that in now. Then try to forget about it until after the auction ends!

Some ebayers used 'sniping' software which enables last minute bids to be placed. It is, imo, unfair to do this but it does happen. Unfortunately sometimes your bid just doesn't get through in time, especially if it is right at the end of the auction.

You need to think about how much you want to pay and set that as your maximum bid. This just means that as soon as another bid comes in your account will respond with another bid from you (automatically). Obviously, if a response bid would take you over your max bid threshold you will then not be re-set as the highest bidder.

thanks,will put my maximum in.

I'd say the exact opposite. In the early days I used to dutifully put in my maximum bid from the start and wait till the auction ended, only to be outbid either by the kind of idiots people who input a series of marginally higher bids until they beat you, or at the last second by snipers. So I became a sniper, and my success rate rocketed.

If you are going to have access to a computer at the time the auction ends, line up your absolute maximum bid in one window (place it but don't confirm it), keep an eye on the auction in another window, and press the button to confirm your bid when there are about 10 seconds to go.

If it ends at an inconvenient time, you can use an automatic sniping site which will do it for you - I think some of them offer the first few uses free, after that you have to pay a percentage. I have never used one, but if you search MN I think you will find a few recommendations.

I never bid until 30 seconds to go if I really really want something.

starts to bite nails,i reeeeally want it. will try the stealth moves.

I agree with expat- Ebay is like poker, don't show your hand too early! If you put your maximu bid in now, it just allows other bidders to outbid you; if you wait until the end and enter your maximum, you stand a better chance of winning it.

I use a sniper site, (Myibidder) and it's free.

Put your absolute maximum plus a tenner into the sniper and it will bid for you in the last few seconds of the auction.

I used to bid early as a newbie only to have others push the price up to be the highest bidder or outbid the last second.

I don't see how using a sniping site is unfair. For a start, you can put a maximum snipe now and then remove it if you've changed your mind. If you are out when the auction finishes or if it finishes at an inconvenient then it bids for you without you beng there. It also prevents any potential shill bidding. If I really want the item then I'd snipe but if I get outbid anyway then it's too expensive.

How soon before the end of the auction do you set up the snipe?

Whenever you want, as long as you have decided what your absolute maximum bid is. I presume there is probably a mimimum time - but if there are only a few minutes to go, you might as well do it yourself.

get up the snipe now, enter your absolute max or if at home when auction finishes and you have reliable broadband

first log in to ebay again about 10 mins before end then set it up with max amount then press confirm with 10-15 seconds to go i wait till 7 seconds but if you really want it that requires nerves of steel to do bid three minutes before as it gives someone else the chance to win by winning an extra 50p or £1