High Auction Bids

[Stevemal]

I am very new to the auctions and am over at cigarauctioneer.com, but is it common to see so many ppl bid at or above what you can buy items at normal price? I have seen quite a few ppl over bid for so many items! I read Aces post about how he saved $100 on his purchase and that is quite a savings!! I wouldn't expect to pick up a deal like that all the time, but I thought you go on auction to try and get a deal, not pay at or above what Famous sells them for, plus shipping is free if you spend over $99, so I can't see that as the reason for over bidding. What are your experiences, is it just a case of not knowing prices?


Steve

[Cycleman]

It is,,,,

Or they might pay a couple extra bucks over to save some shipping on bundled weekly orders.

Or.... the other sites might be out-of-stock,,,,, so some bight bid over if they want them that bad......

But mostly you are correct. They just don't know and it's all emotion for them. Not to smart, hu!??!?!

I did it one time. 8 pack of tubs Boli's..... paid 30.... forgetting they 28 at CI

[Acesfull]

Im kind of the opposite, the only time I buy is if I cant get a good deal on an auction or if they arent ever on Cbid.

[slowburning]

Bids are quiet high lately at CBid. As a matter of fact, it's been on the rise for about a year now, if not more.

But, if you are patient enough, you can score some good deals.

[fishr]

I always get better deals during winter on CBID. The cold weather deters some from smoking as much (except for our hommies in Florida). So, wait until Jan and Feb, then stock up. Bids in general are getting higher though.

[JAX]

Originally Posted by slowburning

But, if you are patient enough, you can score some good deals.

This is the best advice one can give with regards to Cbid. Patience. The inventory is constantly being re-auctioned so very rarely will you come across a "once in a lifetime" lot.

[Acesfull]

Originally Posted by slowburning

But, if you are patient enough, you can score some good deals.

DEFINATELY! Yesterday was a good example of this. I've been dying for a box of RP Cuban Blend and finally, yesterday they ran a buy one, get one free special on these. So since I split with my bro I am getting a box half price!

[randomhero1090]

Here is how I approach buying on cigarbid.com......

1) Keep track of recent sale prices - For example, CI has a 5 pack special on Gurkhas a couple weeks back. A huge variety of 5 packs, needed to buy 2, for $17.50 per 5 pack. I won't bid higher than that for a 5 pack that was of that sale. Normal school of thought, I bid anywhere between 30-50% off the retail price.

2) Watch auctions to get ending prices. Makes it easy to figure out what you should bid.

3) Start scanning the opening lots at 9:30am EST - The best time to bid is 1st. That way, you will ALWAYS have the lowest winning bid. Quickies are great. They all kick off at 10am and ALWAYS have great cigars. Mostly 5 packs.

4) DON'T overpay for ultra-premium cigars. Yes, the Ashtons, Cohiba, AFs, etc etc etc are not as bountiful as the Sol Cubanos on cBid. But there will always be more listings. Be patient. For example, Don Pepins are ususally very expensive on cBid, but I was patient and scored 2 - 5 packs of blue labels for under $20 each.

5) Use weekly shipping and set a budget. Weekly shipping is SO much cheaper. Once I decide to start bidding, i'll set a total budget of what I want to spend. So the MAX bid for all auctions I am involved in will never be over that number. $100 is usually that number (not counting shipping and tax).

Thats how I have been doing it, and I think I am doing very well. My recent score highlights....

Padilla Achilles Robusto 5 Pack - $11
Camacho 1962 Perfecto 2 - 5 Packs - $11 each
Perdomo ESV '91 Regente 5 Pack - $17
601 Serie Red Habano Robusto 5 singles for $3 per stick

[Acesfull]

Originally Posted by randomhero1090

Here is how I approach buying on cigarbid.com......
3) Start scanning the opening lots at 9:30am EST - The best time to bid is 1st. That way, you will ALWAYS have the lowest winning bid. Quickies are great. They all kick off at 10am and ALWAYS have great cigars. Mostly 5 packs.

I only agree with this if there is multiple lots. Like the specials they have on there. I get most of my great deals sniping at the end. Did this with my I-press, my Camachos, my Visions..... Or if you are trying to lowball and get lucky, which does happen.

Also be aware of other people trying to snipe. I saw this last night when I was about to pick up a box of Camacho 10th Robustos. Was hoping to get them at under $100 but two guys started trying to outbid each other at the end.

[randomhero1090]

Originally Posted by Acesfull

I only agree with this if there is multiple lots. Like the specials they have on there. I get most of my great deals sniping at the end. Did this with my I-press, my Camachos, my Visions..... Or if you are trying to lowball and get lucky, which does happen.

Also be aware of other people trying to snipe. I saw this last night when I was about to pick up a box of Camacho 10th Robustos. Was hoping to get them at under $100 but two guys started trying to outbid each other at the end.

I agree with you. Whenever I try sniping something, I always get outbid. The problem is increment....

Let say you try to snipe and you get the high bid at $19. If you get topped, the winning bid goes to $22. You then need to go to $25 to win, a $6 jump.

When you are in 1st and sitting at $19 with a MAX bid of $22, the ONLY way you get outbid is if the bidder goes to $25, so only a $3 jump.

Hope you follow my reasoning.... Both ways work. Do your homework, be patient, and you will score good deals...

[Acesfull]

I see where you are coming from but thats why I agreed your method works best on auctions wih 5+ lots. But when I snipe I find something that is already lowballed and I snipe that. So I get $160 boxes for $60. Like those 5 Vegas Miamis or $200 boxes for $88 like the Camacho Corojo Limited. Now if I had bid early someone would have just outbid me. I've tried it both ways and unless there were several lots I always ended up being outbid.

But yeah its all about picking your lots and being smart.

[randomhero1090]

True true. I also make sure auctions end on days that I know I have access to my computer, IN CASE I get outbid So if you are gonna snipe, make sure you can be on the computer at 11pm

I think its easier to snipe on boxes and bigger purchases as well. I buy lots of 5 packs and singles (GREAT deals on singles if you get in early).

Some of the ultra-super-dooper-premium stuff is better off sniped too.

BTW, always looking at initials and locations so I don't get in bidding wars with fellow CR peeps

[Acesfull]

yeah I dont go for singles ever on there unless its something rare I want to try like a God of Fire. 5'ers maybe, depends but I'm at the point where I know what I like so I just buy boxes now to save money.

[Stevemal]

I am not over at Cbid, I am at cigar auctioneer, but they work the same I am sure. I never really look at MSRP, I look at what price I can buy that item outright, either at Famous or my B&M. I ended up not doing that bad, picked up a box of Edge Maddys for $74, they retail at $95 at Famous. But I bid on a box of CAO MX2's and the person that out bid me bid so that someone would have to bid more than what you would pay outright, I also got out bid for a box of Perdomo 2nds, that person paid more than what you would pay for them from Famous. I must have just run into ppl that either really wanted those or didn't know the prices. I am not going to pay more for an item on auction than buying it outright. I was looking at some other items and noticed that bids were really high and not really much of a deal at all. I just wondered what everyone's experiences were. Oh I also picked up a 5 pack of RP Maddy 2nds for &10, so all in all didn't do so bad.


Steve