> But I don't want my bid to be an emotional incentive to someone
> who will outbid me, or at least drive up the final bid, who would
> not have done so without my bid as an "incentive".
You seem to be arguing for the merits of sniping.. ;-)
But I could also argue that putting in a bid *sooner* without the time
pressure, would lower emotional incentives for others to bid
recklessly. But key here is the word, "auction." In a real auction,
people get to bid against each other.. until no one else has a higher
bid, at which point item is truly sold to highest bidder. Ebay, for
better or worse, is a perversion of normal auctioning... where items
are often sold to not what might have been the highest bidder, but to
whomever got in the last highest bid before the clock ran out. Kinda
a weird process.. trying to minimize amount to seller, yet outrun
other bidders.
> I don't see any advantage to tipping my hand in a "gentlemanly" way,
> and it sounds like you're willing to pay a 10% premium. =A0I do not
> notice any "gentlemanly" protocols on eBay--just people.
There's no advantage to it, other than just me wanting to show a
little bit of honor in the process. Since I tend to snipe, which some
view as dishonorable, I at least advertise my presence to the auction
several days before the bloodletting.
> Perhaps you intend your early "announcement" bid for your friends,
> who, upon seeing your interest, may lay off the item.
Neither friends, nor pack of wolves. Just about honor.
> If you're mad if someone got an item for $2 over your max bid, then
> your *real* max bid was at least $2 higher--it's the bid for which
> you say "let them have it".
IN practice, that doesn't work well for me, because it ALWAYS seems
like, "what's another mere 50 cents, or mere $2?". No, I first have
to pick my max that I'm comfortable with, then pick a percentage over
it. A head fake. I get angry if I pay over my max, but at least
don't suffer the "but if only for another 50 cents! dammmmitttt!@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"
> If you bid your real max bid as a snipe, you will either: 1) lose the
> item to someone paying more than you would be happy with, or 2) win
> the item for a price you are happy with, and often at a substantial
> discount. =A0There is no outcome which is unhappy--except possibly
> a regret that someone else wanted it more than you did.
So taking what you just said, if I bid my real max + overhead
percentage, I either: 1) lose item to someone willing to pay way more
than I was at which point I'm only feeling astonishment that someone
would be so loose with their money, or 2) win the item at my max or
under (thus am perfectly happy), or 3) win the item in my OVERHEAD
ZONE.. at which point I'm really pissed that someone caused such COST
to me, but happy that I have the damn item.
I know. I'm weird. lol.
JS
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