Penny auctions are great places to save big on new and brand name merchandise from popular retailers.  But to score even more of a deal, follow these tips to snag better buys.

Free bids for new users

If you are new to the penny auction world or ready to try a different site, lots of auction sites are offering free bids to new users.  This is a great way to test out sites or get some variety while accumulating free bids to use on your auctions.

Buy bidpacks in bulk

Bidpacks are bids that you can buy from each penny auction site in a pack.  Pack amounts vary from site to site.  Some can be 100 bids in a pack, some 1000.  Usually, bids can cost $.60 – $.80 a bid, but most online auction sites offer bulk discounts for their bidpacks.  So the larger the bidpack, the more you save per bid.  This makes financial sense if you plan on playing a lot on a certain site or you are bidding on a higher valued item.

Determine your favorite sites off-peak period

Do the research to find out when your favorite site has less traffic and decreased competition.  By studying patterns, you can determine when to insert yourself into the game.  With less intense competition, the final bids will likely be lower and the chances of scoring a great deal are best.

Follow your favorite auction site

Following your preferred penny auction sites on Twitter or Facebook can pay off with free bids or special incentives.  This can also alert you to the latest contests or exclusive prizes so you can get the greatest buys on the best stuff.

Join a loyalty program

Happybidday.com offers a loyalty program that scores users free bids on their birthdays and bids for logging into their site each day.  These points for loyal users can add up to a great deal of free bids to be used on future auctions.

Use discount codes

Many auction sites provide discount codes to further lower your bid purchase.  Always look on your favorite auction sites’ promotions page to see if they are offering one.  Currently, Bidcactus has a ‘nightowl discount’ code for late-night bidpack purchases with a 5% savings.  Even doing a web search for ‘online penny auction codes’ before you play can direct you to sites offering discounted deals.

Bid on prize and bidpack combination auctions

Some auctions will give you the opportunity to win prizes and bidpacks together.  This combination not only wins you the coveted prize but also gives you the opportunity to get more bids for future auctions.  Happybidday.com frequently uses this type of auction with their giftcard prizes.

Get your bids back

Happybidday.com gives the winning bidder their bids back.  Some auctions even have promotions where you will get your bids back if you don’t win the auction.   Playing in these auctions will help you pocket your bids, saving you even more.

Get free shipping

Save even more money by not paying for shipping on your purchase.  Beezid.com currently has a free shipping promotion for auctions held in the early morning hours.  At this time, Dealdash.com provides free shipping on all prizes shipped in the 48 United States.

Refer your friends

Happybidday.com currently gives you 30 free bids when you refer a friend who registers on their site.  The more friends you refer, the more bids you will rack up, which will only futher discounts your future winnings.