Seen something I really like- how to maximise my chances

[whataboutbob]

I have spotted a dress I’d really like. The auction runs till next Friday at about 7:30 pm ( all being well I’ll be away from home in wales in a pub in the country then- so won’t be able to jump in at last second. It’s now in at £17 but there are 17 watchers . Should I
Plug in my maximum bid ( although not too sure how you do that?
Ask DH to bid for me at 7:29?
What is likely to work best- thanks for any advice.

I think I would use something like auction sniper? If you only bid a few times a month I think it's free. You put your max bid in, it bids 5s before the end of the auction at a value appropriate such that you should win. Occasionally doesn't work but usually quite effective we've found.

Imo leaving it for someone else to worry about is never a great idea.

If you put in your max bid then eBay will keep bidding on your behalf if you get outbid. You're SUPPOSED to put your max bid in at the last second, but I find that stressful and I've never seen anything on eBay that I feel is worth the aggro.

You could contact the seller with a price under your max budget and ask if they would sell to you directly?

Set an alarm for 7. 25 on your phone. Bid weird amounts. If its up to say 8.50 bid 9.01. A tenner? Bid 11.01.adding the odd penny has worked for me!!

@Sunnydaysstillhere, but the op were not have any phone reception when the auction ends.

Bid once, bid late, bid your max.

I second setting up a sniper to bid for you at the last minute.

Plug in my maximum bid ( although not too sure how you do that?

You do it in the same way as making a normal bid. Put on the highest price you are prepared to pay, and as other people put bids on the system will gradually increase the bidding for you, up to your maximum bid. I'd do it as late as possible, otherwise you just encourage other people to bid. Or yes - use sniping software.

If it's up to £17 with so long still to go, it's probably going to go an awful lot higher by the end of the auction.

Thanks everyone. Yes i fear it will go a lot higher. I’m going to think what I can afford to pay and that’s probably around £60 and stop there.
Is there any advantage to using auction sniper above using eBay and just plugging in your maximum bid?

Auction sniper. Put in your max, but an uneven number (ie £34.78) . It’ll bid at the last minute for you

If you were able to bid at the last second then I'd do that with you max bid but odd number: £61.03. As you can't, is recommend the auction sniper. The difference between these ways and just putting your max bid in now is opportunity. You want to minimise the risk of others outbidding you and pushing the price up.

If you put in your max but now, it leaves meet a whole week for someone to outbid you by a tiny amount. Auction sniper does it at the last second so reduces the chances of you being outbid by 10p!

I always use a sniper. At less stressful!

@AuntieDolly

Bid once, bid late, bid your max.

This. ^ I have won many bids using this strategy. If you wait until about the last 12-15 seconds (be ready with the bid itself to the point where you know you are two clicks away on a reliable connection), you can have a real chance at winning. Another tip is to bid what you are ready to pay for it. Not what the seller is hoping to get for it. Sometimes, sellers can use dodgy ways to maximise the bid values. Don’t fall for it. Be ready to walk away and forget about it.

Thanks @Handsnotwands I’ll plug in something like £ 60.39 on auction sniper and see what happens.

Bid in the last 5 secs the maximum you’d be willing to pay.

@AuntieDolly

Bid once, bid late, bid your max.

Absolutely this.

I decide the max I would pay, and add random pence to it, so max £25 plus 63p, then sit and watch the clock and put my bid in at the last second that I dare.

Never place a bid before, it inflates the price for everyone.

If I don’t get it, I find it easy to accept s9meone was prepared to pay more that £25 for it.

Thanks everyone and nice summary @HaggieMaggie. In the event I missed out on the dress as I was away from home and forgot to log in to ebay on my phone before leaving. It doesn’t really matter. Have already seen another one by same designer I like more! Will apply the tips and see how it goes.