Win online auctions with ease

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Online auctions, like eBay, let you choose from a huge selection of items and, generally, pay less for them than you would anywhere else. Some people even make a living buying goods at Internet auctions and reselling them retail.

Competition can be stiff, so be prepared to fight for what you want – at least until it costs more than you can spend. Try these bid-winning tips from eBay the Smart Way.

* Refresh the Web page often during the final minutes of an auction so you can see the latest bid. Go to the auction page for the item you want to buy, and click the Refresh button on your internet browser.

* Bid the Bay Way. Choose how much you’re willing to pay for something, then ask eBay to bid for you, up to that amount. You can even set the increment, how much eBay raises your bid each time, by 50 cents, $1, $5, and so on. Each time someone bids higher than you, eBay will raise your bid above theirs by the increment you set, up to your maximum, saving you both time and money.

* Use the 10-cents difference trick. Ebay forces you to raise your bid by at least a certain dollar amount each time, usually a round number, like $1 or $5. Increase yours by that amount plus 10 cents to get a jump on your competition and raise your odds of winning the auction.

* Become a Sniper. Sniper software lets you swoop in and bid at the last minute, with the idea that if you raise the bid say 15 or 30 seconds before the auction closes, you will win because no one else will have time to counter. You can buy Snipe software on eBay or subscribe to a Web service that will Snipe for you.

No strategy guarantees you a win, but auctions are supposed to be fun, right? Win or lose, always enjoy the game.



All the best,



Timben