OT: best time to buy from ebay

[Kat]

I've been looking at ebay once in a while the past year, and I noticed there are times stuff sell a little high, and times when they tend to go lower. So I'm wondering, for ebay experts , when (what days, months, season ,etc) is the best time to buy from ebay?

 

[ray_g]

I'm no expert, but my best deals have been during travel holidays: xmas, 3-day weekends, and such.

 

[wlewisiii]

The key to what he suggests is that the auction _ends_ during those high travel times. At least it's best for buyers...

William

 

[RJBender]

Late July and early August when lots of folks are on vacation.

R.J.

 

[Kyle]

When an auction ends later at night, thats a good time to bid.


I believe statistics have shown that if you want the most money out of your auction, set it to end Sunday evening, by 8PM. Everyone's home, and they're done with their stuff from the day, so they're on the computer.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I set my auctions up to start Friday lunchtime and run for ten days. That way I get two weekends for the at home crowd and a full week in between for the at the office people.

That's late lunchtime EU time so breakfast in the US, and dinner in Asia.

 

[RML]

When an auction ends later at night, thats a good time to bid.


I believe statistics have shown that if you want the most money out of your auction, set it to end Sunday evening, by 8PM. Everyone's home, and they're done with their stuff from the day, so they're on the computer.

That ain't gonna work for everyone outside the US. Problem I have is that most of the times auctions end either late late at night or early morning here in Holland. That would come down to evening time in the US. Thank goodness I start work at 6.30 AM so I sometimes can bid from work. 😛

 

[Kat]

True, it's the same for me here in the Philippines, auctions end at about 3-9am my time usually. But thanks for all the advice, I'll keep an eye on the holidays.🙂

 

[sychan]

I've seen really good deals when the auction ends during the superbowl.

 

[ch1]

Well, WORST TIME* is 8:00 (20:00) PM US Eastern Time (5:00 PM US Pacific Time) and, more generally on US Sunday evenings.

Best times?

Well, it's really a secret, BUT TRY MID-WEEK AT 4:00 PM* (16:00) US Eastern Time!

BUT DO NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS.

Oh, as to time of year - see RJ's thread above and also 12/23 to 12/26 (Christmastime w/o deliveries therefore).

Would that we could have access to eBay's database! 😛



*By this I mean, as a BUYER - look for auctions that end MID WEEK at 4PM US Time - avoid the popular time of 8PM Sunday!

 

[peter_n]

What ray_g said, around the holidays. Sunday evening is the worst for a buyer it seems.

 

[Mackinaw]

For me, time of year I sell stuff is important too. In the US, I find that more folks are willing to spend money once their income tax refunds start rolling in (March through May). The worst time is probably right after X-mas, when people are paying off all of their holiday bills.

Jim Bielecki

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

What ray_g said, around the holidays. Sunday evening is the worst for a buyer it seems.

What Peter and Ray_g said, the best time to buy is right after Xmas (about 2-3 weeks).

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Buyers should avoid auctions that end on a Sunday evening.
Prices tend to go considerably higher then.

OTOH it's the ideal time to end your auction if you are a seller.
Unless you want *me* to bid... 😉

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[raid]

The best times are when you have the money to spend for the items listed.

 

[Nick R.]

For the same reasons, Sunday evening is a good time to watch for BIN's. A lot of new stuff is hitting the block and you might find something underpriced.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Well... the secrets are out! 😱

If I sell... I have my auctions end on high traffic times (Sunday evening). If I am buying, I look for auctions that end on a weekday, mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

My best winning bid: on a Summicron 90, third version (pre-Asph): these lenses don't go below $900, but I got mine for $660 on a Wednesday evening! 🙂 And when I got the package I saw the seller also had offered two Leica filters with it; I simply didn't remember them as part of the auction (they were).

Needless to say, I was a very happy boy! 🙂 😉

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Fourth Quarter of the Superbowl.

 

[amateriat]

Of course, the stuff you really want will come off-auction at 10:00 PM on a Sunday night. Even if it's not on the same continent, like, oh, this one:

http://tinyurl.com/b8jwh

Any bets on how high this baby will go?


- Barrett