When I am outbid I get a chance to see the bid history. If the person outbidding me does lots of business hereabouts then he is probably a dealer who will drop when the profit becomes too thin.
Also, I once was outbid by a fellow who had terrible feedback. I emailed the seller and told him that my last bid was 'firm' and invited him to contact me if he felt like it.
Needless to say, I got a short Email from the seller a few days later saying, if my offer was still good, we had a deal. I don't know what happened, I just think that the winner turned out to be another jerk and my own positive feedback worked in my favor.
Also, I once was outbid by a fellow who had terrible feedback. I emailed the seller and told him that my last bid was 'firm' and invited him to contact me if he felt like it.
Needless to say, I got a short Email from the seller a few days later saying, if my offer was still good, we had a deal. I don't know what happened, I just think that the winner turned out to be another jerk and my own positive feedback worked in my favor.