In an auction-style listing, sellers name a starting price and you bid against other buyers. You can watch the item to see how the bidding is going. When the listing ends, the highest bidder wins the item and completes the purchase.

tip
Remember, a bid is considered a binding contract. That means that when you bid on an item, you"re committing to buy it if you win.

To answer any questions you might have, this article has links to all of our most useful bidding articles.

Learn about how automatic bidding and bid increments work.

Find out how and when you can retract a bid for an item.

There you "ll find any items you" re currently bidding on, items you bid on but didn't win, and any Best Offers you "ve made.

If you want to delete your bid history, check the box next to items you want to remove and select Delete.

What is private bidding?

Sellers sometimes create private listings that keep bidders and the buyer anonymous, particularly when selling highly priced items or pharmaceutical products. There will be a note on these listings stating that they"re private, and that only the seller can see your username.

Why did the item I was bidding on disappear?

The seller may have had to end the listing early - although this is something we strongly discourage. Or, if the seller breached one of our policies, we may have had to cancel the listing.

Why am I getting a message to contact the seller when trying to place a bid?

Sellers sometimes set requirements for potential buyers, based on their payment or shipping preferences. For example, if you don't have a PayPal account or you live in an area that the seller doesn't ship to, you may not be able to bid on their item.

If that happens, you "ll see a message when trying to place a bid, asking you to contact the seller. Let them know you" d like to bid, and they may change their requirements to allow you to take part.

Why can't I bid in my friend's auction?

It "s important to us that auctions are always fair and honest. Sometimes a member who knows the seller - perhaps a family member or friend - bids on an item to drive up the price. This is known as shill bidding and isn" t allowed on eBay.

eBay is one of the most popular sites for online shopping enthusiasts. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that goods on eBay can be sold and bought not only at a fixed price, as in a regular online store, but also in the auction mode (online auctions are the main activity of the site). In order to buy the desired product on eBay, you have to fight for it with other buyers.

When most people hear the word "auction", most people immediately imagine the classic English open auction that is so often shown in films: after the announcement of the minimum price, bidders name prices higher than the initial one, and in the end the winner is the one who offers the highest price that competitors cannot beat. However auction on eBay is different, which you need to figure out in order to win the auction and get the item you are interested in.

eBay is the so-called second price auction: the product goes to the buyer who offered the highest price, but he will pay for it not his own bid, but the second highest bid plus the so-called bid step. Let's look at an example of how the bidding process on eBay works.

When putting up a product for sale, the seller specifies the minimum price for which he is willing to sell the product, and the duration of the auction. Let's say the starting price is $15. One of the potential buyers (let's call him Buyer 1) sees the product, decides to put on it $30 and makes a bet.

The system remembers his bid, but the displayed price remains the same. It will only change after another buyer (Buyer 2) bids. Buyer 2, not knowing how much was bid before him, decides to bid $20.

Since his bid is less than that of Buyer 1, the system will increase the cost of the goods by the so-called minimum bid step. The bid step depends on the price of the product, in this case it will be 50 cents. So after Buyer 2 bid, the displayed price for the item will be $15.5.

After that, Buyer 3 enters the auction and decides to bid $25. After that, the price of the lot will rise to $26(the second high price plus the bid step, which for a price in the range of $25-99.99 is $1), but Buyer 1 will still be the leader, who bid $30.

If no one beats Buyer 1's bid by the end of the auction, he will get the goods, but not for $30, but for the price that will be set at the end of the auction. And if Buyer 4 appears and puts, for example, $40, the goods will go to Buyer 4 if no one has time to put more.

In this case, Buyer 4 will pay for the goods $31, since the second maximum bid is $30 (what Buyer 1 bid), and the bid increment for $25-$99.99 is $1.

During the auction, you can see the history of bids: you can see the number of bids, the dynamics of changes in the price of the lot, the number of bidders (however, the nicknames of the participants are hidden). You can also see which of the participants is currently the leader and whether there were breaks in his leadership. However the exact amount the leader wagered is unknown. This is the whole complexity of bidding on eBay: only the current bid leader knows the maximum bid, since it was he who placed it.

Before you bid on eBay, study all the information about the proposed lot in particular : it would be a shame if you win the bid and then it turns out that the seller does not ship to your country or uses expensive shipping services.

In addition, if you refuse to pay for the goods, you will be warned; after two warnings, your eBay account will most likely be blocked. Read the product description carefully and Additional information, read seller reviews- in general, weigh the pros and cons before bidding.

Deciding to fight for the goods, determine for yourself the maximum amount that you are willing to spend on it. After that, subtract the shipping cost from it. The remaining amount will be your maximum bid in the auction. Be sure to link your eBay account to PayPal, otherwise your bid will not be accepted.

There are two main eBay bidding strategies. The easiest way is to put the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the lot at any time during the auction. If no one kills her, the lot is guaranteed to go to you. And if they kill you - well, you weren’t ready to pay more anyway.

The second strategy is last minute bet. Typically, bidders are in no hurry to increase bids, as everyone wants to buy goods cheaper. Don't bid early, raise your bids, and fuel the hype: Users will bid up just to find out how badly you want to buy a given item.

You need to wait until the last moment, when there are 30 seconds left before the auction closes, and make your first and only bet by setting the maximum price you are willing to pay. The lot will still go to you not at the price you suggested, but at the second maximum price, and the likelihood that your bid will be outbid at the last moment is very small.

In order to successfully place a bid, please log in in advance and go to the product page. Enter the bet amount in a special window, but do not rush to place a bet: click on the button Place Bid, when there are about 30 seconds left or even less until the end of the auction.

However, even such a strategy does not guarantee 100% success: you are unlikely to be the only one who thinks of using it. The winner will be the one who bids the largest amount. Well the possibility of technical problems cannot be ruled out such as interrupting the internet connection.

If you are lucky enough to win the auction, it is important to detail discuss with the seller the terms of payment and delivery. In the event that you bought a product from a seller from the USA, it makes sense to ask him to send a package from eBay (USPS): this way you can control the sending process.

Each USPS package comes with special label, which contains information about the recipient and the product. You can fill out and generate such a label online using and send it to the seller via e-mail. All he has to do is print the completed label and stick it on the parcel. So you will be sure that your address is correct and the package will not be lost on the way.

There are many ways to earn or save money online. Ebay virtual auction attracts the second category of users. That is, those who want to save their own money. The Internet platform works by Wishing to purchase a lot, Ebay users simply place their bets. As you know, the goods go to the one who offered the most favorable price for the seller. It becomes interesting how to win an auction on Ebay, the reviews say that it is not so easy. Users go for some tricks.

Simple Rules

Before you wonder how to win an auction on Ebay, you need to know the features of this site. As with other online resources, there are rules here. To purchase a product on Ebay, you will have to comply with them.

• It is impossible to wonder how to win an auction on Ebay if contact details are not filled in the profile. Because in this case you can't even place bets. The same rule applies to those who provide false information. During the auction process, the seller and buyer need to communicate. That's why it's important to provide accurate information on your Ebay profile.
• It is forbidden to put up a lot on Ebay and place bids on it. This is contrary to the rules of the auction and is even considered as the actions of figureheads.
• Even if you are interested in how to win an auction on Ebay, you should not bid on several lots out of interest. It is possible that they will all have to be redeemed. You can withdraw a bet, but this is a rather problematic task. For example, an erroneous action can be canceled, but the user is still obliged to place a real bet. Even with a smaller amount.
• It is forbidden to buy goods off the site on Ebay. With such a cunning scheme, you can not count on protection against fraud. After all, the seller and the buyer make a deal bypassing the auction. Accordingly, neither one nor the other receives any guarantees or protection from Ebay.

• Don't bet just out of curiosity. If no one bids higher on Ebay, you will have to buy back the item. Even if you don't need it. In case of refusal to pay, you will have to prepare for any sanctions from the administration of the Ebay auction. That's why you shouldn't place any bids if you don't plan to buy an item.
• Before you win an auction on Ebay and simply place a bid, you need to study the information provided about the lot in detail. Some potential buyers act wrongly. Sellers, in some cases, display goods only for certain countries. To avoid unfair bids on Ebay, it is better to study this information in advance.
• If you know the seller personally, it is not recommended to make bids artificially inflating the price of the lot. As a result, you can become the only one who named a high price, and the lot will have to be redeemed. Or refuse to pay and have problems with the administration.

How to bet correctly?

In fact, there is nothing difficult in placing a bid on an online auction. However, you need to prepare for a fairly high competition. After all, many users are interested in how to win an auction on Ebay.

So, the whole process of placing a bet includes a few simple steps:

• choice of goods;
• placing a bet and confirming.

Product selection

First of all, you need to find the desired lot. Have time to carefully read the description and cost. If all the conditions suit you, you can place a bet. You should not always trust only the photos posted on Ebay. Some sellers try to mislead auction users. That is why it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the characteristics.

Everyone wants to know how to buy and win on an Ebay auction. But it is equally important not to make erroneous bets. To do this, you need to carefully study not only the lot, but also the seller himself. Beginning participants in the Ebay online auction are advised to pay attention to the rating. The most reliable partners boast high rate. Ninety-five percent or more.

Placing a bet

Having familiarized yourself with the lot and the seller in detail, you can make a decision. If all the conditions suit you, it is enough just to place a bet by pressing a virtual button with a similar inscription.

How to bet?

If you do not know the answer, it is impossible to understand how to win an auction on Ebay. Tips from experienced users assure that this is important.

So, the Ebay auction uses automatic bidding. First, the minimum price is set, which corresponds to the one indicated by the seller. Further, Ebay instead of a potential buyer raises the rate. Gradually, the auction brings it to the maximum level. That is why the buyer needs to be careful when setting the maximum price he is willing to pay for the offered lot.

How to win an auction on Ebay?

When setting the maximum amount, it is better to specify not an integer. For example, not $10, but $10.05. In this case, there is a chance to beat a competitor who will bid only 5 cents lower.

You need to be patient and wait for the end of the auction. Statistics say that winning bids on Ebay are made just ten seconds before the end of the auction.

However, you need to understand that even this does not guarantee that the lot will go to you. Some sellers on Ebay have a hidden cost. If it exceeds the bid, the lot cannot be redeemed.

Program

You don't have to do it yourself to figure out how to win an Ebay auction. The program can do everything for you.

For example, Ebay has ProxyBidding. This program monitors the auction every five minutes and even bids for the user.

All you have to do is specify the maximum bid in advance. Then the program comes into play, which is traded no worse than any real buyer.

However, when using the program, the lot will definitely need to be redeemed in case of winning. That is why, before using it, you must not only have a confident intention to buy a lot, but also prepare the specified amount in case of winning.

To date, eBay is the largest virtual auction. It attracts people with the opportunity to purchase goods at low prices and participate in the exciting bidding process. But at the same time, winning an item on eBay is not easy.

To successfully play at the auction, you need a developed strategy and knowledge of some nuances, otherwise you simply will not keep up with more experienced users.

eBay Auction Success Conditions

Luck at an auction is a fickle thing. Not everyone is able to win back the lot they like. It often happens that the product that you hunted and led at the last moment goes out from under your nose or the price for it increases several times. You should not just wait and hope that your bet will play - you need to carefully analyze and think through each step.

How to win on eBay:

1. Do not bid at the initial stage. Wait until a couple of minutes left before the end of the auction. The ideal time is considered to be a segment of the last 10 seconds. If you manage to make a decisive bet at this moment, you will most likely win.
2. Don't bet big. Just because that's what most people do. And to win, you need to bet one step more than your opponents. That is, the $41.05 option is more likely to succeed than exactly $40.05. In the last seconds, even a cent can play a role.
3. In order not to "overplay", determine for yourself the maximum price that you are willing to pay for the lot. Don't exceed it.
4. Don't raise the price abruptly. The cost of goods and so will grow as we approach the final auction.

The point of an eBay auction - to get an item at a lower price - is often lost in the excitement of bidding. Buyers, without noticing it, at times wind up the price. Therefore, it is important to control not only the rates, but also pay attention to the benefits of the transaction.

last second rule

The method of bidding up in the last 10-15 seconds of auction time remains one of the most popular among eBay old-timers. But even here there are nuances.

It makes sense to bet in the last seconds if:

1. You have the opportunity to be present at the end of the auction. eBay is a worldwide auction. Therefore, there is such a factor as the time difference. Trades may end late at night.
2. You are confident in the quality and speed of your Internet.
3. Your account is linked to PayPal. This increases the chances of success. The bid may not go through if the seller accepts payment only through this system, and you use another service.

There are always many other "snipers" in the auction who also know about the 10 second rule. Therefore, be especially careful if the rate you have proposed has not been “interrupted” by anyone for a long time.

It is likely that at the last moment one of the competitors will "shoot out of cover" and win by only slightly raising the price of the lot. Moreover, such actions at the auction are quite legal.

Proxy Bidding - personal buyer assistant

Not everyone is able to keep track of all transactions at the auction. Moreover, this is impossible if you are running several lots at once. You don't have to be fully involved in the process. eBay has a special Proxy Bidding option.

Here you specify the lot and the maximum amount that you are willing to pay for it. The system itself starts trading.

When your competitor raises the price, the program automatically raises your bid. This happens either to the bitter end, or to your financial ceiling. However, users do not see your maximum bid.

There are also disadvantages. The program checks trades only once every five minutes. The decisive time often comes at this pause. Other than that, you can't undo your decision. If the bid is won, you will have to buy the lot.

Beware of snipers

sniping- not only a strategy for winning bidding, but also the general name of a number of programs. Some of them are launched from third-party sites, others - directly from the user's PC.

The presence of such services at the auction is widely known. Despite the fact that many express dissatisfaction with this method of playing the game, the administration of the auction is neutral towards this kind of program. Moreover, sniper programs are legal.

What is the essence of snipers? The principle of their operation is the hunt for the final bet.

After connecting the program, it acts for the buyer. But it is included in the auction in the very last winning seconds. The user is only required to specify the lot and the maximum bid. The sniper does not exceed the set price. Moreover, it allows you to make the most economical winning bets.

The benefits of such programs:

• independently control trades;
• save money;
• can work simultaneously with several lots.

As a rule, such services are paid. In this case, the price determines the reliability of the resource. Since, resorting to the services of the program, you need to specify your username and password from your account. When using free snipers, you do not have a guarantee that your data will not fall into the hands of scammers.

And finally:

To successfully play on eBay, it is not enough just to systematically raise bids. You need to develop your own winning strategy.

Carefully follow the course of the auction, bargain competently - and you will be able to overtake your rivals. Some prefer to use special programs and services to hunt for lots. But you should be careful - not all applications are reliable.

In this article, we will look at how to bid on eBay in order to win.

Navigation

Today eBay is a major online auction. People come here for goods at low prices and participate in interesting auctions. Due to the large number of people participating in the drawings, winning at the auction is far from easy.

Rules for bidding on eBay

• If your account does not have contact details or they are false, then you will not be able to place bets. This is necessary so that the buyer and seller can communicate with each other.
• You must pay for any purchased item. Many items are for sale eBay in the form of an auction, where everyone can place their bid. Remember that each bid is a kind of contract that obliges you to purchase the item after winning the auction. If you do not pay for it, then wait for sanctions from the administration.
• Only place bids when you definitely want to buy an item, even if they are non-binding. The latter are allowed for purchases such as real estate or vehicles, but it still indicates a serious interest in buying this item. In other words, if you are not going to buy an item in advance, then you should not bid.
• You cannot bid on your own products. Such actions are recognized as stakes with the help of nominees, which violates the rules eBay, and in some countries even contrary to the law.
• Be wary of placing bets on multiple identical items, as if you win all bets, you will have to purchase all the items.
• If you need to withdraw a bid, your case must be special. Let's say if you decide to bet $10, but accidentally bet $100, then you can call off the bet. But in this case, you must immediately place a new bet that you intended to place at first. Do not refuse to bid in order to manipulate the auction, as this is dishonest and fraught with consequences.
• Please read the item description carefully before placing a bid. Many buyers make bids without understanding what exactly is being offered by the seller. For example, sellers only hold auctions for certain countries or users PayPal. In this case, you must fall under the set conditions, otherwise the transaction will be considered unfair and undesirable.
• If the seller is familiar to you, then you can not bid to artificially increase the value. This rule applies to the entire environment, even just pen pals on the Internet.
• Can't buy items on eBay bypassing the system. If you buy something outside the site, then no one will protect you from fraud. This rule must be observed by each participant in the system.
• If you purchased something in another country, then you cannot ask the seller to write in the declaration that it is a gift.
• If you bid on transport, then your contacts are transferred to the seller so that he can contact you and discuss the details.

How to bid on eBay the right way?

In general, bet on eBay not at all difficult, but if you want to buy some popular product, you must remember that the competition here is high. How to place bets in such a way as to win?

• First find what you want to buy.
• Read detailed description. Check the price, condition and description of the item.

• Be sure to look at the photo, but you should not rely only on it, because sometimes sellers post pictures that are misleading.

• Study the seller's rating and reviews about him. Often this allows you to understand whether it is worth working with him at all. Good sellers have a rating of 95%.

• If everything suits you, then dial the amount of the bet and choose "Place a bet".

• You are now a bidder.
• Also indicate the maximum bid. This is the highest price you are willing to pay.
• Write a price and choose "Confirmation".

• Be sure to figure out how to place incremental bets. In order to guarantee the purchase of goods at the lowest cost, on eBay using an automatic bidding system.
• The first will be equal to the minimum allowable, set by the seller. If the maximum bet is higher than the minimum, then eBay will automatically bet higher by a predetermined amount. The process will continue until the price reaches the maximum price you specified.
• You should bet the amount that you are really willing to give. If you are lucky, the cost will be lower than planned, but you should always be ready to pay all the desired cost.
• If you wish, you can increase the maximum bet.
• Check if the bet is correct. If everything is correct, then click on "Bet Confirmation".

How to bid on eBay to win?

• The maximum bet is best done with cents, that is, if you set the highest value of $50, then make the maximum bet of $50.11
• Many put whole numbers. But auctions are won with a difference of a few cents. If someone made the maximum of $50, then with your $50.11 you will be the winner.
• It is recommended to wait until the very end, as the most winning bids are made in the last 10 seconds of the auction.
• If you set the maximum bid earlier, then the struggle for the product can begin, where the rates will go up and up. Even if your bid is the highest, there will still be someone who will beat it.
• Make two tabs in your browser. In one, follow the auctions, and in the other, place the highest bid in the last 10-15 seconds.
• Write the maximum bid and click, but do not click on it yet "Confirmation". Although it does not hurt to check that the key is really visible.
• In the first window, periodically refresh the page so that you can see how the price changes. And you need to do this every few seconds.
• When there are 15 seconds left before the end of the auction, click on "Confirmation" and competitors will no longer have a chance to overtake you.
• Of course, the auction can be lost even in this case. This happens when the seller has set a hidden cost for the reservation and it is higher than your bid. If the price is $10 and your bid is $8, then you won't buy the item even if you win.
• If you need to bet more than $ 15,000, you definitely need a credit card. Even if you don’t win, the card number is still needed to confirm your age and intentions.

Video: How to win an auction on eBay? My experience and recommendations.