I just drove the price up another $5 dollars on another fig tree that I then didn't win (again) on eBay.

The other day I was bidding on one that has the same name as my wife, Deanna, and after driving the price up on that one... I didn't go high enough. Or someone else went too high if you want to look at it that way.

I guess someone really really wanted the Marsiels vs Black that I was bidding on too. The bid was stuck at one dollar higher than my previous maximum bid, so I waited till the last 10 seconds of the auction and increased by old maximum by five more dollars. The opponent must have had an even higher maximum bid, because it came back that I had been outbid by a dollar, and then the auction was over.

Oh well. I am sure I will get lucky other auctions. I did pretty well on a Nazarti and a Lindhurst White recently so I really can't complain seriously.

Fig collecting can be exciting!

ebay is all about buyers and sellers. i don't begrudge any vendor what they wind up getting on ebay... that's if they are truthful and deliver what they claim.

none of these guys are getting rich. it's only about making a few bucks to offset their hobby costs :).

I never said that I begrudge anyone. I am glad the sellers got what they got, and wish they could have got even more. I can only afford to spend so much, so I didn't win.

I am happy that the seller got more than if I hadn't bid on the items. In both of the auctions I just missed, it was by the next bid increment allowed by eBay. I was kinda bragging while I was complaining, bragging about being the one who got the price up to what it sold for, complaining about not winning.

No one else pushed the recent price up from $38.77 to $43.03. I did it in the last 10 seconds of the Auction, and I am glad the seller got that price. I am sorry I couldn't afford more at this time, but I am sure it will all work out fine.

Next eBay fig tree auction I win, probably another forum member will make me pay more than if there was no competition, and they will then be able to brag/complain too.

Have you considered to see if James Robin Jr has what your looking for?  He is only $15-$20 a tree and is going to start shipping soon.  You will be able to find his contact information on GW or here.  Just search for his name and, please, read the post you find his contact info on.  It will give you some insight of him and his wife.
-Bill

better call james robin quick. talked to him today, and he's selling out of everything he's got. he cracks me up. i love this guy :).

What I don't understand about ebay is why anyone bothers to bid on anything before the last couple seconds? It's great for the buyer, but I don't understand it from the bidders point of view. I don't mind paying a high price for a tree that I want (if my wife knew what I have spent on fig trees in the last month I think she would actually kill me), but I never bid before there is about 3 seconds left. 

jsvand,

I agree, the worst buying strategy is to bid during the auction. Waiting till the end is better, that being said, I have had a few tricks up my sleeve!

I agree with Martin, ebay is agreat place to get unusual or rare stuff that you could not otherwise find and if you want a thing bad enough, bid high!! LOL Just don't tell the wife!!! A good deal of my figs came to me through ebay sales. There is another thread on this site which identifies the good guys selling who are members of this forum and one to stay away from. My experience matches that assesment. Bidding at the last second, or what was called sniping in earlier times on ebay is pretty much a common practice. If I am not able to be online to "protect" my bid and bid higher at the last second I usually don't win. On the other hand, as Martin has pointed out, if you bid very high for a must have item, you should get it, of course at a higher price than the wife would ever approve of!!  (sorry ladies)   

I live in the back woods and I am lucky that I have 28.8 dial-up, so e-bay is a losing proposition for me. Most items I have won were buy now. Yes, and I have placed high max bids and lost.

Jstall,
you write, yes i have placed high max bids and lost.
I know darn it but it happens all the time, someone else was willing to pay more with a higher high bid.
I tell ya there was one fishing pole from the 1960s i wanted and i was the one willing to pay more in that case, my high max bid 200.00 i won the auction at 68.00 , i would have paid the 200.00 and never looked back because i wanted it that bad.  Yes i sneaked in last 5 seconds all loaded and computer luckily did not freeze . Now we have 2 computers one a gaming computer with a Intel Quad processor , funny thing i like this old machine cause i do not lilke the windows version on the other. But the misses loves it she is the gamer on these machines   ; )

btw there are programs that will bid for you automatically.

My favorite is http://www.jbidwatcher.com/
I normally set it to bid 4 seconds before the end of an auction.