Some Useful
eBay Auction Buyer's Tips and Tricks.
eBay isn't just an auction and a
marketplace: often it can feel quite a
lot like a game. Like any game, you can
get ahead if you think strategically,
using your head to outwit the other
buyers and get the best price. Here are a
few things you can try.
Shop in the Summer.
This is simple, but effective. Summer is
the quiet season on eBay - almost
everything sells for less. While everyone
else is out enjoying the sun, invest a
little time to find some real bargains.
Beat Them by a Few Cents.
Outbid people by a few cents instead of a
few dollars - if they don't check back
before the auction ends, then you will be
the winner. To avoid people using this
tactic on you, though, always bid
strange, hard-to-guess amounts instead of
round numbers.
Play Dirty.
If you know when the auction ends, you
can get in there at the very last second
and outbid your rivals. The chances are
that they won't have the time to sit in
front of the auction waiting for it to
end - as a rule, he who stays wins. If
someone else does retaliate at the end of
the auction, though, try not to get
carried away in those last few seconds
and end up paying too much!
Take Risks.
This is a strategy for the braver eBay
buyer. All of the advice you will see for
eBay beginners tells you to buy items
that have good pictures, clear
descriptions, trustworthy sellers and all
the rest. If you're brave, why not take a
risk and do the exact opposite?
Many buyers won't want that item from the
seller with a feedback rating of 5, no
picture and a one-line description. If
you take a calculated risk and bid
anyway, you might be able to make a tiny
bid and win by default. There are people
on eBay who make their living from
winning auctions like these, taking good
pictures of the item, writing a good
description and then reselling it at a
huge profit. Be careful, though: do this
for long enough, and you will inevitably
lose your money at some point. It's
especially unwise to try it with very
high-value items.
Avoid Bidding Wars.
There are few things on eBay that are so
rare that you'll only see them once and
never again. There are usually quite a
few sellers who have an item. What's
more, they will generally have more than
one to sell, even if they haven't listed
them all at once. Always check your
seller's history to see whether they sell
your item all the time - and if they do,
then wait for the next one instead of
bidding to the skies.
Now, there may come a time in your eBay
life when you realise that you've screwed
up your bid, and you wish there was an
'undo' button. Thats the good news when
you have made a boo boo!!
Drop
Shipping and Ebay Guide
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