| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
mario
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 7378
|
 Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2026 10:53 am Post subject: eBay extended bidding |
 |
|
As some of you may be aware, eBay started testing and rolling out bid time extensions. These extend the auction end time 1 minute from the time of the last bid. So far this is rolled out on eBay Motors, and it looks like eBay has started testing it on eBay Australia. The other markets may follow, including the biggest, eBay UK and eBay US.
In responding to this, here are the changes I will be testing in the following days and weeks (this is not widely rolled out yet):
1. Gixen will test bidding incrementally, instead of submitting the maximum bid to eBay at once. It will also detect extensions as late as possible and delay bidding until as late as possible. Gixen will wait the maximum of 12 extensions, bidding incrementally during this time, before submitting user's maximum bid.
2. Gixen Mirror server will do the same, however instead of user-specified offset it will bid 1 second before auction end. This is in order to save the number of calls to eBay.
3. Unlike what used to be the case in the past (I always advocated for 8 second offset as optimal), auction time extensions may make 1-second offset as the best choice. I still leave this configurable (except for Gixen Mirror).
As I am unsure what the optimal strategy is, and it may differ depending on value, category or specific auction, I am considering giving users more choice and control in the future. I am open to all constructive suggestions and comments.
Why is this happening? It looks like eBay believes (but is not sure, hence this is still being tested) that this may raise the final price. This is likely true, if the buyer interest in auctions remains the same, so it pretty much depends on how majority of buyers feel about it over the long term. My guess is that not much will change, but let me know how you feel about it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2026 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It may increase the final price of some auctions, but those ending at odd times aren't likely to benefit much. If people aren't around/awake, they can't react to the extra minute.
I'm trying to decide if incremental bidding is going to be worthwhile, continually extending the process. That gives more people time to react each time. Or just bid at 61 seconds and be done with it. I'm not sure.
I wonder if this will end up pushing more buyers to prefer buy it now or fixed price listings (perhaps with best offer), which would of course cause more sellers to offer those and further reduce the number of auction listings.
I wish they could just leave this part of the site alone, but they want to find every last penny, I suppose. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alex
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2026 2:09 am Post subject: extended bidding |
|
|
| could you add an option for 65s or 70s lead time so bids don't trigger the extension? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gixen
Advertisements
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2026 2:09 am Post subject: extended bidding |
|
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mario
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 7378
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2026 10:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
I'm trying to decide if incremental bidding is going to be worthwhile, continually extending the process. That gives more people time to react each time. Or just bid at 61 seconds and be done with it. I'm not sure.
|
I am not sure either, but it looks to me that bidding incrementally may be a better tactic. Not sure, of course, it's hard to prove this scientifically, just a gut feeling.
I am now testing this both on eBay Motors and eBay Australia. For these two markets Gixen bids incrementally. I may reverse this, we'll see. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mario
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 7378
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2026 10:53 am Post subject: Re: extended bidding |
|
|
| Quote: | | could you add an option for 65s or 70s lead time so bids don't trigger the extension? |
Sure, but give me a few weeks for this please. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2026 3:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Some initial feedback here.
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
blubarb19
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2026 6:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Mario. Just to let you know that I have just seen today for the first time that eBay Australia has started this today September 14th. Should I make any changes at this stage?
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2026 9:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | blubarb19 wrote
Should I make any changes at this stage?
|
No, for the moment Mario is handling the changes for all users, for snipes on the Australian site.
In the future there may be other options, that can be configured by users, but for the moment the changes apply to all relevant snipes, and will continue to do so as and when these changes get rolled out further by Ebay.
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Blubarb
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2026 5:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Now that eBay has introduced no seller fees, I suspect it might slow bids down for higher end items where the winning bidder will be paying the eBay fee in the form of \"buyer protection\". Not sure if this approach will be as financially successful as eBay thinks it will be, but we will see. Irrespective of any changes, I will never give up using Gixen. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Blubarb
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2026 5:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Quote: | blubarb19 wrote
Should I make any changes at this stage?
|
No, for the moment Mario is handling the changes for all users, for snipes on the Australian site.
In the future there may be other options, that can be configured by users, but for the moment the changes apply to all relevant snipes, and will continue to do so as and when these changes get rolled out further by Ebay. |
Thank you. Btw, is this a one off bid extension of sixty seconds or is the clock restarted with every subsequent bid? I suspect the latter. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2026 6:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | Blubarb wrote:
| Quote: | Cupid wrote:
| Quote: | blubarb19 wrote
Should I make any changes at this stage?
|
No, for the moment Mario is handling the changes for all users, for snipes on the Australian site.
In the future there may be other options, that can be configured by users, but for the moment the changes apply to all relevant snipes, and will continue to do so as and when these changes get rolled out further by Ebay. |
Thank you. Btw, is this a one off bid extension of sixty seconds or is the clock restarted with every subsequent bid? I suspect the latter. |
Ignore. I now understand how it will work |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2026 5:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | alex wrote:65s or 70s |
Just to keep the conversation going here... I see the logic for 1 minute offset with a full bid...
Does anyone have a justification for more than that... I guess other sniping sites may allow more than 60 seconds and you'd want to get your bid in before them ?.. Do we need to anticipate that, or wait for it to actually happen ?
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 2:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Lost an item today with eBay's new system because I wasn't able to keep an eye on it. Sniped in the last few seconds but then lost it in the 60sec extended time. I wonder if it's possible to have two bids? One at bidding end then followed by a second bid 55 secs after? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 3:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yes I lost out on an important item in Australia due to the extension today - by $1.
I think eBays move is going to negatively affect the purchasing experience, pushing more people to buy it now or Amazon...
Hopefully Mario can implement something that will work... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 3:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | One at bidding end then followed by a second bid 55 secs after? |
That is what is happening, was this a snipe scheduled with Gixen or your own manual bidding ?
Of course that can't happen when the maximum bid/snipe amount is close (within 2 bid increments) of the current auction price, or you risk potentially not being able to submit the highest bid at all.
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 10:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | Cupid wrote:
| Quote: | | One at bidding end then followed by a second bid 55 secs after? |
That is what is happening, was this a snipe scheduled with Gixen or your own manual bidding ?
Of course that can't happen when the maximum bid/snipe amount is close (within 2 bid increments) of the current auction price, or you risk potentially not being able to submit the highest bid at all. |
It was a Gixen bid and I also lost by a dollar.
Ps. Also in Australia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 10:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | It was a Gixen bid and I also lost by a dollar. |
What was the auction id, and your snipe value ?
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 10:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Quote: | | It was a Gixen bid and I also lost by a dollar. |
What was the auction id, and your snipe value ? |
Auction ID: 366666114510
Offset: 8
Snipe value: 61.99
Winning bid: 62.99
//flic.kr/p/2sBVeGX |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 12:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Auction ID: 366666114510 |
So, what I'm seeing is the auction price being within 2 bid increments of the snipe value, hence the full value being entered as the first bid by Gixen.
Also the wining bid having been entered over 9 minutes before the auction ended, so the maximum bid was immediately outbid.
I'm not seeing anything unique to an auction being extended in time, like new bids being placed after the snipe bid.
Is there something that you believe Gixen can and should have done better ?.. If so, what is that ?
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2026 7:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Quote: |
Auction ID: 366666114510 |
So, what I'm seeing is the auction price being within 2 bid increments of the snipe value, hence the full value being entered as the first bid by Gixen.
Also the wining bid having been entered over 9 minutes before the auction ended, so the maximum bid was immediately outbid.
I'm not seeing anything unique to an auction being extended in time, like new bids being placed after the snipe bid.
Is there something that you believe Gixen can and should have done better ?.. If so, what is that ? |
I see. I jumped to a conclusion. Thanks for looking into that for me. So the problem is really how to get a snipe in during the 1 min extension without sitting on the auction to watch, especially if there are a number ending on or around the same time |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2026 1:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | So the problem is really how to get a snipe in during the 1 min extension without sitting on the auction to watch, especially if there are a number ending on or around the same time |
Indeed, what you've alluded to is some increased complexity where snipes are dependent upon one another (in Gixen terms 'Grouped'), with this strategy of extending the auction end time, potentially by up to 12 minutes there's a possibility that another dependent auction needs to be bid on (or may even be won) before the auction that was due to complete first has actually finished.
There's therefore an increased possibility of winning more items than are intended by the grouping, I think Mario has also introduced (or is considering doing so) some measures to try to reduce that risk once more.
As has always been the case you should still enter the maximum amount you are willing to bid as your Gixen snipe value, and let the software decide when to enter bids and for what amount. As Mario says, it's hard to know for sure what strategy is best overall, and it may vary per auction, and so the strategy may continue to be developed over time... all views and opinions are welcome while Mario continues this development.
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2026 8:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks, Mark.
Just so I am clear on the eBay extension format, am I correct thinking that a bid placed during the final minute resets the clock to 60 seconds; with additional extensions of 60 secs continuing until bidding stops. So, theoretically an auction could extend continually until there is a 60 sec period with no bidding? If that's it, I can see it getting incredibly messy and expensive. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2026 9:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | a bid placed during the final minute resets the clock to 60 seconds; with additional extensions of 60 secs continuing until bidding stops. So, theoretically an auction could extend continually until there is a 60 sec period with no bidding? If that's it, I can see it getting incredibly messy and expensive. |
That's correct... currently Gixen will only extend 12 times before submitting the maximum bid... but potentially the auction could run much longer than that, and until the maximum submitted by Gixen is outbid there's not even any way to know whether your bid will eventually win, or not.
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2026 6:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Quote: | | a bid placed during the final minute resets the clock to 60 seconds; with additional extensions of 60 secs continuing until bidding stops. So, theoretically an auction could extend continually until there is a 60 sec period with no bidding? If that's it, I can see it getting incredibly messy and expensive. |
That's correct... currently Gixen will only extend 12 times before submitting the maximum bid... but potentially the auction could run much longer than that, and until the maximum submitted by Gixen is outbid there's not even any way to know whether your bid will eventually win, or not. |
Hmmmmm....this is indeed a three pipe problem. Possible solutions? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2026 2:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Possible solutions? |
I think it's going to be rare for auctions to extend beyond 12 extensions, but the data will continue to need to be monitored for some time yet before we will really get to know how this is going.
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cupid
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 8276
Location: Bristol, UK
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2026 8:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
Ideally, winning any auction in a standard Group should cancel all bidding on other items in that group, whether or not bids have already been placed on those other items and irrespective of whether they were originally scheduled to finish before or after the one that is won.
However, coordinating all that is non trivial and hence the risk of winning more auctions than are required cannot realistically be removed completely.
_________________
Mark |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Search
