Watching auctions is made easy thanks to services such as eBay's "Watch This Item" feature, not to mention Vendio's own "Track Auction" feature (available via Auction Manager) that allows you to monitor specific auction items or even all items being offered by a favorite seller of yours.

Sniping, of course, is that mythical and eternally controversial technique that combines skill, intuition, and a reliable Internet connection. Snipe bids are delivered manually (by watching and waiting until an auction nears completion) or automatically (by using sniping software and tools such as Cricket Jr. or eSnipe.com). Some stealth bidders find success when sniping within minutes of an auction's end while others won't be satisfied unless their bids register within the final seconds (or split seconds) of an auction's close. And though you can't be guaranteed to win every auction via sniping, you can be assured that snipe bidding cannot be effectively stalked.

If you've ever found yourself surrounded by familiar faces at the auction sites--you know, the folks who always seem to jack up prices on you with their penny-ante bids or snipe you on each and every item on which you've dropped a proxy--then it's high time you cloak your bidding intentions by making good use of the fair and legal tactics that help preserve your anonymity during an auction's run.

Friendly Fire
The silver lining to all this is that not all rival bidders will necessarily be your enemies. In fact, it's quite common that you might run in a pack, so to speak, of bidders who genuinely seek the same items and frequently brush up against one another in the quest for commonly sought treasures. In many cases, these are amiable encounters where like-minded bidders might strike up friendly relations with one another, typically sharing information with one another about items of interest, current market values, and even previous experiences with online sellers. Some even will initiate contact to congratulate another on effective bid concealment and impressive snipe bids.

And though it's not unthinkable that a friendly rival might elect to step out of the bidding--in humble deference to another bidder--expect that if some rare gewgaw is the only one of its kind to have circulated through the auction space in many moons, then, warm feelings or not, it's going to be competitive bidding that will decide the final outcome. Go stealth and go for it. And regardless who wins, no hard feelings, OK?

Beating Out a Snipe Timing Bids Bidding Strategies