Thread: I hate auctions...

I really do. I really really do. Because they start out so cheap, and you keep thinking "maybe this one will fly under the radar, maybe they won't see this one..." and it never works out.

I just found a listing that is literally making my palms sweat with WANT...and I know if I bid on it, it'll go through the roof. Of course, if I don't, it'll go for nothing.

And I've already used up my "Can I bid high on this one dear?" for the month.

WHY DO I KEEP LOOKING??????

Originally Posted by JimR

I really do. I really really do. Because they start out so cheap, and you keep thinking "maybe this one will fly under the radar, maybe they won't see this one..." and it never works out.

I just found a listing that is literally making my palms sweat with WANT...and I know if I bid on it, it'll go through the roof. Of course, if I don't, it'll go for nothing.

And I've already used up my "Can I bid high on this one dear?" for the month.

WHY DO I KEEP LOOKING??????

for sweaty-hand-want, there only one answer: call out the

or decide on a price and be on hand to watch it with the snipe set at your price.

if you win, you win. if not, that other sucker paid more than it was worth anyway! win win.

I normally snipe at the very end. As Ichinichi said if I win I win and if I don't I save money. Truly win -win. Last night I was bidding on an old Carborundum razor hone 6" long and I really wanted to win the damn thing.

Unfortunately it was finishing before I would normally get up in the morning and I don't use a sniper program. I prefer the adrenaline rush of doing it live, up close and personal.

So I put in my max bid with 8 hours to go knowing I would probably be disappointed in the morning. Oh well, another one will be along sooner or later.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

another one will be along sooner or later.

the best lesson i ever learned: objectively, there is very, very rarely such thing as a "deal of a lifetime".

Indeed, I know this. I've told myself that same thing a few times. I guess I'll just give it some time and see if it jumps. Too bad it's not a BIN. I can handle buying things now. It's what I do best, in fact!

Love the Auction
Hate the Bidders

what I hate is when it stays low up till one minute then you bit and set you max and the with like 5 seconds someone bids till they beat you and leave you no time to get a bid in

Bidding is close to gambling, you must do it unemotionally! I know, easy for me to say! I am approaching 1000 transactions on Ebay, and I used to bid emotionally, and, yes, I paid way too much for an auction more times than I choose to admit. I finally invested in a snipe software (bidnapper program). Probably the best thing I have done since I've been with Ebay! What I do is go through the list and select "watch This Item". Then I go through the list and ask myself, "what is the absolute highest I want to pay for this item, including shipping?" I know that I will probably loose most of these bids, but every once in a while I'll snag one that came through under the radar.

I will admit that I have a lot of razors, customs and all the major brands, and that logically, I don't need anymore razors. I have quit bidding on straights, and my OCD in regard to str8s is well under control.

Lately, though, because I have converted a lot of guys, and have given many demonstrations, when it comes to conversion time(signing them up to Str8 razor shaving), I have no strop to loan them or sell them. My spare is out at the moment. Anyway, I have become a Strop junkie. So I'm back to Ebay and bidnapper looking for a deal on potentially great strops. I love to recondition them. I get a great joy doing this, and I'll sell the strop with my additional hardware for what the package costs me. Lately, I scored a Dubl Duck strop for $16.00 including shipping. I cleaned it, added "D" rings at the bottom of the leather and the linen, used leather conditioner, and finished it with mink oil. This turned out great! I had all the parts, so all I bought were the "D" rings ($2.00). My next newb conversion will get a very collectible, functional strop for $18.00, or I'll keep it - and that's okay by me.

Good luck with your self control,

Steve

Here are my rules for acutions on ebay or elsewhere:

1) I only bid on acutions in places where the bidders have no idea what they are buying and what the fair market value is for the item.

2) I always establish what the fair market value is of the item and never bid equal to or more than the fair value - shipping - the cost of my time = what I am willing to pay. Fair value and shipping are objective values, and the cost of my time is the amount I get paid per minute on the job at work.

Its simple and has kept me out of trouble a lot.

Yes! I hate auctions either! BUt mostly because many times the sellers aren't honest people! I've "lost" many razors..but i prefere to lost in bidding than to won, and when you get the razor..thats a crack in the middle of the blade...and the seller didnt mentioned anything in the add..and the photos, also because of the dirty in the razor didn't show that problem. Im going to post pict of it..im still madd with it!!! I have a solution..but it isn't the same... I prefere to spend a huge amount on a NOS than a lower one on this..but now i have to resolve things to make me feel better with it!