Sometimes you know exactly what you want to pay for something. On eBay, however, much of the time prices are set by forces beyond your control—by other bidders that are competing to win the same item or by sellers whose prices may seem high to you.

Don't fret. Many eBay sellers are willing to entertain offers from eBay shoppers using a simple, convenient eBay tool, and naming your own price for an item can turn an "I think I'll pass" moment into a great deal. Read on to learn how to find haggle-friendly items and offer sellers a price that's reasonable to you.

See Also

     •  Find Hidden Deals
     •  Avoid Bidding Wars
     •  Post a Wanted Item Listing

eBay listings selling Michael Jackson memorabilia have surged in the days following the pop icon's death, with clearly authentic items being far outnumbered by items whose relation to Jackson is tenuous at best or whose authenticity can't easily be verified.

In hard numbers, listings mentioning Jackson were up from just a few hundred weekly to a few hundred thousand immediately after his passing, settling down to the better part of a hundred thousand over the last day or two.

Experts are warning buyers to be wary about listings that imply or make claims about direct links to the entertainer himself. More details at:

     • L.A. Weekly
     • The Los Angeles Times
     • The Vancouver Sun
     • The Baltimore Business Journal

With American Independence Day approaching, it's time for another round of weird auction fun. If you're a reader hailing from outside the states, please indulge us here as we break the good taste barrier.

Preparation

Start the holiday right on the 4th by donning your American flag tie, your flag hat, your flag boxers and/or flag bikini top. Of course, there's more to be decorated than just yourself—there's also the yard! So hang your flag windsock and cover your mailbox with your flag mailbox cover. Then, outline your windows and doors with red, white, and blue string lights. An inflatable Uncle Sam provides the finishing touch.

Festivities

With the mood set, you're ready for the evening's revelry to begin. Pick up your 3-D fireworks glasses and don't forget to begin twirling the requisite glow sticks. Pour yourself and your guests drinks in your flag tumblers and start barbecuing wearing your flag apron. Fill everyone's flag paper plates with food as the patriotic favorites music CD plays in the background.

Late Night

As the night settles down play war of independence chess or play card games using patriotic playing cards. Enjoy some Trivial Pursuit, All American Edition. When it's time to call it a night, make your announcement the American way, by playing Taps on your vintage bugle as the sun comes up behind your 25-foot flagpole and giant American flag.

Auction sniping is one of those time-tested controversies that affects people less than they think it does. Though there are countless auction sniping services around the web, most veteran eBayers either don't bother to use sniping services or use them only when they know who their bidding competition for an auction listing will be.

Just how is auction sniping supposed to work and why doesn't everyone on eBay do it all the time? Read on to learn more about the good, the bad, and the ugly of eBay auction sniping.

See Also

     •  Understanding eBay's Proxy Bidding
     •  What is Proxy Bidding?
     •  How are eBay auctions different?