topic Re: automatic bidding in Buying

automatic bidding

rabbitearbandicoot — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 23:08:19 GMT

can someone please explain automatic bidding. I thought I understood it but evidently not.

I thought that for an automatic bid to be made, the member first had to place an ACTUAL BID????

Re: automatic bidding

springyzone — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 23:23:52 GMT

Well, you do.

But let's say you see something on sale for $10 and you would be willing to pay $20 for it.

You might bid $20, but the ebay system won't take the price right up to $20. It will go up by the smallest increment possible. From memory, that would be about 50c.

So it will show you leading the bidding at $10.50.

Say another bidder came along and typed in $15, then the auto system would bid on your behalf and take the bidding up to $15.50, because it knows you are willing to go to $20, so you 'outbid' the second person.

But if they then typed in $21, of course they would take the lead.

If they typed in $20 though, you would still show as winning as the earlier bid takes preference when it is a draw.

I think I have it right, unless there have been changes.

----

Ebay will never do bidding on an item that you have not bid on.

If you think that happened, you better check who has been on your computer, because someone would have placed the bid.

Should add-some buyrs have proxy bidder programs where they type in a bid on an item and it bids at the last second, on their behalf. It can be a shock when you get outbid in that second, I know, as it has happened to me a few times.

But even with a proxy system, they will still only win if they have bid higher than other buyers.

Re: automatic bidding

springyzone — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 23:28:34 GMT

Meant to also add, those programs are not run by ebay itself, as far as I know. Members subscribe to them, pay a fee, and then the program will bid on whatever ebay items they nominate, with the highest price they nominate.

Re: automatic bidding

rabbitearbandicoot — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 23:29:15 GMT

that's the way I thought it worked .... BUT ... I have bid on an item only to be bid over by someone who has NOT placed an ACTUAL BID, or as far as I can see anyway. Am I allowed to quote the item so you can look at it?

Re: automatic bidding

mumof2cuteboys — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 00:47:08 GMT

It can also be good to add a couple of cents to your highest bid. for example, if you are prepared to go to $20, make your bid $20.03. If another bidder has put $20 as their highest bid, you will win because your bid is highest.

Re: automatic bidding

retailtherapist_8 — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 01:10:49 GMT

If you are looking at bid history to attempt to see who is bidding against you the identity of other bidders is protected & all you will see is something like a***1. This in no way resembles the identity of the actual other bidder. Maybe this is why you are a little stumped.

I cant think of any other reason........

Re: automatic bidding

rabbitearbandicoot — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 01:58:58 GMT

http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=141059192149&showauto=true

as you will see the member o***s has automatic bids, but it's not until the very highest bid that it actually shows as an actual bid.

Re: automatic bidding

digital*ghost — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 02:18:59 GMT

@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:
http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=141059192149&showauto=true

as you will see the member o***s has automatic bids, but it's not until the very highest bid that it actually shows as an actual bid.

The actual bid is dated 11-Sep-13 16:15:19

It was placed before yours (presuming you to be the other bidder with 21 FB).

Re: automatic bidding

rabbitearbandicoot — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 02:31:09 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:
http://offer.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=141059192149&showauto=true

as you will see the member o***s has automatic bids, but it's not until the very highest bid that it actually shows as an actual bid.
The actual bid is dated 11-Sep-13 16:15:19

It was placed before yours (presuming you to be the other bidder with 21 FB).

Yes, that's me. so why doesn't it appear as an actual bid as at that date and time - it does appear but as an automatic bid at that date and time?? Is that the way it works?

Re: automatic bidding

digital*ghost — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 06:51:08 GMT

I think it's just the way eBay choose to display the bidding history - the highest bidder is at the top no matter when their bid was placed, and their latest bid is not shown as automatic (even if it was a proxy bid), so that the current results match the history.

Re: automatic bidding

phorum_junkie* — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 08:53:07 GMT

Does it make any difference anyway as the reserve has not been met? I would avoid anyway as the seller obviously hasn't a clue, (or less likley they are a scammer) as they are offering Paypal and COD (cash on delivery) as well as bank deposit as payment methods with no mention of cash on pick up