A lot of auctions on eBay get hundreds of bids, but there are tons of auctions that go much more slowly, getting only a few bids or even none at all. Auctions are generally much slower during the summer than in the winter and some even say sales on eBay are slowing each year, as more sellers than buyers sign up. There are a number of ways you can take advantage of slower auctions and get the goods at a bargain price. Below are a few ideas for you.



Wait to Bid.

If you jump in and bid right away then others will see your interest and that might make them interested too. Leaving the auction alone for as long as you can will make it look less popular and keep the price down. Then you can swoop in at the last minute and get a bargain.

Make an Offer.

If an item is being sold using 'Buy it Now' and it hasn't sold when the auction is near its end, use eBay's 'Best Offer' service to make the seller an offer. There's a good chance the seller listed the item more than once already and the seller might be primed to wheel and deal in the face of having to list the item again. The seller just might accept your offer just to get rid of the thing.

Be Snobbish.

Send the seller emails asking questions about the condition of the item. Make it clear that you are a discerning buyer and will only accept items of the highest quality. This might make them feel better about selling you their item for less.

Buy in Bulk.

When auctions are slow, many sellers will end up having the same stock for a long period of time. If you offer to take ten of their items off their hands all at once then you will have a lot of flexibility in the amount you will pay per item. You'll have a good chance that the seller will jump at the opportunity and give you a good deal. If you come back again and buy another ten items then they'll love you even more.

Don't Feel Guilty.

There really are a ton of sellers on eBay now, to the point where you can often get common items at very low prices. In the long-term, this will probably force sellers out of business, but that's the way a market works - it's supply and demand.