“So if you know the place and time of battle, you can join the fight from a thousand miles away. If you do not know the place and time of battle, then your left flank cannot save your right, your right cannot save your left, your vanguard cannot save your rearguard, and your rearguard cannot save your vanguard, even in a short range of a few to a few dozen miles.”- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Powerbidders are bidders on DealDash.com who take their time and bids to “go all in” with full intent on winning, regardless of the cost or time involved.
Crazy? Smart? Obsessed?
Well, maybe you’re a powerbidder, or you have already seen these ruthless users “claim” items, and spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of bids to win any particular item.
Powerbidder Strategy #1 – Stamping
Powerbidders will sometimes “stamp” an auction to show their interest in winning, then when the auction starts will always be sure to to get a bid in either as soon as an opponent places a bid after them, or towards the very last few seconds (0-3 seconds).
Powerbidder Strategy #2 – Consistency
Powerbidders will be consistent with their bidding habits in an effort to “make a name” for themselves on DealDash. They may not always be consistent with the time in which they bid, but they will do whatever they think it takes to the winner and to be the name that consistently shows up on as many of the ended auctions as possible until they reach their win limits each week.
Win Limits on DealDash
Remember, all bidders can only win a total of 6 items valued at under $200 and 3 items priced over $200 in a week period (win limits are reset each Saturday). Win limits help to make all auctions fair to allow more bidders a chance to win an auction and actually get a deal.
Strategy #3 – Niche Powerbidders
Some powerbidders will always win the same auctions, or same type of auctions. For instance, a particular powerbidder might always bid on just laptops. Of course, these items Once, on a penny auction site that is no longer in business, I’ve seen bidders with names like “IBuyLaptop,” I notice that this bidder would always bid on laptop items and they would always win no matter how much money they had to spend.
Powerbidder Strategy #4 – Intimidating Usernames
Powerbidders tactfully choose their usernames. These powerbidders will pick names that will either 1.) State that they will win, or 2.) Intimidate. Like how “IBuyLaptop’s” combination of always winning the laptops he or she set out to bid on, combined with a username that states intention of winning, could be intimidating to other bidders. Choosy-username powerbidders try to instill fear in other bidders and send a message across that they are not to be confronted. They show, and tell that they bid until they win – “Bidtowin” – no exceptions.
Buy it Now Doesn’t Even Matter to Some Powerbidders
The powerbidder’s strategy is one that is very psychological in nature and some powerbidders won’t even elect to use “buy it now” well after they’ve spent the value of an item. Being the bidder whose name is consistently on the bidding screen, and consistently on the DealDash winner auction history pages, has much more long-term value.
Powerbidder Strategy #5 – Ruthless Reputation
The powerbidder strategy has a lot to do with “reputation.” The longer a powerbidder bids and stays in the auction, the more bidders will watch and remember their consistent win pattern. Their reputation is one that says “I mean business,” and, “I will win at all costs.”
You won’t be able to recognize these ruthless bidders unless you really pay attention and check up on auctions. Watch before you bid, and every so often check out the winner’s page, be sure to do this on a fairly regular basis.
Check back here tomorrow to read part 2!