One doesn't have to use Ebay more than a few times, to realise there is no point in bidding until the last 10-20 seconds before the auction expires.
The novices bid hours or days before, draw attention to themselves, and merely drive the price up.
To sell on Ebay, you have to give credit card and bank account details, and they verify them. This didn't apply to people who joined in the early days, though.