Frustrating auction

Ballsack · #1 06-04-2007

I recently put up an auction for a unique and popular item that only I'm selling. I had nearly 40 ppl watching it within 5 days and when the auction ended I had about 8 small bids on it. Why bother to keep my item on your "watch" list if you're not even going to bid? I would understand if the bidding went out of control but that was hardly the case here. People were putting me on their watchlist up until the last few hours and simply never bid. People are morons.

JackNoMore · #2 06-04-2007

Yes sir they are. Happens to me all the time so don't feel bad. Had about 20 watchers myself the other day and only one bid. Which makes me wonder if short burst auctions might be the way to go. I get tired of all the watchers and no bidders. MAYBE if the auction were shorter people wouldn't be standing around like nits they might just BID!

What's REALLY annoying is when people email you to ask if you'll ship to X and they ask for shipping costs, you take the time to get that information and they never even bid. NICE. Makes me wonder if they're either plants, like wasting peoples time, or what?? I've even got to the point of just not replying. Frustrating indeed.

Ballsack · #3 06-04-2007

That's what I'm thinking although you take the chance that not enough ppl will see it. I actually haven't done auctions in a while but without any feedback I'm stuck.

ihatebay · #4 06-04-2007

yea .. JACK do you look up the rates everytime on usps or something? I just tell them Canada X Europe X and that pretty much covers it I don't check their zip codes or anything.

JackNoMore · #5 06-04-2007

Well it varies. I used to look it up every time, which got old real quick. Now I kind of base it on their level of interest/feedback/other factors+after a while you notice a trend in rates, so I have a feel for the prices before I start. Then if I really want to just get rid of it, I look over other prices and match them or better it. Overall though, I just go with my gut.

These USPS price updates aren't helping though!

ifreewillie · #6 06-07-2007

Hey Ballsack, it might be your ending time too. If you item ended like 2AM in the morning, no one is going to bid on it (I'm sure you didnt' do that, but just using it as an example).

But yeah, that happens sometimes, lots of watches, very little bid.

Jonas · #7 06-07-2007

I thought if it's 2am, then they'll bid early because they can't snipe without software.

Though I once had some sellers auctions of the same thing bookmarked at 2am and they were all ending the same night and this other buyer and I had a bidding war and I quit when the price got too high and it went back and forth and he won 4 of the items and I won the 5th. The other buyer then emailed me saying he was worried that he wasn't going to win the items. Heh.

ifreewillie · #8 06-07-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonas

I thought if it's 2am, then they'll bid early because they can't snipe without software.

Although that'll be the logical action, but many people might want to bid last minute and then forgot it about it and fell asleep. Happened to me quite a few times. That's why I have a sniping subcription now... it work wonders.

JackNoMore · #9 06-09-2007

You'd be surprised how many people will bid at "2 a.m" It's not that time everywhere you know!