eBay Game Lost :(
One of my grail watches is a 1970s Seiko Pogue. I've not seen another watch the screams 70s as much as this watch I love pretty much everything about it. So much so that I built an Dive Watch inspired by it.
Today I made the mistake of thinking I finally have it. I found one on eBay that looked just beat up enough to make me believe the OEM claim but it still looked fantastic. The high bid price was low enough that if I had to service it I wouldn't feel ripped off. I patiently waited until 2 minutes left on the auction and bounced, nailing the high bid with under a minute to go. Rubbing my hands with excitement I looked away getting ready to pay for it. I looked back and I lost :(
The quest continues.
Anyone else have the 'oh so close' experience on eBay.
Collector of value watches, watch modder, and vintage watch tinkerer.
I tend to get the red mist, and overbid for stuff that I really want. Haha
I tend to get the red mist, and overbid for stuff that I really want. Haha
I've done that before been a few times when I was grateful someone saved me by outbidding me. However, this is a case where I kind of wish I had gone all in lol
Oh man, bummer to hear that. Here's how I handle eBay bids....
I don't bid until the item is seconds away from ending. So what I do is this, I put the item in my watch list, and put the ending time on my calendar for 5 -10 mins before the auction will end. On the day it is scheduled to end, I wait patiently until I see the counter get down to the last 15 seconds or sometimes 5 seconds and I put in my max bid, and generally win the auction.
I do this because I already know how much I want to spend. So for example, let's say the watch you were looking at was bidding at $100. DO NOT BID on it. This will increase the bidding war making it harder to obtain. Look at who's bidding (bots are deployed a lot with bidding as well). So let's say I won't spend over $300 as that's my budget. The day arrives, I see that the watch is only at say $150. I wait until 15-5 seconds before it ends and I put in my max bid of $300. typically the adjustments that come (bids) aren't fast enough to catch up to the bid. Then you win.
TL;DR
Steps
1.) Identify the item you want to bid on
2.) Add item to your watchlist
3.) Put the auction end date on your calendar with a reminder of 5-10 mins before the auction's ending time.
4.) On the day of the auctions ending time, go to the listing and wait until there are 5-15 seconds left (the countdown)
5.) Bid your maximum amount that you are willing to pay right before the auction ends.
6.) You've won!
This has worked for me some 90+% of the time. Hope this helps.
Oh man, bummer to hear that. Here's how I handle eBay bids....
I don't bid until the item is seconds away from ending. So what I do is this, I put the item in my watch list, and put the ending time on my calendar for 5 -10 mins before the auction will end. On the day it is scheduled to end, I wait patiently until I see the counter get down to the last 15 seconds or sometimes 5 seconds and I put in my max bid, and generally win the auction.
I do this because I already know how much I want to spend. So for example, let's say the watch you were looking at was bidding at $100. DO NOT BID on it. This will increase the bidding war making it harder to obtain. Look at who's bidding (bots are deployed a lot with bidding as well). So let's say I won't spend over $300 as that's my budget. The day arrives, I see that the watch is only at say $150. I wait until 15-5 seconds before it ends and I put in my max bid of $300. typically the adjustments that come (bids) aren't fast enough to catch up to the bid. Then you win.
TL;DR
Steps
1.) Identify the item you want to bid on
2.) Add item to your watchlist
3.) Put the auction end date on your calendar with a reminder of 5-10 mins before the auction's ending time.
4.) On the day of the auctions ending time, go to the listing and wait until there are 5-15 seconds left (the countdown)
5.) Bid your maximum amount that you are willing to pay right before the auction ends.
6.) You've won!
This has worked for me some 90+% of the time. Hope this helps.
Edit - wait until the final 10 seconds and snipe with 10% over what you think is reasonable; that‘s how eBay works.
Oh man, bummer to hear that. Here's how I handle eBay bids....
I don't bid until the item is seconds away from ending. So what I do is this, I put the item in my watch list, and put the ending time on my calendar for 5 -10 mins before the auction will end. On the day it is scheduled to end, I wait patiently until I see the counter get down to the last 15 seconds or sometimes 5 seconds and I put in my max bid, and generally win the auction.
I do this because I already know how much I want to spend. So for example, let's say the watch you were looking at was bidding at $100. DO NOT BID on it. This will increase the bidding war making it harder to obtain. Look at who's bidding (bots are deployed a lot with bidding as well). So let's say I won't spend over $300 as that's my budget. The day arrives, I see that the watch is only at say $150. I wait until 15-5 seconds before it ends and I put in my max bid of $300. typically the adjustments that come (bids) aren't fast enough to catch up to the bid. Then you win.
TL;DR
Steps
1.) Identify the item you want to bid on
2.) Add item to your watchlist
3.) Put the auction end date on your calendar with a reminder of 5-10 mins before the auction's ending time.
4.) On the day of the auctions ending time, go to the listing and wait until there are 5-15 seconds left (the countdown)
5.) Bid your maximum amount that you are willing to pay right before the auction ends.
6.) You've won!
This has worked for me some 90+% of the time. Hope this helps.
Yeah I think my failure was assuming waiting until 2 minutes was left would do it. Live and learn ... live and learn :(
I'm sorry you didn't win the watch. It sucks when that happens 😔
I agree with what others have said. I am that a**hole who snipes at 2 seconds left.
Yeah I think my failure was assuming waiting until 2 minutes was left would do it. Live and learn ... live and learn :(
It sucks now, but I'm confident that you'll get it. Set up an alert on eBay and deploy the tactics I outlined and before you know it, you'll be posting your new vintage piece. Don't forget to tag me because I want to see it!🍻
2 minutes....like this is 2009. Less than 15 seconds or you will be toast.
I bid on a lot of four (2 Benrus, a Bulova and an Elgin) yesterday. I was rescued by the good folks who need to spend too much on watches that don't work.
cool cool cool cool cool nice too!
You got sniped sorry to hear that that sucks 😟
tbh I don't really understand the Pogue craze. I believe precisely because they sort of "scream" and maybe there is some desire to be noticed. Like thewatchsite.com is basically a pogue authentication message board with the occasional 6xxx diver. However I have had loads of amazing 70s Seiko, I believe a sort of golden era, but its all pogues all the time.
Oh man, bummer to hear that. Here's how I handle eBay bids....
I don't bid until the item is seconds away from ending. So what I do is this, I put the item in my watch list, and put the ending time on my calendar for 5 -10 mins before the auction will end. On the day it is scheduled to end, I wait patiently until I see the counter get down to the last 15 seconds or sometimes 5 seconds and I put in my max bid, and generally win the auction.
I do this because I already know how much I want to spend. So for example, let's say the watch you were looking at was bidding at $100. DO NOT BID on it. This will increase the bidding war making it harder to obtain. Look at who's bidding (bots are deployed a lot with bidding as well). So let's say I won't spend over $300 as that's my budget. The day arrives, I see that the watch is only at say $150. I wait until 15-5 seconds before it ends and I put in my max bid of $300. typically the adjustments that come (bids) aren't fast enough to catch up to the bid. Then you win.
TL;DR
Steps
1.) Identify the item you want to bid on
2.) Add item to your watchlist
3.) Put the auction end date on your calendar with a reminder of 5-10 mins before the auction's ending time.
4.) On the day of the auctions ending time, go to the listing and wait until there are 5-15 seconds left (the countdown)
5.) Bid your maximum amount that you are willing to pay right before the auction ends.
6.) You've won!
This has worked for me some 90+% of the time. Hope this helps.
ha, this is precisely the reason why I've come to prefer yahoo auctions japan - it's much more of a marathon.
tbh I don't really understand the Pogue craze. I believe precisely because they sort of "scream" and maybe there is some desire to be noticed. Like thewatchsite.com is basically a pogue authentication message board with the occasional 6xxx diver. However I have had loads of amazing 70s Seiko, I believe a sort of golden era, but its all pogues all the time.
I totally get they aren't for everyone but for me I love the bold colors that catch the eye. I also love many of the Seiko Bullheads from that era.
The fact that so many other people like the Pogue almost turns me off but when I first saw the watch I knew I wanted one so I'm resisting my natural tendency to go against the grain. :)
ha, this is precisely the reason why I've come to prefer yahoo auctions japan - it's much more of a marathon.
Interesting. Never heard of it. How reliable and secure is it?
Interesting. Never heard of it. How reliable and secure is it?
Yahoo Auctions It's similar to ebay in terms of function and relatability but its Japan only, so maybe its better because there's no global pool of scammers. Bidding time is extended every time a new high bid is reached, so an auction that is supposed to end at a specific time can extend for an hour or more if it's competitive. It's actually pretty entertaining. Some watch sellers will have all all of their listed inventory end around the same time so that means having multiple tabs open, watching some extending, some end, while others starting to count down.
Next time use your mobile phone eBay app, you can wait until the last 4 seconds to place your last bid, it's worked for me numerous times.
Otherwise just place the highest amount your willing to pay and see if anyone chases it, if it's meant to be you will win it. You can easily get caught up in the bidding war and get out of your depth and overpaying for the watch.
I never bid until the last 20 SECONDS on a auction, as long as I have a fast, reliable internet/cellular connection.
Bid your highest at that point that you are willing to pay.
I hear you man.