Notebook online auction buying guide
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 Programs like Bidnapper gives you the edge over other bidders. |
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The amateur bidder sees a product and puts in a bid-to price, thereby letting a suave buyer swoop in with a bid of just a dollar over the novice. Don't be the village idiot holding the bag while hot deals get swept up by others. Here is a list of tactics you can use to bag the item you want.
Sit and wait
Our personal favorite. Never start bidding for an item until the dying moment of the auction. By that time, all the amateurs would have shown their hand and the real professionals start working their magic, with really hot deals getting bids up to the final second.
Sniper
A more precise version of the former. You open multiple windows, one for bidding and the other for watching. You literally wait for the last second of the deal to close, then click in your bid for the smallest increment over the highest bidder. However, ensure that you have a fast Internet connection; and even then you might still lose the deal. Some questionable third-party applications like Bidnapper and PowerSnipe actually sync with the auction site's time and automatically put in the minimum bid at the final second.
Shock and awe
Do some research on the second-hand value of the item and click on the Buy Now button if the latter is close to that amount. If the Buy Now price is absurd, put in a bid close to the actual value and so far above the next bidder that the competition is swept away. Be aware that this is not the way to get the best deal, but if you absolutely must have the item, it is the way to go.
Negotiating the Buy Now price
Only death and taxes are certain in life, everything else is negotiable. Drop a discreet note to the seller and offer an amount close to his Buy Price. Sometimes, he might agree to close the auction if the price is right. However, this should be done only if there are no current bidders. But if the seller refuses to budge, read on for another tip.
Offer additional services
We aren't suggesting that you break out the furry handcuffs and leather whip and offer payment in kind. Instead, negotiate by offering to travel to the seller’s location and save him the trouble of shipping. Or forego extras which the seller bundles with the main attraction. However, never skimp on personal warranty or accept an item under manufacturer coverage without proof-of-purchase, as the latter may be stolen goods which will give you more trouble than you've bargained for.
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