Do you have strategy to win on Ebay?

[SensoVision]

Recently when PayPal become available for my country I've start to buy some small things on Ebay.
But I've got problem, I can't win auctions with bidding, as any auction I seems to participate in is get winning price higher than you need to pay with "Buy It Now"(I always retire before price would reach that level but other seems to keep on bidding)

One time bidders probably get too far as price was 3 times higher than "buy it now" and after some time I've got mail that there is second chance to buy item I was bidding as person wasn't able to pay... unfortunately few minutes earlier I've already bough item I was looking for in other place, so till that moment I didn't win any auction

Right now I'm trying to get myself used Nikon 3t lens, two times I've already loose similar items so maybe I'll be able to win this time.

So I wonder if anyone got some tactic which help him win auctions without overpaying for product?

[Andy]

I don't buy on ebay but I know one tactic:

Wait for the very last minute of the auction before placing your bid. Then you don't alert other bidders. For this to work you need to find an item with a bad description or misspelled name so nobody found it yet.

Also, look out for auctions ending when most people will be in bed like 4AM EST for example.

I think some people use software to place last minute bids. It's called "auction sniping".

Maybe some sellers ask friends to bid to push up the price? In real auctions the auctioneer can fake bids. So watch out for these tricks.

[SensoVision]

Wait for the very last minute of the auction before placing your bid. Then you don't alert other bidders.

I was trying do to this way few times but each time price grow very rapidly even without my bids

For this to work you need to find an item with a bad description or misspelled name so nobody found it yet.

didn't thought about looking for items with bad description... regarding those lens it seems that they are very popular so everything is bought even with damages.
Thanks for tip, I'll try to use it.

Also, look out for auctions ending when most people will be in bed like 4AM EST for example

yeah, have tried this but unfortunately not all sellers send here or have affordable shipping price, so I rather don't have big choice in this field.

I think some people use software to place last minute bids. It's called "auction sniping".

possibly, as I was outbid last few seconds last time and loose lens for very good price(half of what it's usually sold).

Maybe some sellers ask friends to bid to push up the price? In real auctions the auctioneer can fake bids. So watch out for these tricks.

I guess that my strategy make me kind of immune to this, as I decide my final price at beginning, and if auction at some point goes over it I stop tracking it.

Thanks for your suggestions, Andy!

[Menard]

Andy makes some good points.

You also may want to check out my article on this very subject: http://aninstantintime.com/articles/buyers.html

[SensoVision]

Thanks, Bob, I'll study it!
BTW you always seems to have some written article for all my questions, do you read my mind or something?