Ebay auctions finishing early

[boyse7en]

Been looking for a cheap camera on ebay
Bid on one and was surprised to see a "Sorry you didn't win this item" email from them about four hours before the auction was due to finish. A quick check showed that the auction had finished early and the camera had been sold to the highest bidder... which seemed a bit odd.
So I stuck a bid on another one - different seller - and exactly the same thing has happened. Auction finished two hours early selling to the highest bidder.
In both cases the winning bidder only stuck a bid in a few minutes before the auction was prematurely finished...

I'm guessing shill bidder, but it seems a bit pointless shill bidding then finishing the auction as it doesn't increase the price. Or am i missing something?

[ashleyman]

This is my tactic when trying to get anything on eBay without a Buy It Now. I wait until the very last moment and then bid my highest and hope I win it. Usually works.

As for auctions ending early, no idea.

[boyse7en]

ashleyman said:

This is my tactic when trying to get anything on eBay without a Buy It Now. I wait until the very last moment and then bid my highest and hope I win it. Usually works.

As for auctions ending early, no idea.

Yes, my approach too. I usually put in an early bid just so that I get reminders and notifications from ebay, then bid again just before the end. But because the auctions are finishing 2-4hrs early I can't even do that.

[ashleyman]

boyse7en said:

ashleyman said:

This is my tactic when trying to get anything on eBay without a Buy It Now. I wait until the very last moment and then bid my highest and hope I win it. Usually works.

As for auctions ending early, no idea.

Yes, my approach too. I usually put in an early bid just so that I get reminders and notifications from ebay, then bid again just before the end. But because the auctions are finishing 2-4hrs early I can't even do that.

I don't even do that as it tells others that there is interest in a particular item. The eBay app on my iPhone sends me an Ending Soon notification 15 minutes before it ends which is helpful.

Are you sure the items are actually being sold and that it's not the seller removing them because they haven't been bid on to his expectations? I know if a seller removes an item I'm watching it will say listing ended even though it's been removed by the seller.

[S6PNJ]

ashleyman said:

..... because they haven't been bid on to his expectations?

Or he's accepted an offer outside of eBay and hence doesn't pay any fees by ending it early???

[ashleyman]

S6PNJ said:

ashleyman said:

..... because they haven't been bid on to his expectations?

Or he's accepted an offer outside of eBay and hence doesn't pay any fees by ending it early???

Or that!

[hyphen]

ashleyman said:

boyse7en said:

ashleyman said:

This is my tactic when trying to get anything on eBay without a Buy It Now. I wait until the very last moment and then bid my highest and hope I win it. Usually works.

As for auctions ending early, no idea.

Yes, my approach too. I usually put in an early bid just so that I get reminders and notifications from ebay, then bid again just before the end. But because the auctions are finishing 2-4hrs early I can't even do that.

I don't even do that as it tells others that there is interest in a particular item. The eBay app on my iPhone sends me an Ending Soon notification 15 minutes before it ends which is helpful.

Are you sure the items are actually being sold and that it's not the seller removing them because they haven't been bid on to his expectations? I know if a seller removes an item I'm watching it will say listing ended even though it's been removed by the seller.

You both think you are being clever with your tactics don't you . Unfortunately you are both clueless

Look up eBay sniper programs, you tell the site/app your max price and it automatically bids a few seconds before auction end.

[DanielSan]

There is an option on eBay listings now to automatically accept offers above a certain amount. It could be that.

[ashleyman]

hyphen said:

ashleyman said:

boyse7en said:

ashleyman said:

This is my tactic when trying to get anything on eBay without a Buy It Now. I wait until the very last moment and then bid my highest and hope I win it. Usually works.

As for auctions ending early, no idea.

Yes, my approach too. I usually put in an early bid just so that I get reminders and notifications from ebay, then bid again just before the end. But because the auctions are finishing 2-4hrs early I can't even do that.

I don't even do that as it tells others that there is interest in a particular item. The eBay app on my iPhone sends me an Ending Soon notification 15 minutes before it ends which is helpful.

Are you sure the items are actually being sold and that it's not the seller removing them because they haven't been bid on to his expectations? I know if a seller removes an item I'm watching it will say listing ended even though it's been removed by the seller.

You both think you are being clever with your tactics don't you . Unfortunately you are both clueless

Look up eBay sniper programs, you tell the site/app your max price and it automatically bids a few seconds before auction end.

Not clueless! Used those in the past but sometimes they're unreliable.

[S6PNJ]

DanielSan said:

There is an option on eBay listings now to automatically accept offers above a certain amount. It could be that.

Only if they've set it as a 'Buy it now or best offer'.

[bompey]

we're selling some stuff at the moment and have had several questions of how much to end it early or buy it now. guess peopple just do that.

[T6 vanman]

Felt guilty as I've done it once,
Someone had asked to view my item and offered an acceptable price in person.

It may have hade more or just stayed at the top bid but the price paid was OK to him & me