What is with people outbidding themselves

[t3js1993]

I have been trying to purchase some items and I have noticed people outbidding themselves, not just once but 4-10 times in a row. Im not sure if it is the seller bidding to raise the price or just an automatic bid. Automatic bids should not go ahead unless someone else out bids that person item. I also believe that companies trying to buy items should outright buy products and not be able to bid at lower prices just so they can resell them in their stores...Is there any rules governing this...

[marnotom!]

I'd have to see an example of what you mean to make sure I'm on the same page as you, and that probably wouldn't fly with the board moderaters, so all I'll say is that people can't "outbid themselves".  What you're likely seeing is proxy bidding at work.

I see an item with an opening price of $5.00.  I put in a maximum bid for $20, but the bidding doesn't automatically go to $20.  See this page for more details:

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Finally-Understand-eBays-Proxy-Bidding-/10000000002634767/g.html

[afantiques]

Occasionally people who already hold the high bid will decide to raise their bid just to be on the safe side if they really want the item, so they will make another bid, knowing that unless bidding exceeds their first bid it will have no effect.

I also believe that companies trying to buy items should outright buy products and not be able to bid at lower prices just so they can resell them in their stores...Is there any rules governing this...

It is a very strange belief.

[bb_cool_stuff]

I also believe that companies trying to buy items should outright buy products and not be able to bid at lower prices just so they can resell them in their stores...

I will just quote Jon Stewart on this post " Whaaaat, Whaaat "

[reallynicestamps]

Any collector can outbid (almost) any dealer.

Because unless the dealer can make a profit by selling it on to another collector, he will not bid.

If you are outbid by a dealer/seller you are bidding lower than the wholesale value of the item.

Bid once, bid late, bid your maximum.

[t3js1993]

Bidder	Amount
0***y( 6 )	US $190.00
f***n( 1 )	US $187.50
f***n( 1 )	US $182.50
f***n( 1 )	US $177.50
0***y( 6 )	US $175.00
f***n( 1 )	US $175.00
f***n( 1 )	US $170.00
l***n( 20)	US $165.00
l***n( 20)	US $155.00
l***n( 20)	US $145.00
l***n( 20)	US $135.00
l***n( 20)	US $120.00
_***t( 152)	US $75.00
r***m( 402)	US $52.00
l***o( 5 )	US $50.00
a***s( 6 )	US $32.00
1***3( 17)	US $30.00
a***s( 6 )	US $24.50
a***s( 6 )	US $23.50
a***s( 6 )	US $22.50
a***s( 6 )	US $21.50
a***s( 6 )	US $20.50
1***3( 17)	US $20.00
a***s( 6 )	US $20.00
a***s( 6 )	US $19.00
a***s( 6 )	US $18.00
a***s( 6 )	US $17.00
a***s( 6 )	US $16.00
a***s( 6 )	US $15.00
a***s( 6 )	US $14.00
a***s( 6 )	US $13.00
a***s( 6 )	US $12.00

Just an example  a***s for instance...... this person only did small amounts i have seen ones that have bid $10-20 at a time. like l***n .. just saying... (cut and paste did not work as well as I wanted it to)

[t3js1993]

I added what I meant on the original post..

[rcrawford34]

The top bidder (0***y( 6 )) on this auction is using what is called a Maximum bid

They are not bidding one increment at a time but have entered a higher amount

ie the first bid he entered was $175.00 That's what he/she was willing to pay the first bid

Others are trying to out bid him  hence why you see multiple bids 

He/she was outbid

he/she has re-entered his/her  bid  at a higher amount and so far has not been Outbid and that is shown at the top

Only The bidder knows the amount they have bid No one else can see this

When a Maximum bid is entered  ebay will automaticlly bid for the person one increment over the last bid at a time

They will continue until the person has reached their maximum bid    or the person wins the auction

at times it will reach the maximum bid other times it does not depending on how much bidding occurs

weavers

[t3js1993]

Thanks. I guess when it is listed that way it just looks like they are outbidding themselves. Wish they would list it back and forth straight out bidding. 

[kszakszon1]

There should be some text somewhere around the bid history information.  Look for something that says "show auto bids" or something worded similarly.  If you select this option, a grey auto bid will appear between each of the bids from the person who looks like they are bidding against themselves.  Sometimes it looks like people are bidding against themselves because eBay does not automatically show auto bids.

[sam77883344]

I find that there is a member continuously overbidding himself over 20 times in 2 days.

Do you think how e-Bay can prevent it?

[reallynicestamps]

As explained, there are (at least) two bidders.

One has put in a single high bid. The other is trying to outbid him a bit at a time. This is usually stressful and unsuccessful.

The mantra is "Bid once, bid late, bid your maximum."

A single bidder can bid multiple times , but if he is also the only bidder , he will win at the opening price. He cannot "outbid ' himself.

For example.

The opening bid is $10.

Bidder bids $25. The item opens to him at $10. He can't understand that he is winning and bids $12 . The system ignores him. He panicks and bids $100 the system ignores him. He gives up in frustration. Seven days later the auction ends with only one bidder and he wins the item-- at $10.