Auctions - why bid early?

Angela, I think thtt Magasam was referring to an Ebay seller who relists an item that was ostensibly "sold" in a previous auction (to his friend Rocco who put in false bids in an attempt to push up the proxy). I suspect this happens frequently, especially for sellers of big ticket items who have set their reserve price too low and start to get nervous towards the end. I've also seen "no reserve" Ebay auctions get pulled by sellers at what seems like the 11th hour, i.e., just when I thought I was getting a steal. The overtime system at Audiogon cures many of these ills, but I wouldn't think it would be appropriate for Ebay since their market is so broad. It helps here since we're such a civil (anti-snipe) group!

I really don't like the auction process and rarely use it. The reserve or opening bid is usually at or close to fair market price so the auction system as a rule is for sellers to increase their return. I have bid early on occasion on something I am serious about purchasing. I list my max price and if I get it, fine. I just don't have the time or energy to play auction in the last hour or so. On occasion on e-bay I have had other sellers e-mail with the same product that I lost the bid on and take my bid offer.

Auctions- why bid at all?

Seems to me that buying unseen, unheard in the context where the price can only go up, probably over the price you would pay when dealing in the course of a normal negotiation is almost invariably a losing propostion. The reserves are usually high. Recourses if something is wrong with the product non-existant, save and except for the pious wishes of e-Bay and others in the business of running these things.

I cancelled an auction when it got no bids. Got messages asking "what happend to the auction?". Sorry but I don't do auctions for your "entertainment". If you want something, lock it in with minimum bid and then you can watch it till the wheels come off. Lately, I get the feeling that the personal computer game has run its course and the nerds have moved into audio.

Dweller...I've seen many many auctions on eBay get no bids, and then go for a much higher price than normal at the end, because a large number of snipers show up then hoping for a deal. Setting a reserve price will protect you from giving it away.

I always bid early when someone sets a "buy it now" with no reserve on an item I like, but think the "buy it now" is more then I want to pay. Bidding on a non-reserved "buy-it-now" auction makes the buy-it-now go away.

Not every auction gets sniped. I have gotten good deals on eBay bidding early, mostly when I knew I would not be around at the end.