Definition: Also commonly known as a bidding "war," a bidding frenzy is a group of bids placed in rapid succession by potential buyers of an item who are bidding at least in part because of the bids of competing buyers. Often associated with so-called auction mentality, bidding frenzies are every seller's dream, since they usually result in a large number of bids and a very high selling price, and they often lead to buyer's remorse, since they often cause buyers to pay more for an item than they otherwise might have.
Bidding frenzies on eBay, when they occur, are common only in the last five to ten minutes of an auction listing, when 50-75 percent of bids are typically placed. Unlike some other sites, eBay uses no icon or label to indicate that an item is undergoing a bidding frenzy, a lack that some sellers say misses an opportunity to maximize sale prices.
