Why do people bid so EARLY on Ebay?

[Simon Lloyd]

I'm curious on this one -

 

Why do people bid so early on Ebay?

 

I've spotted some great items lately - only to have a multitude of people bid from the onset.

 

What advantage does it give them? Do they have an unlimited pocket & not care?

 

 

[Erin]

I bid early because I don't want the seller dropping the auction and it's kind-of a reminder to me that I really want a certain lamp. Who cares when people bid?

[WeeboTech]

Well said ant.

[kiramarie]

I will often place a min. bid  this way if its on my bid page I can decide to pursue or not at closing time and I dont forget about it in one of my lists. sometimes I place higher bids during the course of the bid (like a dog pissing) hoping to discourage my competition .. and I just know I will start a whole lot of ... with this but IN MY OPINION I feel on items that reach a high dollar and during the course of the bidding time that there should be snipe laws implemented. remember this is MY opinion but in these cases I feel a new bidder should have to place a bid at least 2 min. before bid closer. ONLY for the fact that the ones battling it out stand a chance not to be blind sided and get sniped with 3seconds left... some say why dont you place your highest then... well duh cause my budget can and does fluctuate and maybe I had a 30 dollar bid on an item that ended prior and i lost or decided not to fight for it well now I have that money to add on to something else.. Not that I have never sniped... I have but actually feel like a chump when I do.. with this admission I still think a 2 min rule on an item that has active multiple bidders is fair ...   especially since many snipes win by only a dollar ..

Arne said:

I dont understand what all the fuss is about. I also bid early sometimes. Sometimes I do it, as already said, to prevent the seller from selling it off ebay (main reason for me), sometimes because I want my mobile to remind me 5 mins before it ends, so I dont have to watch all the time and sometimes the item is so desirable for me that I just dont give a ******* how much it costs in the end as long as I get it. Of course I never put my max bid at first...just enough to keep it interesting for the seller to leave the auction till it ends...and if I decide I really want it, I'll snipe it at the last seconds....just like I did with the red comet, richard. But if you complain about early bids why not about sniping....uhhh its sooo unfair, you think you're in the lead and 5 secs before ending BANG some ass snipes it....its all the same, if you cant live with it, stay off ebay. And btw, why are all politicians corrupt? isnt that way more interesting?

@richard: Most sellers do have a shred of honor left and leave auctions with bids. Had it often enough...first I made a deal off ebay then a bid came in and the deal was off...had this many times and never complained about it.

[EXPLETIVE DELETED BY WEEBOTECH]

[Little L]

Well from a psychological perspective, a) instant gratification of knowing your the highest bidder (I'm prone to this myself at times!) :D or b) The "Go hard or go home" hypothesis. My humorous take on it anyways. :D

[Mark Goo]

I think bidding early at a significant level (not just a low number to kill the BIN) sends signals to others to LOOK at this auction and raises the interest and the price.  I am a strong believer in not bidding but ONCE with my max price 3 seconds before complete.