Cranfield Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I was quite a user of eBay in the early 2000's, when it was mainly auction only. The rush of the auction, having to check progress on bids regularly, trying to make sure I wasn't "sniped", it was almost an obsession. I haven't used it for many years, when it became more of an online market. However, recently I have been looking for a certain book, which proved hard to find at a sensible price, so I checked eBay. There it was on auction with 3 days to go, so the game began. Someone else was also interested and we stalked each other. It ended at 9.30pm yesterday and I was the highest bid by £1. It was quite a weird sense of achievement and brought back some memories. Are there many on here still chasing bargains on auction only sales ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I used to say I'd won!! Even though you had bought something, watching a bargain ready to bid if need be. We have made offers on things lately but don't use it nearly as much now, check the prices like you would any other site then buy from where suits. What was the book? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I mainly use it for buying. Bearings are usually cheaper on Ebay, but gone are the days when I got in a bidding war for tools I didn't need. The fun has gone out of it. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I would rather use face ache for sales and the bay as a last resort. I end up returning 2 out of 3 items and it's painfully slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I walked into the kitchen one evening, and said to the wife , I have won a Bow and arrow , she said " what are you on about " I said I put a daft bid for one , a recure bow with a spare set of Limbs and about 30 ally arrows and other bits , No one else bid , still got it 😀 and no I don't drink . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 Best I got was 3 x 20 litre metal gerry cans for 99p. I almost felt bad for the guy when I collected them but he still insisted on giving me my 1p change from a quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, walshie said: Best I got was 3 x 20 litre metal gerry cans for 99p. I almost felt bad for the guy when I collected them but he still insisted on giving me my 1p change from a quid. When we first moved I was trying to match all our front room furniture with the same make ( Nathan ) as we had a couple of items we bought from a auction , new price's were and still are very expensive . Looking at the adverts one night I saw a Nathan dining table and four chairs that looked as good as new , the opening bid was £25 and it was collection only , looking to see where it was based ,and as luck would have it , the collection was about 14 miles from mine in the Broadland area , so I placed a opening bid of £25 , time moved on and on the night it came up for sale I was still the only bidder so to be on the safe side I placed a maximum bid of £100 , as it turned out there was no need for the extra bid as mine was the only one , the people got in touch and me and my brother went after it a few nights later , the people were first class and very helpful in taking the heavy table to bits and helping to get it in my motor , it turned out the table and chairs were his parents who had just recently passed away and he showed us the receipt when they bought it and would you believe it was just under £2000 , it never had a mark on it and looked like it had never been used and it still look in first class condition . We ended up buying other Nathan items off the bay to complete what we wanted and they were all dirt cheap , very , very happy with what we got . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I have bid on bikes and bike bits and been pleasantly surprised to be the only bidder in a couple of cases and got absolute bargains. I do set myself limits, though, and have frequently missed out by only a few quid on stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 Hacks me off though when they don't make it clear that it is coming from overseas (China) - I bought a bolt for my car 2 weeks ago and it still hasn't been dispatched Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, walshie said: Best I got was 3 x 20 litre metal gerry cans for 99p. I almost felt bad for the guy when I collected them but he still insisted on giving me my 1p change from a quid. That's what a reserve is for 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 Just bought 4 Michelin tyres (only needed 2 but excellent price), brand new and saved over £200 on ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 You can still get a few bargains from ebay . My good lady spotted a job lot of leather , that the seller needed rid of quickly . It was mainly very large offcuts , with the odd full hide , and some of it was quite specialist stuff. It had a starting bid of £50 , so lin placed a bid , and set her upper limit at £500 . It was the only bid , so we had a trip to Wales to collect it . She took out the leather that she could use herself (about 2k worth ) , and broke the rest into smaller parcels. She's sold around half of the parcels for around 2.5k so far , and still has about the same amount to sell . The bargains are still there on ebay , but they don't come along so often these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted June 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 5 hours ago, Mice! said: . What was the book? An early Dashiell Hammett, I could get it in used paperback, but I wanted a hardback copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agriv8 Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 (edited) Still the odd diamond in the rough ! pair of twice worn le Chameau wellies buy it now 49.99 + 5.50 delivery But buy more stuff on here these days ! obviously not in an auction how much is it worth ! Edited June 30, 2022 by Agriv8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, mel b3 said: You can still get a few bargains from ebay . My good lady spotted a job lot of leather , that the seller needed rid of quickly . It was mainly very large offcuts , with the odd full hide , and some of it was quite specialist stuff. It had a starting bid of £50 , so lin placed a bid , and set her upper limit at £500 . It was the only bid , so we had a trip to Wales to collect it . She took out the leather that she could use herself (about 2k worth ) , and broke the rest into smaller parcels. She's sold around half of the parcels for around 2.5k so far , and still has about the same amount to sell . The bargains are still there on ebay , but they don't come along so often these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I got a lovely flame mahogany bar for £33. It took four men to get it out of their house and into the Luton van. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 I know someone who was interested in a car which was incorrectly listed. He won the auction (his was the only bid) and he walked away with a very rare Lancia Integrale 4x4 16v still in it original left hand drive. He took a gamble and it paid off. I cant remember what it was listed as but it wasn't that and he got it so cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobbyathome Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 i have had loads of bargains off of ebay over the years i always set myself a limit and dont go over it even if it pains me i was building a garden room and a secondhand set of double glazes patio doors came up starting at 99p i put in a bid of 99p and a second one of £200 as i didnt want to go over that no one else bidded so 99p it was great bargain the doors was only put in new and the house sold and the new buyer wanted bifold ones so thats why they went on ebay there was still the origional labels on the glass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 My old works partner was notorious for placing bids on ebay after a night out on the pop, a wrecked old russian motorbike was one win which was so rusted it was only fit for scrap, he also won a 3 foot high chrome horse's head, he still has but is married now so it is consigned to the garage lol. it was always interesting to hear what he had won over the weekend on a monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, Cranfield said: An early Dashiell Hammett, I could get it in used paperback, but I wanted a hardback copy. Hardbacks definitely feel better, especially if you are collecting a set 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 Use it loads and have bought everything from washers to gold watches and even a boat. The latter was an absolute bargain, the seller not having set his reserve high enough and I was the only bidder. Don’t get involved in many auctions these days just day to day stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 Most of the above are good fortunes and good luck to the buyers , but I have sold a few bits and pieces and only got the minimum bib , but then again , it is the choice of the seller to what he / she put the item on for , sometimes a low starting bid attract the buyers and then there are times you dip out , horses for courses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy 666 Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 Me and the mrs got waisted one night and when we woke up in the morning we noticed loads of funny markings on the patio. Turns out we brought a conservatory in the night the seller was selling A pushing bike I was interested in and it went down hill from there we think 😂🤦♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 3 hours ago, mel b3 said: . ......... and some of it was quite specialist stuff............ Specialist leather? Does TC know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted June 30, 2022 Report Share Posted June 30, 2022 19 minutes ago, amateur said: Specialist leather? Does TC know? I'd love to be able to tell you all about the spangley leather hotpants , with oversized and studded codpiece, that dave commissioned. But customer confidentiality laws forbid me ....doh . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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