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Bidding sites - bidrivals?

I want to join a bidding site called: bidrivals, but you have to buy credits upfront to bid.
However, the items sell much lower than any where else including ebay.

Anyone used this site or could you recommend one please.
Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.....


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Comments

  • blue_haddock
    blue_haddock Posts: 12,110 Forumite
    Its a scam just like madbid

    Anywhere you have to buy bids to get 'massive discounted items' is always going to be dodgy.
  • jdp1970
    jdp1970 Posts: 143 Forumite
    Thank you for your reply!
    I am so glad I didnt join up then....
    Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.....


  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    edited 20 October 2011 at 8:19AM
    they're not scams just clever auctions.

    Basically you buy your bids and then bid in small increments so the seller makes their money from the cost of each bid. The item then ends for a fraction of the cost and you pay that, so your total cost is bid cost * number of bids + final price.
    So if the bid cost is 10p each and the price goes up by 1p on each bid, a £500 finishing price would have had 50,000 bids at 10p. 50,000 bids at £0.10 = £5000 + the £500 final price means the seller for £5500 for an item that sold for £500.


    If you don't win then you've paid for however many bids you made and get nothing, if you do win then you've potentially got a really good bargain.

    If it was a scam you'd be being conned out of your money, seeing as you're not conned out of your money and get the goods if you win.... it's not a scam.
  • jdp1970
    jdp1970 Posts: 143 Forumite
    they're not scams just clever auctions.

    Basically you buy your bids and then bid in small increments so the seller makes their money from the cost of each bid. The item then ends for a fraction of the cost and you pay that, so your total cost is bid cost * number of bids + final price.
    So if the bid cost is 10p each and the price goes up by 1p on each bid, a £500 finishing price would have had 50,000 bids at 10p. 50,000 bids at £0.10 = £5000 + the £500 final price means the seller for £5500 for an item that sold for £500.


    If you don't win then you've paid for however many bids you made and get nothing, if you do win then you've potentially got a really good bargain.

    If it was a scam you'd be being conned out of your money, seeing as you're not conned out of your money and get the goods if you win.... it's not a scam.

    So do you use it yourself? Cos it does look really good!
    Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.....


  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    i don't because i don't have the patience to learn how to do it properly and snipe to get a good deal, so i'd end up just wasting money on bids.
    Although i did work with somebody who had a fair bit of success on Madbid, no major wins such as cars and high value goods, but things like Ps3's for £25 etc.
  • jdp1970
    jdp1970 Posts: 143 Forumite
    I am the same to be honest - no patience!
    Getting worse as i get older too!!

    If it don't make sense in 5 mins...I'm off!
    Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.....


  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    haha, it has to be age related because that's exactly how i am.
  • jdp1970
    jdp1970 Posts: 143 Forumite
    Hellooo again..i keep seeing you on different forums!!

    I think it is age related! LOL!
    Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.....


  • RHemmings
    RHemmings Posts: 4,469 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I personally don't like sites where there is no real motivation for them to get sales. I.e. if they earn money from bidding even if the item doesn't sell.

    And if an item worth £500 is selling for £5500, then no matter how cheap the actual winning bid price, there are a lot of people losing money.

    Not the site for me.

    I wonder if Martin has developed the MSE brand sufficiently that he could start MSE auctions, and get an acceptable buyer/seller ratio for it to actually work.
  • jdp1970
    jdp1970 Posts: 143 Forumite
    RHemmings wrote: »
    I personally don't like sites where there is no real motivation for them to get sales. I.e. if they earn money from bidding even if the item doesn't sell.

    And if an item worth £500 is selling for £5500, then no matter how cheap the actual winning bid price, there are a lot of people losing money.

    Not the site for me.

    I wonder if Martin has developed the MSE brand sufficiently that he could start MSE auctions, and get an acceptable buyer/seller ratio for it to actually work.

    Yeah i was kinda thinking along the same lines....(referring to your first 2 paragraphs).

    What you said about Martin :money:developing an auction site that has a fairer ratio, is a good idea!
    Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.....


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