Surprising Response on Gunbroker

[Setter Man]

I usually wait until the last hour, bid what I'm willing to pay, and see what happens. Sometimes you may over pay by a couple hundred bucks but you set a limit for your self and live with it.

I don't like the 15-munite rule, but it serves a purpose. A few years ago I was very interested in an early 28 ga 1100. I set a limit and watched. There were at least two bidders who were determined and the auction dragged on for another 2-hours after it was supposed to close. When the hammer fell the price was just under $2k.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

If it's a gun that I'd like to have but I'm not all that worked up over I may bid the highest amount I'm comfortable with, and leave it at that. That way I don't have to be "there" when the gavel is about to drop, to sneak in another bid. Downside is you may leave some money laying on the table. Upside is you don't have to raise bids over and over.

I've won a few nice guns that way, and actually never felt like I overpaid for any of them, because I was careful what I figured my top dollar to be. I'm a big fan of silent auctions. They go a long way towards eliminating emotion from the bidding, IMO.

I did this on a little Spanish 16 that ended on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve (I forget). I placed my $750 bid and forgot all about it. I won it (surprise) then listed it and got almost double my money, starting my bid at like a buck, no reserve. Usually I specialize in losing money so this was an outlier.

[Craig Larter]

I know myself and rarely bid live because I have little self restraint in a competitive bidding situation. I leave a absentee bid at my best number and hope for the best. If the gun or vintage decoy is a must have (rarely)I will telephone bid and keep going until I'm successful.

[Jay Oliver]

I usually have two categories of what I bid on:

1. At that price I will take it
2. I really want it and I am going to bid to win

Trying to do a lot less of the first one these days.

In the second category, I place a decent bid and then often slowly increase it during the week/duration of the auction as I realize I really want it...

[ArtS]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

If it's a gun that I'd like to have but I'm not all that worked up over I may bid the highest amount I'm comfortable with, and leave it at that. That way I don't have to be "there" when the gavel is about to drop, to sneak in another bid. Downside is you may leave some money laying on the table. Upside is you don't have to raise bids over and over.

I've won a few nice guns that way, and actually never felt like I overpaid for any of them, because I was careful what I figured my top dollar to be. I'm a big fan of silent auctions. They go a long way towards eliminating emotion from the bidding, IMO.

That is pretty much my approach. The statement you make which is not correct is that you may leave money on the table. If you make a bid that is your maximum, you always pay only what the number 2 bidder is willing to pay plus the minimum bid increment. You are only commited to the max amount if it is necessary to overbid other bidders. The techniquw actually minimizes the amount you have to pay. I usually place my bid 30 minutes or so before the end so that I don't cause a lot of early bidding.

[Mike Franzen]

A Parker 20 ga VHE is a desirable gun. Due to the Parker Mystique many will overlook the warts and inconsistencies and hold in their minds the picture of themselves owning such a prize. Chances are if their buddies even know what a Parker is they won’t know a good one from a bad. Or even care - because it’s a Parker! I try to avoid auctions unless there is a buy it now option. My self restraint is too easily overcome.