[SEL] E-bay Bidding Suspicious!!

[bill at antique-engines.com]

I have to laugh about all the ebay antics and goings-on.

Bottom line. If the item is something you want, or need, then you'd
probably buy it for xx dollars from a store, another person, an online
trading post or want-ad, whatever, and you'd pay that xx dollars. Perhaps
more....
So you figure out what it's really worth to you, figure the maximum amount
you want to bid or believe it's worth, figure in shipping, and you make
that bid and sit back.
If you get it for your price, great!
What the heck is the point of this back and forth bidding by a buck or two
on a $30 item. Bid your $30 and be done with it.
If it goes for more, then you either need to re-evaluate, or be thankful
that you didn't overpay!

It's an auction - a way to buy, but people seem to treat it like a
football game or competitive sport!

Make your best bid, the MOST you are willing to pay for an item, and go
enjoy your coffee.  Why keep upping it $5 bucks at a time? The winner of
any auction is the one who is willing to pay the most. If you win it, but
paid much more than it's worth, what have you won but bragging rights? And
that's all in your head, the other person may not give a rip. The other
person may be sitting back thinking "sucker!"

Some time ago, I bought a mirror on ebait, one that's really rare and hard
to find. I've seen asking prices of $40 to $60, and I wanted it really
bad, so bid $70.
I got it for a 20 dollar bill.


Bill
Runnells, Iowa
Chapman/OWE&PCo. Registry and History
http://antique-engines.com
1970 Javelin
1982 Eagle SX/4
1980 Eagle wagon
http://theamcpages.com
http://theamcforum.com

> Have been watching this thread and not piping up (til now).  Perhaps I am
> naive but if the item is something you want and its priced within what an
> individual considers a good value, what difference does it make how it
> gets
> there.  If its overpriced and all the bidders are known entities, its
> still
> overpriced, and you walk away.  I have on occasion bid 6-8 times early to
> feel out another bidders increments so the last 5 minutes I have a better
> chance of getting it.  I have several friends who buy under 3 or 4
> different
> names because of how well known they are and some legitimate bidders will
> run them up if its in my friends "target collection".  And finally, some
> people are just plain crazy.  A few weeks ago, 2 valves sold for more
> money
> than the bidder would have paid directly from John Deere.  Go figure!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com]On Behalf Of Paul Maples
> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:37 PM
> To: The SEL email discussion list
> Subject: Re: [SEL] E-bay Bidding Suscipious!!
>
>
>
> Peter I just backed off from this item.
>
> Paul
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Lowe" <plowe at exemail.com.au>
> To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 4:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [SEL] E-bay Bidding Suscipious!!
>
>
>> Hi Paul
>> If you have any suspicions go through the Ebay disputes centre, I have
>> always had good results no matter what the problem.
>>
>> Peter, Oz
>>
>>
>>
>>>
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