What you failed to win? Or abandon? Lets Here your experiences

[GLADIATOR]

Interesting
I watch at any time about 20 Items on eBay, most start at $1. I track for the duration, and either fail to bid, abandon or lose for following reasons:

1) ABANDON
Ok I set a price in my my mind, once it either reaches or goes beyond my price idea (especially if many bidders)
I usually remove it. I may track it just to learn typical price for that item.
But if I know its value has been exceeded I usually remove it.
I Like to see the NEXT important item.

2) Just Do not bid.
After watching (say) 6 or 7 days, and the auction is within last hours. I think hard and long, and ask my self the following:
"Do I REALLY want this for my collection? Yes or No?"
"Do I really 'need' this for my collection? Yes or No?"
If answer to both or either is 'no' I abandon the auction.

3) Fail to win.
I only bid in last 15 secs. I look at the last bid and ask my self:
1) "What is this items value?"
AND
2) "What is this items value to 'me!"

If answer (2) is higher than (1) I go in VERY much higher than the current bid. Other wise I bid based on (1)

I rarely lose a 'Point 2' item, as that is deemed 'necessary' to my collection.

Hope above helps.

How it works for you?
Is this 'worth' posting as a tip#?

Lets hear YOUR EXPERIENCES

[GLADIATOR]

To give an example
I am currently watching a watch for two days now'
9 bids and 3 days to go.
Current price 105 Euros

Now this watch falls into catagory #2B i.e.
""Do I really 'need' this for my collection? Yes or No?"
Answer yes, that overrides everything else.

Now lets presume the price reaches about 300 euros 3 minutes before close of auction.
I have al ready decided:
a) market worth of this watch = 400 Euros
b) Rarity to find = 700 Euros

What I bid, because it is a 'necessity' in MY collection?

Market vale say 450 euros? Or necessity value to me say 850 euros? Or A bit over current price say 350 euros?

advice needed, what you all say?

[Davemcc]

This is exactly my own mental process when bidding, although I usually have 40-60 listings in my watch list. Most items in my list are simply to track closing prices. I bid rarely these days and only for inexpensive, unusual items or potential bargains.

[GLADIATOR]

This is exactly my own mental process when bidding, although I usually have 40-60 listings in my watch list. Most items in my list are simply to track closing prices. I bid rarely these days and only for inexpensive, unusual items or potential bargains.

Yes. That makes perfect sense. Thanks your comment
"

[Valtyr]

Thank you for the advice Adam. I fell in a phase where I bought vintage watches to show you... Not add value to my collection. I'm a big kid now and I'm doing it right thanks to these tips.

[GLADIATOR]

Thank you for the advice Adam. I fell in a phase where I bought vintage watches to show you... Not add value to my collection. I'm a big kid now and I'm doing it right thanks to these tips.

glad to see you realized you were buying for all the wrong reasons. No harm done. We all did it and indeed I still do.

I tried a lot of times to guide you and others how to focus I am glad it's now working for you.

Thanks your post and openess. Adam

[Valtyr]

I've got my eye on one that will make my collection look like a million bucks. It is vintage too. This one is one I've been wanting for about 4 months. I'm excited to see how it pans out.

[GLADIATOR]

I've got my eye on one that will make my collection look like a million bucks. It is vintage too. This one is one I've been wanting for about 4 months. I'm excited to see how it pans out.

PM me the details, and I can maybe advise.

I am also watching one I really want in my collection.
BUT
I have two so scarce Rolex's that are going to be offered to me, that I can not do it all.

Save the extra month and get the Rolls Royce

[Hawk404]

The likelihood of my scoring anything from Ebay ranges from "slim" to "none".

Mostly due to Paypal. Without so much as a 10 centavo transaction, they managed to seize up my accounts. It comes to light that, simultaneous with my registering, some hackers were playing merry hob with Paypal. I got an explanation but no apology. Worse, I got emails advising me how I could "submit" my issue and "request" redress.

Obviously, they never heard that customers neither "submit" nor "request" - they "advise" and "demand". At least mine do.

There is nothing on this planet I want badly enough that I'll use Paypal to pay for it. Nothing. Not even a Paul Newman Daytona Rolex for USD4.00.

Needless to say, this limits me severely.

File this under "cutting off one's nose to spite one's face".

[GLADIATOR]

The likelihood of my scoring anything from Ebay ranges from "slim" to "none".

Mostly due to Paypal. Without so much as a 10 centavo transaction, they managed to seize up my accounts. It comes to light that, simultaneous with my registering, some hackers were playing merry hob with Paypal. I got an explanation but no apology. Worse, I got emails advising me how I could "submit" my issue and "request" redress.

Obviously, they never heard that customers neither "submit" nor "request" - they "advise" and "demand". At least mine do.

There is nothing on this planet I want badly enough that I'll use Paypal to pay for it. Nothing. Not even a Paul Newman Daytona Rolex for USD4.00.

Needless to say, this limits me severely.

File this under "cutting off one's nose to spite one's face".

Sorry to hear that Hawk404. From my experience I find PayPal exceptional with both buyer protection, and an outstanding customer service.

There is (very tucked away) a link to a 'security tab' This is a small fob with a 6 digit number that changes every 10secs. Once you get one, it is linked to your account.
There after you still enter your password but now it ADDITIONALLY ask for the 6 digit code (remember this changes every 10 secs)

In my opinion this is the HIGHEST form of internet password security available, as you password is NEVER the same twice (6 digit random code)

with that I am 100% confident.

On a side note, if you really want to bid for some thing, let me know by PM, I can bid and pay, and you can pay be back by bank transfer.

Regards