Can someone please explain why someone puts a $5 bid on a $300 book?

[ronm3-migration]

In 8 years on Ebay this still makes no sense.

[osborn_fr]

It's another method to watch an item

[Timulty]

You have a link to an example of this?

[Pirate]

thrill bid? no reserve-never know? smartass? seller starts the $300 book at .99cents?

[Ares]

In 8 years on Ebay this still makes no sense.

If no one else bids on it and ther is no reserve the buyers has a $300 book for $5

seems like a win to me

[Scrooge]

Wishful thinking / hoping (if there is no reserve) or, if there is a reserve and starting bid is $5 and bidder's bid is less than reserve, bid will only show as $5 until someone else bids.

[Rob]

My mom does this. She says, "I don't think I like eBay. I get outbid on everything I bid on." She's always bragging that she's bidding on a $300 item, "and it's only at $25!". She doesn't understand the concept that with 5 days left (or even 5 hours left), the current high bid, in no way, reflects the actual value or final bid. Very often, you can find a steal on eBay, but there are so many bidders now, most items will achieve fair market value.

[Artboy99]

In most cases I think these bidders are simply watching the auction by bidding a paltry sum on it as auctions you have bid on can be tracked differently than auctions you are simply watching.

To those that think they can buy a 300 dollar book with a simple 5 dollar bid on books of no reserve they will find that almost all sellers will claim "improper listing"

and close the auction without having to sell the item. I have had many sellers close auctions out claiming an error in listing many times so they wont have to sell their precious item cheaply.

Works both ways as you see.

 

Artboy99

[Point Five]

Please PM me the link! I would like to bid $6.

[Ares]

Please PM me the link! I would like to bid $6.

$7

[Ares]

In most cases I think these bidders are simply watching the auction by bidding a paltry sum on it as auctions you have bid on can be tracked differently than auctions you are simply watching.

To those that think they can buy a 300 dollar book with a simple 5 dollar bid on books of no reserve they will find that almost all sellers will claim "improper listing"

and close the auction without having to sell the item. I have had many sellers close auctions out claiming an error in listing many times so they wont have to sell their precious item cheaply.

Works both ways as you see.

 

Artboy99

 

True but they have to close it before 12 hours are up or its to late to yank auction right?

[rob_react]

A lot of times it's a "tracking bid" or a bordeom bid.

[langur88]

A lot of times it's a "tracking bid" or a bordeom bid.

 

[deathlok]

A lot of times it's a "tracking bid" or a bordeom bid.

 

I concur.

 

I will bid a small amount on a high dollar book to "watch" it.

[Comicdey]

then it sits in you bidding on list, and is easier to spot than a watch list for me.

[Artboy99]

Correct

[Ringfinger]

Thrill bid.

[RaccoonRaccoon]

then it sits in you bidding on list, and is easier to spot than a watch list for me.

 

Agreed!

[mica]

A lot of times it's a "tracking bid" or a bordeom bid.

Rob and I agree on something.

[mrwoogieman]

If ebay has a glitch just when your auction is closing, well then, even the sniping services can't get their bids in. It could happen.