Community Chat

[MorningLover]

I have never made an Ebay purchase . So any tip or advise is

welcome. I did look online to gather some information about using

Ebay and Paypal. What I don't know is when a seller list something

there is a BUY NOW choice but not always a Place Your Bid

choice. For example a Buy Now and then time left 7 days. So what

happens when time runs out ?( I can understand when you have a

choice of Place Your Bid  with 7 days left ). Thank you !

EXAMPLE........

Time left:

Time left:7d 02h 3/23, 11:39AM

Price:                                  BUY NOW    ( no Bid Option )

US XXXX                            Add To Cart

__________________________________________________

Also any tips on placing a winning bid !

[Buckaroo2]

If the item isn't purchased within the time frame the seller can re-list the item again.  Not sure if this is helpful or not.

[Karnerblue]

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@MorningLover wrote:

I have never made an Ebay purchase . So any tip or advise is

welcome. I did look online to gather some information about using

Ebay and Paypal. What I don't know is when a seller list something

there is a BUY NOW choice but not always a Place Your Bid

choice. For example a Buy Now and then time left 7 days. So what

happens when time runs out ?( I can understand when you have a

choice of Place Your Bid  with 7 days left ). Thank you !

EXAMPLE........

Time left:

Time left:7d 02h 3/23, 11:39AM

Price:                                  BUY NOW    ( no Bid Option )

US XXXX                            Add To Cart

__________________________________________________

Also any tips on placing a winning bid !

---

I think what you're asking is, if the only offer is Buy It Now and the listing ends in 7 days, that seller can either relist it or not.

[KatieB]

I've purchased a couple of things on Ebay by placing bids.  When I did it, I had to keep watch because most of the time I was outbid.  When this happened I received an email telling me that i was outbid and that I could increase my bid.  If you win the bid,, you will receive an email stating that you won.  

[KingstonsMom]

I also only buy from ebay sellers with a high count of good reviews and read all of any bad ones.

Many times you can tell from a 'bad' review that the problem really wasn't the seller's fault, they just expected more from the product itself, wrong color choice for them, etc.

I agree with @Karnerblue, the 'Buy it Now' option can be renewed when the listing expires or re-listed by the seller.

[KingstonsMom]

As to placing a winning bid, I watch the item and bidders very closely near the end of the bidding. When there's 10 seconds left, I throw in a bid at the highest I'm willing to pay and I've never lost a bid, in many years of buying on ebay.

This doesn't give other bidders the chance to increase their bid, although there's always a chance that someone else has already placed a maximum bid higher than you're willing to pay, but that hasn't happened to me....yet.

It's self-'sniping', if you will. There are companies that will 'snipe' for you, at a cost of course. 'Snipe' just means placing a bid at the last second.

[Plaid Pants2]

I only use the "Buy-It-Now" option. 

That way I don't have to worry about being "sniped" (is that eve a word?).

[JeanLouiseFinch]

---

@MorningLover wrote:

I have never made an Ebay purchase . So any tip or advise is

welcome. I did look online to gather some information about using

Ebay and Paypal. What I don't know is when a seller list something

there is a BUY NOW choice but not always a Place Your Bid

choice. For example a Buy Now and then time left 7 days. So what

happens when time runs out ?( I can understand when you have a

choice of Place Your Bid  with 7 days left ). Thank you !

EXAMPLE........

Time left:

Time left:7d 02h 3/23, 11:39AM

Price:                                  BUY NOW    ( no Bid Option )

US XXXX                            Add To Cart

__________________________________________________

Also any tips on placing a winning bid !

---

@MorningLover  I've done a lot of buying and selling on eBay.  Not all listings have the Buy It Now option.  Some listings may have a Buy It Now only and some may be open  to bids but will also have the Buy It Now option.  Some listings that accept bids will have what's called a "reserve".  That means the seller has a mimimum amount he/she will accept as a bid.  In a Buy It Now listing, the item can be purchased any time before the listing expires.  In a Buy It Now only, if the item expires without being purchased, the seller can relist it.  If the listing has both options, once the bidding process begins, the BIN goes away.  Bids may be increased by the original bidder or others may join in and continue bidding until the listing expires and the highest bidder "wins".  In either situation, whomever the buyer/highest bidder is, they must understand that they are entering into a binding agreement to pay the final amount.  A skilled bidder will learn how to "snipe" in the final seconds.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. 

[beckyb1012]

A few times after the time as run for a buy it now the Seller will drop the price by a tiny bit.  I mainly now just do buy it now and always try for the free shipping choices.  But most important is the feedback score of the Seller.  I got burned once but Paypal got my money back.  You just have to follow the steps but it is pretty simple.  I love eBay.  Make an offer is a good one to try as well.  Have fun and just jump in with something small.  I do enjoy the bidding and will put my maximum bid in and hold firm.  I do not have the frame of mind to win regardless of how high the bidding gets.  If it goes above my comfort level then it was not to be.

[SeaMaiden]

I usually just purchase  buy it now and skip the bidding process.  I do not do much better with a price anyway with the bidding. Less stress and just buy it and go with the buy it now.