Thread: How would you bid on this theoretical auction?

This thread is not related to an actual auction nor will the razor pictured in this post be up for auction. WAIT, don't stop reading yet!

I've created this post because I'm interested, even fascinated by what makes each of us tick in why we bid or why we don't bid on auctions depending on how the auction is configured by the seller.

I'd appreciate any feedback as to what drives you to bid or not to bid.

Personally, I'm put off by high shipping charges in relation to the item being sold. Other than that, I decide on the max I'll bid (snipe); whether the item has a reserve, "high" starting bid, etc is really inconsequential to me.

I'd like to provide a visual theoretical example to give a framework and reference point for my following questions:

Assume for a moment that this Hess if it were in a real listing had as many pictures from as many angles as you'd like to see and a detailed description and shipping of $5 or free shipping.

Scenario #1: No reserve, starting bid of $20.
Scenario #2: No reserve, starting bid of $125.
Scenario #3: Reserve of $100, starting bid of $20.
Scenario #4: Reserve of $100, starting bid of $1.


With the above scenarios, assume that the maximum you'd pay for that razor was over the $100 reserve or the $125 starting bid.

Would any of the above three scenarios as structured cause you to pass on the auction completely? If so, why?

I'm interested in hearing all responses but most interested in hearing from anyone who is so turned off by a "high" reserve or a "high" starting bid that even though they'd pay more than the reserve or starting bid, either stop them from bidding.

Thanks for your input and I hope this was fun.

Chris L

CHRIS 2 ND 3 WILL MAKE me stop bidding. Because of reserve price. i have no idea how much it is and how much i have to bid.

Thanks Sham. I'm going to add a few more scenarios with no reserve but a high starting price. Thanks for your opinion.

Chris L

I use a sniper
I never bid if there is a reserve, period, never ever...
If the starting bid is what they expect to get, I don't bid either, I can buy on SRP and get better stuff...
IMHO any razor that has a starting price of $29.99 or more normally doesn't even get a snipe set, just because it pi$$es me off

I know I'm weird, but my money my bidding rules...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I use a sniper
I never bid if there is a reserve, period, never ever...
If the starting bid is what they expect to get, I don't bid either, I can buy on SRP and get better stuff...
IMHO any razor that has a starting price of $29.99 or more normally doesn't even get a snipe set, just because it pi$$es me off

I know I'm weird, but my money my bidding rules...

I don't think I'm as "weird" as you are in this regard, Glen, but I lean toward your way of thinking. In part, I created this post because based on what many are saying is a spike in razor prices of late, we may be "old school" in how we look at razor auctions. At this stage, I have no desire to buy any vintage razor for hundreds of dollars. That's not the case obviously for some others. It seems to me that to those who are buying razors for higher dollars than in the past, high starting bids, etc don't mean jack are are not a psychological impediment to bidding. If that's the case, that may be an interesting trend as well.

Jimmy: you can rest completely assured, you will not see this Hess on the bay. It has a special place with me.

Chris L

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I know I'm weird, but my money my bidding rules...

Oh, that's very, very good to know! You know some day I'll test your will with say.... mint vintage cadillac starting at 59.99 and unknown reserve

Me, I like razors more than I like rules, but that's pretty obvious

All of these comments make sense to me, as I happen to follow many of them myself. I hate huge shipping charges, and I won't bid on the auction if I think the seller is trying to pull a fast one with shipping. I won't bid on reserve price auctions, because they're a waste of time. And so forth.

But could someone please tell me what is the logic of this kind of bidding (and I see it often, so excuse me if this is being done by someone on this site) -- bidding again and again and again by the same person, with each bid no more than 2 or 3 or 5 dollars over the last bid and with no intervening bidders. So you'll see this for bidding:

zzz $127.50
yyy $125
xxx $50
xxx $35
xxx $30
xxx $25
xxx $15
xxx $12
xxx $10

Note that these are NOT automatic bids, these are actual, separate bids made by xxx, each one just a few seconds or minutes after the last bid.

When I see this kind of bidding, I think that the person making the bids has no friggin understanding about eBay's automatic bidding software, but then I see that the person making the bids sometimes has 100 or more eBay transactions.

So please, someone, come to the defense of these bidders, because I want to understand what's going on, but I think the problem is that some people just don't understand how eBay works.

P.S. -- if you don't snipe, you are paying too much. No offense to Jim R and others, but even when you have a set price in your mind and no reason to go even one dollar over it, there is no reason to signal to the rest of the bidders out there that you are interested in the item and happy to have them use the remainder of the auction time to raise the price that you will be paying.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I use a sniper
I never bid if there is a reserve, period, never ever...
If the starting bid is what they expect to get, I don't bid either, I can buy on SRP and get better stuff...
IMHO any razor that has a starting price of $29.99 or more normally doesn't even get a snipe set, just because it pi$$es me off

I know I'm weird, but my money my bidding rules...

Totally in agreement. I am an occasional Ebay seller and every item starts at 99 cents...sold regardless of final price. I will NEVER bid on any item with reserve. If you are scared as a seller that you item won't bring the money, try Buy It Now...most just don't want to miss the opportunity for someone to grossly overpay! I find, start low, roll the dice and generally people grossly overpay anyway (sorry but you know it is true!)

Chris, ebay did not have 'watched items' years ago. If you wanted to watch on item you could put in a token bid to have it in your "my ebay" for future reference. If an item is starting at a low bid ..... even if it has a reserve.... I would bid if I'm interested to keep an eye on it. I know that I am not committing so it is 'safe'.

If it has a high staring bid and a reserve I have to really be interested in the item to stay on it or be interested in what it will end at so I may watch it anyway. I sold a 1983 Gios Torino Super Record bicycle in mint condition a few years ago.

I had an opening bid of $2,000.00 and it ran for 7 days. There were 80 watchers. In the last four seconds one guy bid. He was from London. England. It was a hassle but I was glad I didn't go USA only. Point is watchers mean nothing.

Reserve or not a person bids $1.00, or ten or twenty and they feel safe from commitment . Meanwhile the item is in their sight all week long for them to look at and consider and if you're lucky obsess over. So I believe a low starter with a reserve is the best bet in the long run. YMMV. Nice Hess 44 BTW, theoretically speaking

in general I do not bid on anything that has preset starting price other than 0.99.
I would not bid on items with reserve as the others pointed out above, either.