Why bid in last seconds rather than use automatic bidding? (2024)

FAQs

Why do people bid last minute? ›

This might be because their first bid did not reflect what they were actually willing to pay. Or maybe they have no idea what the item is worth, but when they are outbid, they figure it must be worth more so they bid more. Or it might be because they just can't stand the idea of being outbid.

If you are outbid immediately after placing a bid, it's likely that another bidder is using automatic bidding and has a maximum limit higher than yours. You'll need to increase your maximum limit in order to be the highest bidder.

eBay bidding tips

You stand a greater chance of getting the item by placing your highest bid in the closing seconds. If an auction listing has a reserve price, bid up to that amount as early as possible, so other bidders aren't attracted by the low starting price.

The thing is that you biding early against automatic bids, is actually driving up the price, which is why most experienced bidders prefer to place bids as late in the auction as they can or are willing to which is called Sniping.

Lots of people experience that. Perfectly normal as ebay accepts bids up until the last second. The way to get around it is to bid the absolute most you would pay for the item and then add a few cents as a tie breaker.

Waiting until the last few seconds of an auction to make a winning bid is known as bid sniping. This tactic is used to try to prevent other bidders from having a chance to place a higher bid before the auction ends.

Why does eBay still allow sniping? Most auction sites now employ a 15-minute rule, where any last minute bid extends the auction another 15 minutes. This would benefit the sellers, buyers and eBay itself.

I suggest you start with ten seconds left, or even twelve or thirteen, and with practice refine it down as near the end as you've determined that you can reasonably rely on. Always remember, though, that it isn't necessarily the last bid that wins: it's the highest bid that wins, regardless of when it was placed.

eBay explicitly permits sniping. Qualified bids received by eBay before the end of the auction are accepted, whether the bid is made by a person hitting a button on a phone or computer, or by someone who has scheduled a bid with a third-party service.

By placing your highest bid in the closing seconds, you stand a greater chance of getting the item. If an auction-style listing has a reserve price, bid up to that amount as early as possible, so other bidders aren't attracted by the low starting price.

When I bid on eBay, I automatically get outbid.? ›

If your bid is immediately outbid, that just means that your bid was not higher than the previous high bidder's hidden maximum bid amount. The high bid always appears in the bid history whether it is an automatic bid or not. The way to tell it was an automatic bid is to notice the time it was placed.

All bidding is essentially automatic. When you bid, just enter the absolute most you are willing to pay. eBay will use only enough of it to keep you in the lead (until and unless someone bids more than your max). No one can see your max bid.

The Five-Minute Rule

If a bid is placed in the final five minutes of an auction, the auction clock will reset to five minutes and begin counting down again. There is no limit to the number of times the auction clock can be reset, so we recommend that you check back often as an auction nears closing time.

Here's how it works: whenever a bid is cast in the last ten minutes of an auction, the auction is automatically extended for an additional ten minutes from the time of the latest bid. This ensures that an auction can't close until ten 'bidless' minutes have passed.

If you bid early in the auction, other bidders may see your bid and respond with higher bids, driving up the price of the item. By waiting until the last few seconds to bid, you may be able to avoid this situation and win the auction at a lower price.