Track fiddlerI agree and that's what I prefer to do. But sometimes unique or hard to find items are only available in an auction. If you've been looking for it or want it bad enough then you're stuck playing the game I guess.
I use BIN only.. I simply use the "BIN" option and spend time looking for what I need at the price I willing to pay.
I guess I grew tired of being sniped in the last few minutes or even seconds of a auction.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
RR_Mel Have you ever bid on an Alps printer to have the ability to print white and metallic colors. I got my first one cheap, it lasted about three years. The second one was a bit higher and I even contacted the seller and gave him specific instructions on how to pack it for shipping, he didn’t and I got a refund. The third machine had me worried because of the listing said like new condition, I increased my max by more than double what it was worth to me and low and behold I got it for a really good price.Sometimes when you really want something you just have grin and bear it hopping it comes in at a low price. The third one is still working great after five years.Mel
Have you ever bid on an Alps printer to have the ability to print white and metallic colors. I got my first one cheap, it lasted about three years. The second one was a bit higher and I even contacted the seller and gave him specific instructions on how to pack it for shipping, he didn’t and I got a refund. The third machine had me worried because of the listing said like new condition, I increased my max by more than double what it was worth to me and low and behold I got it for a really good price.Sometimes when you really want something you just have grin and bear it hopping it comes in at a low price. The third one is still working great after five years.Mel
I assume then that ink is still available?
philo426 That's why I only use Buy it Now!Get what you want and don't overspend!
That's why I only use Buy it Now!Get what you want and don't overspend!
I agree and that's what I prefer to do. But sometimes unique or hard to find items are only available in an auction. If you've been looking for it or want it bad enough then you're stuck playing the game I guess.
Sometimes I'm better off not going there in the first place unless I really need something. I already have stockpiles of locomotives and rolling stock. They all have Micro Train trucks but I still have to buy steel wheels for all these cars. That's where they get you.
TF
peahrens You've got me thinking about how this works. Let's say there are you plus 9 others who typically bid on the things that group tends to like. Everyone watches the bids and goes up to what they think is reasonable, based on prior sales of similar items. Someone will randomly win the bid, after the others decide to pass, going at close to the typical past prices. In another case, the same 10 people are looking at a Blue Box box car kit It is an unusual, and you and another fellow identify with the item for some reason and just "gotta have it", as an exception to your normal bidding approach. One guy bids $100,000 to be sure to get it. You (not knowing his highest bid amount) bid $1,000,000, winning a $100,001 Blue Box box car. After you add Kadees and perhaps metal wheelsets, you got your prize item, investing around $100,006. But you're happy, and the other guy is disappointed. When I was adding to my loco fleet, I acquired some items (out of production) that I really like, such as an Athearn Veranda turbine, and LifeLike Heritage 0-8-0 and 2-8-8-2 steamers. In those cases, I came across like new items but at moderate prices, compared to the range of prices I see on those items. Not that, on occasion, I have not paid generously to enhance my chances of something I desired. It has been a long time since I bid on an item. I tend to look at items with Buy It Now prices and skip the others, usually buying small items (like car kits) or supplies.
You've got me thinking about how this works. Let's say there are you plus 9 others who typically bid on the things that group tends to like. Everyone watches the bids and goes up to what they think is reasonable, based on prior sales of similar items. Someone will randomly win the bid, after the others decide to pass, going at close to the typical past prices.
In another case, the same 10 people are looking at a Blue Box box car kit It is an unusual, and you and another fellow identify with the item for some reason and just "gotta have it", as an exception to your normal bidding approach. One guy bids $100,000 to be sure to get it. You (not knowing his highest bid amount) bid $1,000,000, winning a $100,001 Blue Box box car. After you add Kadees and perhaps metal wheelsets, you got your prize item, investing around $100,006. But you're happy, and the other guy is disappointed.
When I was adding to my loco fleet, I acquired some items (out of production) that I really like, such as an Athearn Veranda turbine, and LifeLike Heritage 0-8-0 and 2-8-8-2 steamers. In those cases, I came across like new items but at moderate prices, compared to the range of prices I see on those items.
Not that, on occasion, I have not paid generously to enhance my chances of something I desired. It has been a long time since I bid on an item. I tend to look at items with Buy It Now prices and skip the others, usually buying small items (like car kits) or supplies.
A third person would have had to bid $99,995 to get the price to $100,000 before that could happen.
Otherwise the price is always just the bid increment above the next highest bidder.
Sheldon
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
I once paid $300 for a rare NOS GRAVELY tractor part, that when new only cost about $60. Why? because I needed it, used ones are beat up crap, and, most importantly, I could afford the $300.
Generally however if I bid on Ebay, I just place my max bid right away and forget it.
I win enough to feel this is a good policy. I have not bought much lately, mainly just a few trolley bus sets back before Christmas.
You win some, you lose some. I usually bid what I am willing to pay and it it goes higher, may be disappointed but just forget about it.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Have you ever bid on an Alps printer to have the ability to print white and metallic colors. I got my first one cheap, it lasted about three years. The second one was a bit higher and I even contacted the seller and gave him specific instructions on how to pack it for shipping, he didn’t and I got a refund. The third machine had me worried because of the listing said like new condition, I increased my max by more than double what it was worth to me and low and behold I got it for a really good price.Sometimes when you really want something you just have grin and bear it hopping it comes in at a low price. The third one is still working great after five years.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps. My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Have you ever lost an eBay auction on something that you really wanted and end up kicking yourself in the butt afterwards because you didn't bid enough? We're talking model railroad stuff here of course.
What's strange is sometimes after the auction's over I realize it was a very unique piece and I probably won't find another one. But I go looking for another one anyway willing to pay twice as much as I just bidded if that makes any sense.
Ninety nine percent of the time I do not find another one and it'll be years before another one comes up again. At this point I catch an extreme case of auction remorse
One time I accidentally bidded $2,000 instead of $20 on something at the last second and it really freaked me out until I realized it doesn't matter. You could bid a million dollars and your winning dollar amount only goes one increment higher than the highest currant bidder. I did win that one.
You would think after I accidentally found this information out I would use it for a strategy guaranteeing me to win if it's something I really want, ... Nope, I guess I haven't evolved enough in the auction world yet.
Sometimes I'm like a little kid with this crap, like when you're your mom wouldn't buy you the toy you wanted and you go home with it beckoning you for weeks
Any thoughts or experiences with this auction stuff?