How to Be a Winner on eBay

Haven't scored yet at eBay? Marsha Collier, author of eBay for Dummies, offers tips for improving your luck.

By Marc Myers

From Reader's Digest

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Haven't scored yet at eBay? Marsha Collier, author of eBay for Dummies, offers these tips for improving your luck:

Place your highest bid
Doing this at the outset improves your odds of winning. "Remember, eBay doesn't show your maximum bid or anyone else's until it's topped," says Collier. Fear not. If you win, you'll pay only slightly more than the bid just below yours.

Bid an odd number
You stand a better chance of winning if your dollar bids are unusual and the last two numbers are above 50 cents. "Most people bid in round numbers," Collier says. "So if you bid $27.57 and the next highest bidder stops at $26.50, you win."

Try a snipe
Several online services will place your bid automatically within the final seconds of an auction. For example, bidrobot.com charges $3.95 for three weeks of unlimited last-second bidding, while esnipe.com charges 1% of your winning price, with a $10 maximum fee.

From Reader's Digest - January 2005

Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story

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