When Bidding for Rare American Coins on eBay Simply Defies Logic

It seems like holidays would be a perfect time to pick up eBargains on eBay. The foolish seller didn't realize when listing, that the auction would end on a holiday. No one would be around to bid on the coin. What a great way to clean up. eBid on the holidays! You come to eBay prepared to scoop up everything going out that day.

On Thanksgiving there's football, Christmas of course is family time, July 4th is summer barbeques, etc. The eBuying public is out with the family, watching TV and having fun, while these unfortunate auctions just slide out unnoticed.

Somehow my experience hasn't proven that out. I don't remember ever getting great prices when bidding on a holiday. Maybe everyone else has the same thought as me, and decides to search eBay for bargains on their favorite weakness.

When the holidays come, enjoy your family, TV, going to the movies, or that special activity that brings meaning to the day. You're not going to clean up in the eBay bargain department, so have fun on the holidays.

The other time that defies logic is the early morning bids and the mid-day week day bids. I've left lowish reasonable bids for auctions that end overnight or for auctions that end mid-day figuring not many people would be out there to bid against me.

I don't remember ever winning these kinds of auctions. There must be people up all night or not working during the day poised to grab my coin from me. Sometimes, I'm amazed at the final selling price.

Perhaps the most important tip for getting the best price on eBay is to NEVER bid at the end of an auction, unless you're scooping up a coin that's been missed all the way up until that time.

I usually bid for bargains during the last couple hours of auctions. I bid what I consider to be a reasonable, lowish price for the coin and not get emotionally involved with having it. I bid when I have time to contemplate all the factors, look up pricing in the CDN, or use personal experience to determine my bid amount.

I place the bid and move on. I make it a point not to be around at the end of the auction... most of the time. If I'm around near the end of the auction, I may just watch my coin go out to me.

I may also watch it get outbid in the last two seconds. I may watch it get outbid in the last two minutes. What I never do is increase my bid. I originally bid when I was thinking straight and considered all the factors. Why would I let emotion get in the way of reason?

Be patient. Coin bargains require patience. The coin you want for the best price will come around eventually. It's all part of the game.

If you're looking for higher grade/rarer date coins, often they aren't up for auction. They tend to be in Buy it Now listings. Knowing the value of the coin and carefully screening the Buy it Now asking price will get you some great eBargains.

Always make the Buy it Now seller a lower offer, even if "Make Best Offer" isn't an option on the listing. You simply contact them through the contact seller in the More Actions drop down menu. Most sellers will accept a 10% price reduction in order to sell their coin.