NationStates Jolt Archive

I've never bought anything on eBay before, I generally don't have that kind of disposable income. Hell, I bought my first thing from Amazon not too long ago, and that's only because the local bookstores and record stores wheren't able to help me.

In this case, flea markets and thrift stores might be of help, but the best place to find what I need is eBay, and it's giving me the freaks.

I'm trying to buy a Super 8mm movie camera. I've been seduced by the allure of Pro8mm filming. (that obnoxious "Crazytown" truth ad was shot on Pro8mm). I want the camera in my hot little hands before the Monterey Historics, but I don't know that I'm going to pull it off.

Here's where I'm having a fit-

I bid on one camera and the proxy bids went up to $180 where I decided that the camera was going to go for more than I cared to spend. So I left that auction with the losing bid. I found a Canon that looked good, I found a sound version of it selling for $600 and I'm getting it for way less. I'm the sole and winning bidder on that, I have my proxy set to the limit of what I would spend on it.

But then I got an e-mail saying things had changed on the fancy camera and that I was now the leading bidder with my initial bid. I'm now winning on both cameras. I don't want two cameras I don't think.

Add to the mix: Two other cameras in the same range that I think I want more than either of the ones I'm winning on. One has a great modification on it that I would want and would cost about as much as the camera is going for now, and the other just I think has more functions but hasn't been tested. But then Canon doesn't seem like the guy did a very good test (he has two cameras listed, both with the same discription including 'light meter not working."

So obviously you can cancel bids because someone did, but I haven't figured out how. Do I bail on the ones I have now and then bid on the others? Do I try and use something like eBay snipe, do you bid on several things until you get one, or, how do you go about getting things on eBay?

Lay it on me you veteran eBayers, what should I know?

I'm no expert, but if you have the cash on hand keep your bids in on all of them and sell the ones you don't decide to keep back, hopefully for around the same price or even at a slight profit.

and here I thought someone was using eBay to auction off their virginity

and here I thought someone was using eBay to auction off their virginity

I know! I was dissapointed too!

Hmmm, do you think anyone would want my virginity? :p

I'm no expert, but if you have the cash on hand keep your bids in on all of them and sell the ones you don't decide to keep back, hopefully for around the same price or even at a slight profit.
Yep, that's definitely the fall-back option. Also, chances are that bids will still go higher and you won't be the winner after all, even if they only might go up a couple minutes before the auction ends.

As for cancelling a bid, you obviously can, but I've never done it, so I don't know how.Try and fight your way through the eBay rules/FAQ thicket. Which sucks, but hey - it's gonna be worth a few hundred dollars, right?

And you really should rethink your approach, because cancelling bids isn't looked upon too favourably (it's also displayed in your profile, or at least it used to be). It'll be fine for now, but not as a consistent bidding style. ;)


I've only very rarely had to buy stuff I didn't really want anymore, either because nobody went higher than my bid in the first place or because someone cancelled their bid (and I noticed only after the auction was over).
However, I *very* rarely bid on anything well before the auction runs out. All that does is raise the price for myself. Of course, that necessitates that you're around when the auction ends. Basically, I'm my own sniper program, making slightly more informed decisions. ;) So, basically, if you can stay sober long enough :p, I'd propose that you make up your mind about which camera you want (!) and keep an eye on your choice(s). Chances are that some will be eliminated because the bids are go high for your tastes. And make sure you don't sleep through the end of the auction. That's kinda, well, imperative.

Oh, and I've never used a sniper program.
And when I want to get a specific item for a specific price, I'll totally keep looking for & bidding on auctions for several weeks. Did that with my cell phone recently until I finally got the winning bid at a really low price.

I know! I was dissapointed too!

Hmmm, do you think anyone would want my virginity? :p

I've give ya thirty cents for it

Ah, you guys are killin' me...

Right now I'm only tops in two, and one I had already abandoned. But I kinda want the widescreen one...dammit. And it's priced between the two. But it has 12 bids on it. I think folks are watching it.

I hate big purchases, they give me the willies.

Ah, you guys are killin' me...

Right now I'm only tops in two, and one I had already abandoned. But I kinda want the widescreen one...dammit. And it's priced between the two. But it has 12 bids on it. I think folks are watching it.

I hate big purchases, they give me the willies.
I knew what you were talking about, i just can't help.
I say bid on them all but end up chasing the one going for the least amount.
What times do the auctions close?

That'll help.

Advice: only bid in the last couple of minutes of the auction. You avoid stuff like that and it keeps the price lower.

Advice: only bid in the last couple of minutes of the auction. You avoid stuff like that and it keeps the price lower.
Yep that makes sense, that is why people watch.

Advice: only bid in the last couple of minutes of the auction. You avoid stuff like that and it keeps the price lower.
quiet you :)

You might be lucky (or unlucky) and lose both auctions. You never know!

I'm bone. The only way to retract a bid is twelve hours before bidding ends.

The only way out for me is if I get out bid at the last second. Go me being out bid at the last second.

I'm bone. The only way to retract a bid is twelve hours before bidding ends.

The only way out for me is if I get out bid at the last second. Go me being out bid at the last second.

As they say in eBAY, Caveat Emptor :p

Well, now I'm the reluctant owner of a Braun Nizo 801 camera with 1khz pulse tone for sound synchronization and a 7mm-80mm zoom with manual exposure control as well as shutter for effects that I can film in 18, 24, 58 and single frame with. For more than I really wanted to pay. For more than I would have paid for the widescreen camera. And it has to come from Germany to California. I sprung for Air shipping because I'm already screwed anyway, why wait for a boat to give me the reach around of at least having the camera. Though I clicked through things a bit fast and ended up giving the address I had at school. I sent the dude an e-mail to tell him the right adress, but with my luck...

And I'll probably own the ^*&*(#$&# Canon as well.

Maybe one of them will arrive before the historics and I'll get paid from some of the work I've done to have film to make that matter.

Advice: only bid in the last couple of minutes of the auction. You avoid stuff like that and it keeps the price lower.
Ugh, how I hate it when somebody else says in so many less words what I cumbersomely said before. *hates* :p


Well, now I'm the reluctant owner of a Braun Nizo 801 camera with 1khz pulse tone for sound synchronization and a 7mm-80mm zoom with manual exposure control as well as shutter for effects that I can film in 18, 24, 58 and single frame with. For more than I really wanted to pay. For more than I would have paid for the widescreen camera. And it has to come from Germany to California. I sprung for Air shipping because I'm already screwed anyway, why wait for a boat to give me the reach around of at least having the camera. Though I clicked through things a bit fast and ended up giving the address I had at school. I sent the dude an e-mail to tell him the right adress, but with my luck...

And I'll probably own the ^*&*(#$&# Canon as well.

Maybe one of them will arrive before the historics and I'll get paid from some of the work I've done to have film to make that matter. Argh. What does he charge you for shipping? And do you know how much the camera weighs?

ETA: oh, and don't worry about the address. It's Sunday, it's not like he can run out and post it right now (as if he would).

Ugh, how I hate it when somebody else says in so many less words what I cumbersomely said before. *hates* :p


Argh. What does he charge you for shipping? And do you know how much the camera weighs?

ETA: oh, and don't worry about the address. It's Sunday, it's not like he can run out and post it right now (as if he would).
@60 bones. And I don't know how much it weighs. I guess I could look it up, but I'm staring down the second camera now...this one comes from Houston and may or may not have a working light meter.

@60 bones. And I don't know how much it weighs. I guess I could look it up, but I'm staring down the second camera now...this one comes from Houston and may or may not have a working light meter.
Can you email me the auction link (for the german one)?

Can you email me the auction link (for the german one)?
I'll give that whirl, give me a sec.

EDIT: Done and done.

Oh, and "bones" would be dollars, I presume, not euros?

Oh, and "bones" would be dollars, I presume, not euros?
Yeah, dollars. Bucks, sawbacks, bills, duckits, what have you.

I hate big purchases, they give me the willies.

Don't ever buy a house or car then. :D

eBay VirginAy Chihuahua !!!!

Male or Female? :D

Don't ever buy a house or car then. :D
With what I do for a living a house I don't think will ever be an issue. With the car, I love the search-finally a legitimate excuse to look through want ads. And test drive peoples cars. Some are so desperate to sell that they let me go to far with my test drive. Izusu Impulses are suprisingly nimble. The engine is too quiet to fill the ackward silence as the owner tries to convince himself that I just didn't lift the inside rear tire off the ground while whipping around the mall parking lot.

But the actual decision then becomes not so much yes to the VW Bus that you where test driving on a lark, but no to all the other cars that where potentially yours for the last couple of weeks.

And that's both of them. Dammit. Now I own 2 super 8mm cameras. Worse even, they used sniper programs for last second bids but didn't beat my proxy that I coulcn't reset, so it cost over half again as much as I was already doomed to. And I didn't get the day gig today that would have covered this blunder so I can still get the miniDV mule or film for these bastards. Crap.

And that's both of them. Dammit. Now I own 2 super 8mm cameras. Worse even, they used sniper programs for last second bids but didn't beat my proxy that I coulcn't reset, so it cost over half again as much as I was already doomed to. And I didn't get the day gig today that would have covered this blunder so I can still get the miniDV mule or film for these bastards. Crap.
Awwww, noes. :(
Silly Cannot think of a name, bidding on them all at once. And why did you set your limit higher than what you wanted to pay? Oh, alright, I'll stop now. Here, have a heartfelt pity fluffle: :fluffle:

Awwww, noes. :(
Silly Cannot think of a name, bidding on them all at once. And why did you set your limit higher than what you wanted to pay? Oh, alright, I'll stop now. Here, have a heartfelt pity fluffle: :fluffle:
I didn't want to, I just thought that once you where beat in a bid that was that, I didn't know that someone could bail and make your bid valid all of a sudden. And I really wanted the widescreen one. Bah. Maybe I can re-sell the Canon and use that to modify the Nizo...maybe.

I didn't want to, I just thought that once you where beat in a bid that was that, I didn't know that someone could bail and make your bid valid all of a sudden. And I really wanted the widescreen one. Bah. Maybe I can re-sell the Canon and use that to modify the Nizo...maybe.
I know. *pats*

I know. *pats*
Bah, bah I say! I'm going to go to sleep and maybe dream of a way to pay for this folly....

Bah, bah I say! I'm going to go to sleep and maybe dream of a way to pay for this folly....
It's 11:30am o.O. Don't tell me you've been up all night?

It's 11:30am o.O. Don't tell me you've been up all night?
Alright, I won't tell you that...but it's totally true...