Crazy bidders on eBay

[Anonymous]

I just killed my e-Bay account - although I bought 30+ locos and cars thru e-Bay when I was starting out, I haven't bought anything in over a year. My few remaining locos and rolling stock I will either pre-order thru MTS or get at my LHS.

Future threads I can now avoid: e-Bay, MTH and bash UP.

I assume that there are others .......

[BRAKIE]

Guys,I have seen "Buy It Now" prices at full MSRPs.I seen common and available cars and engines go for prices higher then MSRP and higher then some local discount hobby shops or on line discount hobby shops...Naw,some folks is so wrap up in e bay they think they're getting a good deal when in all truth they are paying more or near MSRP when you add the shipping costs in..
Don't believe me? Check for yourself.

[sebamat]

Snipping is only as good as long you outbid the others. I won more than once against snipers just because my max bid was more that what they were ready to pay.
If you see the item's last bid at 25$ does not mean you will get it for 26! (I allways had more than one competitor).
But clearly I am speaking as a collector that JUST WANT THIS ITEM!!! and it is about stuff it would not show up again so easily .
I am still kicking myself for failing to get a custom painted IC GP7 modified as passenger engine with torpedo air tanks for 1$ at 55$ (a lousy amount..now I would offer 80-90). Never seen again. And really proud of my Bev bel IC cars I overpaid if compared at the 'old time selling price' (and again never shoved up again).

I find ebay a beautiful way to find things I did not even know they existed. For normal 'plain jane' engines and cars I just bid as long as they are a lot cheaper than Trainworld selling price (taking acount of S&H, that are mostly cheaper from privates as from professional sellers).

But is is as allways: know your market and discriminate what is a 'once in your life' occasion and what will show up next wek again.

Sebastiano

an IC fan against all odds!

[Anonymous]

Ive only purchased on ebay twice the first item was shipped but ended up at my parents house( my fault, I hadn't looked at ebay since I moved out) and I also ordered a P2K NYC S-1 Switcher, still hasn't gotten here and I don't really know whats going on, do ebay sellers have to notify you when it's shipped or can they just ship it? the first order came with a message from paypal when it was shipped, I haven't gotten a message for the second item yet.

[Anonymous]

I understand. Maybe I should open up an Ebay bidding business. Charge maybe a percentage of the winning bid?

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1shado1

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigRedneckRob

Here's the way I see it, and I've bee on Ebay about five years now. I consider a sniper someone who has software that enables them to outbid another bidder literally two seconds before an auction's end. I think that's wrong. Here's what I do: I look for things I want on Ebay. When I find something, I save it to my favorites and keep watching it. If it stays in my price range, I still keep watching it. I won't bid until literally less then one minute away from auction close. I don't use any sniper programs, though, and will not. It's not fair. Maybe some people do have more time to sit in front of the computer. If you really want something, you need to make it a priority. I have lost maybe three bids in five years. I've gotten hate mail. Maybe I deserved it. The fact is, until Ebay makes last minute bidding illegal by their standards, all's fair.

Hey Rob,
I understand your point, but sometimes it's difficult to make something I want on Ebay a priority. I don't think my boss would appreciate me calling in to work saying I was either going to be late, or not coming in at all because I need to bid on an Ebay item. And I don't see where using sniper software is unfair. The fact that free sniper software is available for ANYONE to use DOES make it fair. If it was only available for use by a select few, then it would be unfair. Of course, this is only MY opinion.

[1shado1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigRedneckRob

Here's the way I see it, and I've bee on Ebay about five years now. I consider a sniper someone who has software that enables them to outbid another bidder literally two seconds before an auction's end. I think that's wrong. Here's what I do: I look for things I want on Ebay. When I find something, I save it to my favorites and keep watching it. If it stays in my price range, I still keep watching it. I won't bid until literally less then one minute away from auction close. I don't use any sniper programs, though, and will not. It's not fair. Maybe some people do have more time to sit in front of the computer. If you really want something, you need to make it a priority. I have lost maybe three bids in five years. I've gotten hate mail. Maybe I deserved it. The fact is, until Ebay makes last minute bidding illegal by their standards, all's fair.

Hey Rob,
I understand your point, but sometimes it's difficult to make something I want on Ebay a priority. I don't think my boss would appreciate me calling in to work saying I was either going to be late, or not coming in at all because I need to bid on an Ebay item. And I don't see where using sniper software is unfair. The fact that free sniper software is available for ANYONE to use DOES make it fair. If it was only available for use by a select few, then it would be unfair. Of course, this is only MY opinion.

[Anonymous]

Here's the way I see it, and I've bee on Ebay about five years now. I consider a sniper someone who has software that enables them to outbid another bidder literally two seconds before an auction's end. I think that's wrong. Here's what I do: I look for things I want on Ebay. When I find something, I save it to my favorites and keep watching it. If it stays in my price range, I still keep watching it. I won't bid until literally less then one minute away from auction close. I don't use any sniper programs, though, and will not. It's not fair. Maybe some people do have more time to sit in front of the computer. If you really want something, you need to make it a priority. I have lost maybe three bids in five years. I've gotten hate mail. Maybe I deserved it. The fact is, until Ebay makes last minute bidding illegal by their standards, all's fair.

[1shado1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by EMT49

QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe

QUOTE: Originally posted by EMT49

snipe bidding is for ******** thay should all be banned from ebay

Ahem. Does that mean I should be banned also? Sniping has helped me win a few auctions.[:D] I'm not trying to start an argument, but there are people on this website who use Auction Sniper, like me.[:)] Some may be
offended by your response.

the post was not ment to offend i'm sorry . it's was ment more for the off ebay web pages that hack into ebay. if you want somethin you should sit in front of your computer just like the rest of us.

Maybe some of us don't have as much time to sit in front of the computer as you do. And just who is "the rest of us"? The remaining minority that DON'T snipe to win items?

[jfugate]

Ban snipers?

High bid wins, if it's made in the last 5 seconds or was made 5 days ago ... and if you lose the bid because the other guy outbid you, so be it -- regardless of how recently he placed his bid.

It's a part of the strategy of the auction process, and there are lots of losers for every winner, so get used to it. [;)]

Losing is not the end of the world -- and many things matter more than winning or losing some ebay auction.

[Rotorranch]

I love eBay! [^][;)][:D]

Rotor

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe

QUOTE: Originally posted by EMT49

snipe bidding is for ******** thay should all be banned from ebay

Ahem. Does that mean I should be banned also? Sniping has helped me win a few auctions.[:D] I'm not trying to start an argument, but there are people on this website who use Auction Sniper, like me.[:)] Some may be
offended by your response.

the post was not ment to offend i'm sorry . it's was ment more for the off ebay web pages that hack into ebay. if you want somethin you should sit in front of your computer just like the rest of us.

[cnw4001]

eBay is not the only place where stuff sells for inflated prices. Auctions in general are places where "I've got to have it" overrides any consideration of value. Have seen this time and time again at live auctions.

[Anonymous]

Maybe I didn't say it right. I meant the Ebay bidders.

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigRedneckRob

I know. Ebay has really pissed me off. I tried to sell my Powerstroke truck because my wife is sick, and will be out of work for a while...possibly for good. It's an '04 F250 4x4 with 23,000 miles on it and the auction ended at under 11,000 bucks.......without meeting my reserve, of course. This truck still holds a NADA trade in value of more then 31000 bucks. Go figure.

Rob,

I can understand your frustration, but I hardly think it's ebay's fault.

[TomDiehl]

Other auction sites deal with sniper bidding by extending the close of bidding if a bid comes in during the last few minutes. Sniper bidding is a fact of life on Ebay and any other auction site that doesn't do anything to combat it. If you're going to play the auction game, you need to play by THEIR rules.

[ProtoWeathering]

I NEVER bid for anything I want until lthe last 15-20 seconds. That way I'm not tempted into a bidding war and I can beat out someone who has a slower connection than I. If I don't win what I want at the price I'm willing to pay, there's always another day. Sniping is one of the only ways to get what you want. Why be gentlemanly when it's you against me?

[Anonymous]

You need two think to find bargans on eBay. Patience (lots of it). Product knowledge. I have been looking on eBay for 5 years to put together a collecton of Sinclair Lewis books. A little over a year ago I paid $7.00 (including shipping) for a signed, special edition of one of his books still in the original slipcase. The book is easily worth $200.00.

Just have patience. Know exactly what it is you are looking for and don't be afraid to jump on a but-it-now that is a good price just on the hope to save a few dollars.

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by EMT49

snipe bidding is for ******** thay should all be banned from ebay

Ahem. Does that mean I should be banned also? Sniping has helped me win a few auctions.[:D] I'm not trying to start an argument, but there are people on this website who use Auction Sniper, like me.[:)] Some may be
offended by your response.

[davekelly]

Ban snipers from ebay? How would that work? Would it be that anyone that bid in the last 30 seconds of an auction would be banned? But then wouldn't it make everyone try to get their bids in at the 31 second to go mark? Still sniping, except then it would occur 30 seconds later. I guess they could just keep pushing the time back a little every couple of months. Don't think it's workable.

BTW: I really do think that one should watch one's language here. Even with the characters it's obvious what the word is. Even if you disagree with someone here, there is no need to call them names like that.

[davekelly]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigRedneckRob

I know. Ebay has really pissed me off. I tried to sell my Powerstroke truck because my wife is sick, and will be out of work for a while...possibly for good. It's an '04 F250 4x4 with 23,000 miles on it and the auction ended at under 11,000 bucks.......without meeting my reserve, of course. This truck still holds a NADA trade in value of more then 31000 bucks. Go figure.

Rob,

I can understand your frustration, but I hardly think it's ebay's fault.

[1shado1]

EMT49 wrote:

"snipe bidding is for a@$holes thay should all be banned from ebay"

Along with folks that can't operate a shift key, or use punctuation.[:p]

Proxy bidding is for idiots.

[mustanggt]

Speaking of MTL boxcars, has anyone seen the prices of their enclosed auto racks? Rarity is one thing, but some people are nuts! I've seen them go for around $50!got mine for $29 at my LHS.

And another item people go crazy over are IHC Boeing LRV Trolley cars. I won mine for around 50 dollars, but some have gone well over $100. At least the pantograph is functional.

[egmurphy]

Rob,

Ebay probably isn't the best place to sell everything. I know I wouldn't want to buy a truck without being able to test drive it or send it to a mechanic. You might want to see if there's a CarMax near you. They offer on the spot appraisals and purchase. I know what they offered me was pretty close to what I eventually sold my car on the side for. And their website has an unofficial appraisal feature. When I entered the data on my car (before stopping by to see them) the results it gave me were amazingly close to what they offered when they checked the car out. Here's their website:
http://www.carmax.com/
And their price offer is good for 1 week or I think about 300 miles, so you can get their estimate and then shop around with a price already in hand.

Regards

Ed

[Anonymous]

I know. Ebay has really pissed me off. I tried to sell my Powerstroke truck because my wife is sick, and will be out of work for a while...possibly for good. It's an '04 F250 4x4 with 23,000 miles on it and the auction ended at under 11,000 bucks.......without meeting my reserve, of course. This truck still holds a NADA trade in value of more then 31000 bucks. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by EMT49

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

With over 100 million bidders on ebay, you can expect a few of them to be irrational.

It's the irrational bidders that blow the proxy bidding model out of the water on ebay. That's why its best NOT to bid on an item until the last possible moment. Otherwise you run the risk of irrational bidders seeing your interest, and then repeatedly incremental bidding on the item, driving the price up to unreasonable levels.

If you snipe bid (as last minute bidding is affectionately called by seasoned ebayers) then you run the best chance of getting the item at a more reasonable price, in the price range you were willing to pay. http://auctionsniper.com enables you to snipe bid automatically so you don't have to physically babysit the item to place your last minute bid.

snipe bidding is for a@$holes thay should all be banned from ebay

[rrinker]

Oh, I think they will get their price. As a seller I LOVE the nutcases that frequent eBay. I got $80 for one of those AHM/Pocher Lincoln Funeral Cars, Two Guys sticker on the original box says we paid $2.99 for it. I got $40 for a NON-WORKING (advertised as such) 2.1GB hard drive! And my father-in-law got $15 for an Athearn shell that you can buy today new from Athearn for $5.

--Randy

[SilverSpike]

QUOTE: Here's a few nutty Ebay M-T/Kadee prices:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=598872360 ($200 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989021467 ($100, 2 cars)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989310862 ($102 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989474862 ($118 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989475292 ($113 reefer)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989475574 ($82 reefer)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989492280 ($210 for 5 flats)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989509143 ($115 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989540978 ($150 boxcar)

Actually, there doesn't seem to be anything on Ebay now that would fetch the really stupid collector's money. But the saddest thing is that all the above cars are at the "blue book" prices. Go to a swap or collector's site, and the prices car get REALLY fun!

I checked out most of these eBay items and only one has had bids put on them and it has not even met the reserve price yet. All the others have no bids, I am not surprised.

Wow, amazing that someone has these prices so high! I wonder if any will actually sell at these prices?

Thanks,

Ryan

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

QUOTE: Ray: Actually, there doesn't seem to be anything on Ebay now that would fetch the really stupid collector's money. But the saddest thing is that all the above cars are at the "blue book" prices.

I don't know, $150 starting bid for a boxcar seems pretty stupid to me. But hey, I'm not a collector. You mention 'blue book' prices. Is there actually a site somewhere that talks about these things and puts some value on them? Now that you've piqued my curiosity.

Thanks

Ed

No real "site", but a real book:
http://www.nscalecollector.com/

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Ray: Actually, there doesn't seem to be anything on Ebay now that would fetch the really stupid collector's money. But the saddest thing is that all the above cars are at the "blue book" prices.

I don't know, $150 starting bid for a boxcar seems pretty stupid to me. But hey, I'm not a collector. You mention 'blue book' prices. Is there actually a site somewhere that talks about these things and puts some value on them? Now that you've piqued my curiosity.

Thanks

Ed

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

QUOTE: You want crazy? Watch pre-Micro Trains Kadee N scale boxcars on Ebay. They regularly go for $1000 and up!

Are you serious Ray? I'll have to check through my car box. I know I have several old Kadee N scale cars from about 25 years ago. That could finance a whole new wardrobe of Atlas cars.


Regards

Ed

Sad but true, but Kadee N scale cars, especially if they've been babied over the years, fetch top dollar. My dad's an old N scaler, and once upon a time inherited the entire N scale inventory of a 20th Century Hobbies that went under in about 1981. I told him that he was sitting on about $20K worth of Kadee cars, and he nearly choked!

Here's a few nutty Ebay M-T/Kadee prices:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=598872360 ($200 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989021467 ($100, 2 cars)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989310862 ($102 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989474862 ($118 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989475292 ($113 reefer)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989475574 ($82 reefer)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989492280 ($210 for 5 flats)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989509143 ($115 boxcar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5989540978 ($150 boxcar)

Actually, there doesn't seem to be anything on Ebay now that would fetch the really stupid collector's money. But the saddest thing is that all the above cars are at the "blue book" prices. Go to a swap or collector's site, and the prices car get REALLY fun!

[csmith9474]

I always enjoy coming across bidding wars on items. A lot of times the current bid is well above what it is available for from a retailer. It seems folks will let their pride and desire to win get the better of them.