Bidding Tips and Making a Vehicle Purchase on eBay Motors Canada
If you get an inspection and everything is pretty much what you expected, you will probably want to start bidding on it, or formulating some sort of plan of attack! Every eBayer has their own bidding strategy that they swear upon, and If you already have one, that’s great. A beginner eBayer will typically bid small amounts throughout the auction and bid slightly higher amounts when the bid goes up. Although this can still win the auction like this, it’s not the most secure efficient way to bid - and if you already spent $100 on an inspection you’re going to want to win this.
I don’t claim to be a pro eBayer, but remember what I was saying about every eBayer having their own bidding strategy? Well heres mine:
If you have already done your research by watching other auctions and checking out the completed listings, you should know approximately what the vehicle you are purchasing will typically sell for. Although your first impulse may be to bid, don’t. Sit back and watch the chaos of other people bidding, and watch what is happening. In the mean time, think of the maximum possible amount you would pay for that exact vehicle. This is very important, so write it down. I stress again the MAXIMUM POSSIBLE amount. Remember the myBorderPro calculator? Now is a good time to recheck the final cost after duties (if any), taxes and importation if the price of the auction has changed. Don’t forget to factor in the shipping costs or the customs brokerage service quotes you got if you need either of those services.
The rest of this really depends on your skill level and what you feel comfortable with. Now, the only time I ever place a bid is within the last minute of the auction. In fact, I typically will only ever place a bid within the last 30 or even 15 seconds. So think about how comfortable you will be and decide a moment at which you will bid. Remember that maximum possible amount you wrote down? From the eBay’s auction page, enter that amount and click “Place Bid”. Don’t worry, it won’t bid for you yet, this will just take you to a “confirm bid” page so that all you will have to do is press the button. If your computer can handle a second web browser window that you can to refresh the auction page, that will probably help out a lot. When you’re ready, and the time comes, confirm your bid, hopefully leaving no time for other people to bid higher than you. If you have a slow internet connection, be sure to leave your computer enough time to send the request, or maybe just do this at a friend’s house with a faster connection!
