I am doomed. Utterly doomed.

[gerisullivan]

I just became a registered eBay user. It's my first time. Yes, of course I did so to bid on something. It's a very low-cost item. Yeah, right.

I am doomed.

I am not, however, going to increase my bid. Either I'll get it or I won't.

It's not even what I went looking for.

Of course it isn't.

Doomed. Doomed. Doomed.

I am suspiciously cheerful and confident for someone who has successfully avoided this fate for the last decade and more.

Film at 11. In the meantime, advice for an eBay neo would be very welcome. What mistakes should I endeavor to avoid? Well, beside the mistake of registering in the first place?

Comments

Re: Sniping in eBay

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for explaining what you've observed, Bruce. It's a very timely reminder that my auction results don't depend just on my own behavior, but by the behavior of any other bidders as well.

Re: Sniping in eBay

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

"It's a very timely reminder that my auction results don't depend just on my own behavior, but by the behavior of any other bidders as well."

Even weirder, you're auction behavior depends on the behavior of other bidders, too.

B

Re: Sniping in eBay

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

I'm aware of some of the ways other bidders affect my own behavior; I'll be interested to see if I come to recognize additional ways as I continue gaining experience both on eBay and in live auctions (where I have more experience than I do on eBay, but still not a lot).

Re: Sniping in eBay

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Do you want a list of ways your bidding won't be rational, ever?

http://www.healthbolt.net/2007/02/14/26-reasons-what-you-think-is-right-is-wrong/

B

Re: Sniping in eBay

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Bookmarked.

Thank you for that, too!

I'm familiar with many of these thanks to my communication studies of oh-so-long-ago, and some of the risk-related ones through reading your own very fine works. But there were a few I didn't know/remember, and having the list all in one place is useful. As is the "Cognitive Hazard" caution sign!