Auctions change extending duration by two minutes when a bid is placed

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Just saw a report about this over on ChannelX.  Can't post the link.

But it looks like they are testing this on Trading cards at the moment.

Not something I use myself as a general rule, but it's quite the change when sniping has been the norm even since Ebay stated!

"We’re currently testing extending auction durations by 2 minutes when a bid is placed in the last 2 minutes of an auction. This test will apply to select items in the Trading Cards category. Please make sure you’re on the latest version of the app to see this feature."

[tascio1]

It's called a timed auction usually. If you look at other auction centres like Easy**ve, many of their customers use this format on a regular basis. For example, 200 items for auction all with same ending time; if anyone bids just before it ends then the auction end-time is extended a further 5 minutes.

[papso22]

A community manager has confirmed this is a .com only test.

[sheba-knows-best]

But what starts on .com often ends up in the UK, and from a money-making point of view I can see this is good for auction sellers and possibly good for ebay (depending on whether too many people swap to auctions from buy-it-nows and all the other ripples that affect fees we might not think about).

My question is, how many extensions can you have? ie just one - or can each extension get extended too (until no one bids at all in the last 5 mins).

[vinylscot]

Certainly, in the example posted by @tascio1  above, listing can theoretically go on forever. I've seen one run on for a full hour. It can depend whether or not bidders are just increasing bids by one increment, or if one decides to "blow the rest out of the water". In my experience, bidders seem less likely to chase a high bid, although, like eBay, that high bid will always show as one increment above the last high bid.

I've had a few bargains that way, as I think it does cut down on the number of last minute bids. I'm not sure how it balances out, comparing bids which don't happen (impossible to know), with extra bids at the end, but I'm sure eBay, and EL above, have done their research, and decided it results in higher prices.

[plpmr]

What @papso22  says is correct and I have responded with -

I fail to see how such a thing would be good for a world wide 24 hours site such as eBay and, of course, it would be a shiller's dream.

[bravergrace]

"Please make sure you’re on the latest version of the app to see this feature."

Does this mean that if the auction is extended by several minutes, some bidders [those NOT using the latest version of the app, or using a computer] will:

- be able to see the auction extending, but be unable to bid

- see the auction as "ended, SOLD" at the price valid at the scheduled ending time - even though the auction didn't actually end at that time or price.

- not see the auction at all after the scheduled ending time?

[therenewalworkshopltd]

To be fair, those are really technical issues and something that should be sorted out during the testing phase.

Though we all know how those seem to (not) work!

Like I said earlier, I don't usually use auctions, but the vast majority of auction houses use this method now and Ebay is more than a little behind the times on this one.

I'm not entirely sure which I prefer myself.  It can be quite a thrill seeing the last minute bids go in.  🙂

[ojewellery]

They use a version of this on eBay live and from the auctions I've watched my interpretation is it works well (particularly for sellers).  The live auctions appear to be 1 min with 10 seconds added if a bid is placed in the last 10 seconds.  

[fribblecollectables]

Yes.

Surprised eBay haven't done this yet, or at least given the option to sellers to have their auctions extended.

Two minutes seems excessive to me, but 10 or 20 seconds gives anyone outbid right at the end to say 'oh go on then, one more bid!" Win for sellers, win for eBay in extra commission.

[masonskingsshop]

I don't do many auctions any more. I certainly used to at my previous job. I never understood the bidders who bid £28, £30, £32, etc etc in a period of a few minutes. 

Put your bid in and let it stand get it in before the end of the auction and let ebay software sort out the rest. 

That being said people are people no matter where you go and these bidding patterns do and will always happen, as well as the last minute sniping. Therefore I think these changes would be good for auction sellers. The only people it will hurt are the dedicated snipers. 

[vinylscot]

I agree that the extension time needs to be short, maybe 30 seconds.

In those instances where it is rolled out, and it needs to be made CRYSTAL CLEAR that this is applying. It can't be hidden in the t's and c's, or in non-obvious print on the listing, because everyone knows buyers don't read listings or t's and c's. 

However, it needs to be all or nothing, at least sub-category-wide. You can't have either buyers or sellers being unaware whether or not it applies in individual listings. Can you imagine how many posts there would be here, if not, either complaining their last second bid was topped, or that they expected another chance, but the auction didn't extend. 

On past experience, we can probably rely on eBay to make a complete mess of it.

[info_437]

is that true

[plpmr]

the problem is that eBay are a world wide 24 hour site and many buyers are not going to sit at their computer at, say, 4am.

It's a shillers charter.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

I'm sorry, but I have to ask, why on earth is this a Shillers charter?

I really don't see what the fact that an internet website is 24/7 has anything to do with this at all?

It doesn't have a major issues with any of the many websites doing this already.

But why on earth would someone with any common sense be running an auction in the UK, to finish at 4am in the morning.

[ojewellery]

I was just pondering on if you had two bits of sniping software going for a bid in last few seconds on an item with low starting bid and good value just how long the auction could end up being, in an automated bidding war.

There's a live auction jewellery seller in the US who does $0.99 starts and has some items that sometimes go for five figures (not sure whether those are $0.99 starts) if every bid delayed the auction 2 minutes and it was software doing the bidding that's potentially quite a long dragged out auction.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

Potentially yes, but unless the software is very dodgy, there will be a limit to the bids.

I do think that in most cases, if anyone is using software to bid, then they will shoot the price up very quickly.

Though I must admit, I really can't see the point in using it do this, when you can just put in your maximum bid and be done with it.

[bellconnor9000]

I use a sniping tool as it's very effective so soon that will be a thing of the past. It's probably good for sellers so I'm happy for them but it's going to drastically reduce the number of auctions I get involved in. 

[scarlets247]

Well its one of the good things ebay will be rolling out stopping the snipping.

How many times have you started the Auction Low and have plenty of watchers and No bids Because everybody wants something for Nothing simple fact...

Maybe now this will be a wake up call to all those watchers Get your bids in early 9/10 these days on Auctions the early bid Normally gets the goods don't matter what time you put your bid in.

The main reason people start the Auction at a higher Price these days is because that's the lowest price you would Take for the item, Knowing that you have 7 or so Watchers on your item and all wanting it at the start price.So no point in running at a loss with eBay's High selling fees and Promotion fees.Hence we have to start at realistic bottom line price to get the customer interested even if its just to break even or a very small profit.  

Go to a real Auction House on line its 10 Minutes if you try and snipping. 

But the main reason Most people myself included hate Auctions is eBay's lack of search visibility.  

Ebay will only show your Items to a select few Customers not like it was years ago when you would have 20 or so watchers on an item and bidding the way it should be done.

So Extending the finish Time is the best idea ebay has had for a long time and sellers will not mined on this extended time as we may get a little more than expected on the Sale with the late bids..

Mentors,Guilds,Advisers etc No need to reply..

The only time I am here is when sales Die and come here for all the Kudos as we get the ping and think its a sale Keeps us on our toes.

Keep smiling and selling if and when ebay will let you 🙂 

and roll on all the roll backs that will soon be coming eBay's way and welcome the New CEO.