Save Your Insanity for Unique Items,

2. Save Your Insanity for Unique Items. Don’t get carried away bidding
on a Sony camcorder. There will be dozens more exactly like it
available on eBay soon. However, when you bid on a unique item
(e.g., an antique eight-color painted steel sign advertising the Monongahela
Bakery), the market value of the item may be of less concern to
you than the amount you are willing to spend to get the item.
3. Check the Seller’s Feedback. Once you check the seller’s feedback,
you will either develop confidence in dealing with the seller, or you’ll
avoid the auction.
4. Consider the Details. Review carefully the auction offering and the
seller’s requirements. Also consider the bidder overhead expenses
(e.g., shipping costs). Factor these into your bid.
5. Look for Unsavvy Sellers. Look for auctions where the seller has
not followed good eBay practices. The bids will be fewer, and the winning
bids will be lower. You might find a bargain. Serious seller listing
mistakes include a misspelling in the auction title, no photograph, too
little information, and the like.
6. Contact the Seller. Email the seller to get any additional necessary
details you don’t have to make a well-informed decision regarding
whether to bid and what maximum amount to bid.
7. Develop a Repertoire of Bidding Techniques. No one bidding
technique works best for all auctions. Learn and experiment with a
variety of techniques and use them when appropriate.
8. Follow Through. Follow through in a timely manner after the auction.
If the seller doesn’t contact you within a reasonable time, take the
initiative to contact him or her. Keep a record of all the auction documents;
save the auction ad and all emails for reference. After the transaction
is complete, don’t forget to submit feedback on the seller.