Ebay losers!!

[Hyperion2]

I don't have a problem with the manual snipers...I do it quite a bit...it's the autosnipers that drive me nuts, as Craig said.

[TSC.]

I agree - manual sniping is fine (all part of the sport old bean), I always manual snipe if I really want to win a bid. But i think that those people who use auto snipers are just breaking a moral code of conduct.

Anyway, manual sniping generates a much smugger grin  ;D

TSC.

[Politically Incorrect]

Yeah you must watch many times a seller will himself or have a buddy up the bid to make profit. Now yes this means that if no one else bids then the seller must pay Ebay thier fair share of the money but usually at no real lose to the seller.
Watch the sellers other auctions and see if you notice the same buyer on a frequent basis "upping the bid" this is the first clue.
Another thing most seller that purposly up the bid will often times send you a "second chance" email, asking if you want to buy the item for your highest bid amount. Usually with the excuse that the buyer was unable to keep up with thier end of the deal.

Not all sellers are "crooked" like this but many are you just need to watch for the patterns, and if your positive this is what is going on report it to Ebay, it is against thier policy to up bids this way

I have fell victim to this many times and got the "second chance" email and declined it, just to see the same item up for bid again with the same person who failed to meet the purchase agreement before placing the high bid.

Buyer Beware and dont let un-ethical sellers ruin the great buys you can get on Ebay!

[Paz]

 You know what has been bothering me most about ebay lately? The crappy pictures people are posting! I would say that more than half the time I have to copy the picture into photoshop and brighten it up to see the item, it's like they don't even bother looking at their photos before posting the items.

[Politically Incorrect]

How true Paz, there is a local business that will put you stuff on Ebay take care of all the exchanges and everything that is now being sued by someone that used thier service due to the fact that the way the items were represented casued low bids or no bids at all, mainly due to poor images, and descriptions.
I saw some of the items they placed for sale and I wouldnt even think of bidding due to one line descriptions and very low quaility images that looked like they we taken on film developed at WalMart then scanned.
Or you get someone selling CDs or DVDs (anything in cellophane) and the flash from the camera makes it impossible to see the item.

[Felix/FFDS]

PAz, PI - thanks for the "tips"

I'm thinking of putting up some items on eBay, mainly some of my parents old Collins amateur radios dating back 40-50 years or so, which I understand fetch a good price (on top of which the buyer would have to pay freight for these behemoths!)  While they hardly qualify to be "wrapped in cellophane", I'll have to take care to get reasonably accurate photographs.

[Hyperion2]

My three simple rules for anyone interested in selling on ebay:

1.  Write a GOOD ad.  Don't spell anything wrong, none of this "u r gonna like it" crap.  You're trying to SELL.

2.  Take a good photo.  Light it properly, make sure it's in focus, and take a LOT of pictures.

3.  Don't set a ridiculous reserve.  (I personally DESPISE reserve prices.  lol)

[Saitek]

Some good tips, another good plus is put down information detailing its specifications and if you can't give that try and put down its history. It helps to show the buyer they are getting something with worth and is valuable to you and not just a peice of junk out of the loft.

I am a notrious last second sniper too! I can't bear waiting a whole week watching an item only to be outpbid at the end. It is frustrating, annoying and time wasting. I like to get up in the morning or the evening before and select the ones I like. Then note the time and slam in on the final minute.

[Hyperion2]

Same here, Saitek.  Except that I snipe for a different reason.  Early bidding does nothing but jack up the price.  If everyone waited til the end, you'd get a much better deal!

[TSC.]

If everyone waited til the end, you'd get a much better deal!

Thank god!! At last somebody with the same view as me - 'Arise Sir Hype'.

I mean, ok, so bid the day before if you really must, but not 4 or 5 days before bidding ends - just bid at the end instead of getting into a petty bidding war with 3 days left to run - it's pointless.

TSC.

[Saitek]

I don't posses the patience to worry my head three days for something that in the end I could just loose.  ::)