The 3 Minute Auction and Minute Auction Explained

by Renee Matt

Am I the only person who doesn't know what a 3 minute auction is? Looking for fresh content for my site, I discover that "minute auction," or even a 5, 10 and 30 minute auction is a popular item. Some auction sites may refer to a minute auction as a "Live Bid." The "minute auction" or "3 minute auction" actually comes the closest to duplicating the excitement (and anxiety) of a real auction. No, it is not the same as an Ebay minute auction. I will give the example of Bidz.com. Bidz.com uses Flash technology to constantly update in real-time auction bids right before your very eyes! The price goes up, up, up and the time clicks away ... down, down, down!. Add flashing green highlights for added new bids and red flashing for the ominous approaching 0 minute and to say the least, it is quite thrilling. On the Bidz home page, there is a link that says 3-minute auctions. This is a separate category all by itself. If you click that link you are taken to the 3 minute auctions, usually consisting of jewelry. (Note: See end of article for "The 3 minute auction - too good to be true?") A word of caution: It takes a little finesse to bid at these fast-paced auctions - and I mean FAST! You must be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when bidding. The highest bid I came across on my visit was for $1500. My advice would be to practice on the dollar starting bids. Bids quickly escalate to $15 and $30. In the words of BidZ: "If you are bidding on items in the 3 Minute Auctions category, you will not be notified if you are outbid. These auctions move very quickly, so you have to monitor your winning bids very carefully." Back on the 3 minute auction page of BidZ, what do you see? >From left to right: the product picture, the item number, title, price, bids, and time left. The "bids" and the "time left" are where the auction action is at. But just as its nearing 0 minutes left, it jumps up to more time left - what gives? According to Bidz.com: "If the bid is placed during the last minute of an auction, the auction will be automatically extended for an additional 1 minute from the time of the latest bid. The auction will close once all bidding has stopped for a period of 1 minute." OK - I decide I am going to get in on this action. Registering is free (username must be a combo of numbers and letters). I have to click on the picture to go to the listing to actually bid according to Bidz.com directions below: 1) Simply use the "plus" and "minus" graphic keys to select the amount you would like to bid. The amount of the next bid is automatically one dollar more than the current bid. If you only want to place a one dollar bid, you can just click the Bid button without any adjustments. 2) Click the bid graphic button to register your bid. PROBLEM: I click the Bid! button and then find out I have to register my credit card in order to bid - but they didn't tell me that when I was registering (even though I quite expected it). Another problem I encounter is a sluggish modem. By the time I reach the listing page and the picture and bid button loads, the auction can be over (sigh...). Its not hard to become giddy over the amazing deals of a 3 minute auction...too good to be true? 3 minute auctions "typically offer expensive items, such as Cartier watches, Beanie Babies, computers, and cars at prices that are low enough to dull the scam alarm in most people." This was taken from an auction fraud article. The same article reports that the Federal Trade Commission has identified a scam email that includes "Live 3 minute auctions" in the subject line. See the details of the 3 minute auction scam at http://www.chiff.com/a/fSCAMauc.htm For a list of minute-auction websites, refer to: The 3 minute auction list at http://shmyl.com/dpzison My final words: The 3 minute auction and minute auction are the epitome of auction entertainment. So pop some popcorn, invite some friends over, and have yourself some Friday night auction fun! Renee Matt maintains AuctionTongue.com, a review site of auction tool, free auction templates, auction software, auction sniper and image hosting services. AT focuses on auction websites outside of Ebay. Sign up for their FREE Auction Freebies newsletter: http://www.auctiontongue.com/. renee@auctiontongue.com

eBay Auctions - How to Create a Compelling Title

by Ian Stables

(C) 2005 Ian Stables Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the by-line, copyright, and the resource box below is included. This is an excerpt from the ebook "The 37 Effective Ebay Ad Writing Secrets" Secret 7 How to Easily Create a Compelling Auction Title Very effective! Think for a moment the questions that you would like answered. I bet you're really interested anytime you see anything offering the answer. Imagine your question is 'Is there an easier way to get to work?'. You might express it as 'I wish there was an easier way to get to work'. But it means the same thing. You see a headline that says 'New Easy Way To Get To (where you work)'. Would you be curious? Of course you would. So it makes sense to ask yourself what questions your target customer has which you can provide the answer. Then construct your headline as the answer. Examples: Customers question 'What can I buy for my wife's birthday present?' Your item A quality ladies wristwatch Your headline 'Just What The Lady Wants - Quality Wrist Watch' Customers question 'How can I study less and still remember?' Your item A new way to study faster and remember everything Your headline 'New Way - Study Faster and Remember Everything' Customers question 'What can I sell on Ebay?' Your item A guide on what to buy and where to find these items at car boot sales Your headline 'What To Buy and Where To Find Saleable Ebay Items' Customers question 'I'd write and sell ebooks but don't know how' Your item A simple way to write an ebook Your headline 'The Easy Way To Write A Saleable Ebook' Peoples questions often begin with How, Which, Who, Where, When, What and Why. About the Author Ian Stables is the author of "The 37 eBay Ad Writing Secrets" - How to easily COMPEL people to buy your stuff on eBay. To see contents visit http://ebayadsecrets.tripod.com/ For sale as an ebook.

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