If someone bids on an item, to an amount that represents how much that item is worth to them, how does that create a distorted perception? If anything, it is more accurate to the market. I really do not understand the concept of waiting until the last minute on these things. If one has a clear concept of how much something is worth to them, then you gain the earlier bid date with a higher proxy bid. If the concept of worth is not clear to the person, then that is a distorted perception, as items get bid to over direct-buy shop prices. I'd rather just avoid the hassle and entertain myself by riding.
On the principle that "time is money" I save far more by not waiting for or fretting over mid-day auctions than I lose to conceivable low-balling shills. PJ "what's it worth to ya?" Gudac Bethesda, MD
Steve Neago <questor@cinci.rr.com> wrote:I agree with Craig...
Bidding on ebay auctions without the intent of making a purchase only inflates auction prices and causes a distorted perception of market value. It looks deceptive to other potential bidders and smacks of "shill bidding" if they know the seller...
You wrote:
> From: "Brandon Davis" <art_52@hotmail.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> cc: kctommy@msn.com
> Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 09:48:51 -0700
> Subject: [CR]Bidding on ebay with no intention of winning an auction?
>
>
> I'll chime in here ...and to expand upon Tom Adam's observation.
>
> The eBay watch list is 30 items (at this time: that has been far less at
> various times in eBay's development) ...a number which I regularly exceed.
>
> And so I'll OFTEN place an early bid - and just as often as not, this will
> be an opening bid - for things that I have **some** interest in, or wish to
> know the final "market value" ...but haven't yet decided whether I'll
> "actively pursue" (and yes, that means snipe in the final seconds of the
> auction).