posted on January 4, 2001 11:28:14 PM new
I am primarily a seller. It can be a great buzz to see the snipers hit my auctions at the close.
Just recently I have seen auctions that incorporate a "Snipe It" button in the listing, which encourages a bidder to leave a snipe bid. The button is java scripted to let the sniper place a snipe bid directly from the auction page.
My question to bidders is this.
Would the inclusuion of a "Snipe It" button in an auction listing encourage you to use it or would you go the other way and ignore the auction because you don't like snipers?
Curious.
posted on January 5, 2001 12:10:14 AM new
Well, as a bidder, there have been times when I've been hoping that someone will snipe an item I've bid on...
To be honest, I'm not sure if it would affect my bidding practices. I changed my bidding practices quite awhile ago. I used to set bids with the final price I was willing to pay for an item, I don't do that anymore. Now I start with a low bid and watch the price climb as the auction proceeds. About 24 hours before the auction ends I place my final bid price, if it is still possible. I guess you could call me a polite sniper who likes to give his competition time to respond...
The reason I changed was because I always seem to find more items I want to buy during the days following my previous bids. I got a little carried away one month and almost bounced my rent cheque...
Life is tough when you're a student and on a limited budget...
posted on January 5, 2001 01:34:22 AM new
The only snipe link I am aware of is vrane.
I thought about adding it to my auctions but have decided I am not comfortable in adding it to my auctions. I don't have any specific reason only that it could be an endorsement of the service and I don't want to in case for whatever reason I am sued (I am a business).
This is not just for vrane, but for any snipe service that may offer a snipe link.
Even though I prefer esnipe, I do enjoy vrane's other services.
posted on January 5, 2001 02:33:23 AM new
I collect in a very narrow area, so I do snipe when something comes up that I want. But I also buy a lot of other things, which I don't snipe, just put in the bids when I come across something I want. If I saw a snipe button, I don't think I would bid. I don't mind getting sniped at the end of the auction, but for some reason having a button and encouraging the bidders to snipe right on your auction page would make me hesitant to bid. As a seller, I would be worried about encouraging more people to snipe, you might only get one bid and everyone else sniping and have ebay go down for an hour when you're auction is closing, or numerous other technical problems which might stop the snipe bids from activating. I think the vast majority of buyers don't know about sniping, and I prefer they put their bids in when they first see an item. Not that I don't love those snipers at the end of my auctions.
posted on January 5, 2001 02:01:49 PM new
For purely selfish reasons, I wouldn't like it. Most bidders don't bother or don't know how to snipe and therefore I have a competitive edge as long as it stays that way.
posted on January 5, 2001 02:28:26 PM newThe FINAL word on sniping:
Basically...
For buyers, sniping is a great way to avoid emotional bidding which lead to bidding wars. It allows you to scope out an item without tipping any other buyer off to the fact that you're interested---which means other bidders tend to have their guard down.
For sellers, sniping is the best way to discourage bidding wars where emotion and ego can sometimes send the price of your item through the roof. In my humble opinion, any seller who encourages sniping is a fool.
There is a reason why buyers like sniping, and it isn't to get the seller more money.
posted on January 5, 2001 02:32:04 PM new
Hello BitsandBobs,
I snipe very occasionally and only because the item is something that I know there will probably be considerable competition for.
For me, therefore, sniping is a way to stay out of a bidding war.
As such a snipe button might appeal to me in certain situations.
But the down side for the seller is that you are encouraging people to stay out of bidding wars.
Suppose you have an item that I want but normally would not snipe. By putting that snipe button on the auction you encourage me to not place an early bid. If you encourage enough folks who would otherwise place early bids then you have just changed the entire dynamics of your auction.
Instead of progressive bidding throughout the auction leading up to the culmination (with possibly one or two snipes) you may in fact have an auction that ends up with many snipe bids all based on a standing bid at or near the opening bid.
As a seller I think I would prefer to see an item start at $10 and receive a number of intermediate bids leading up to a standing bid of $50 when the one or two folks who normally snipe get into the act.
Your snipe button might change that example to one or two bids before the end of auction and a standing bid of $10.50.
How those who don't normally snipe but have used the button will decide what their snipe bid amount will actually be might be adversely affected.
[ edited by codasaurus on Jan 5, 2001 02:33 PM ]
posted on January 6, 2001 07:13:13 AM new
Hi all. Until this thread I was unfamiliar with sniping and thanks for the low-down. I did a search on both google and yahool for the snipeing services you mentioned but couldn't find them. Could someone send them to me? I'm at [email protected]
posted on January 6, 2001 02:46:56 PM new
PB,
Actually yours isn't the last word.
For sellers sniping means additional bids, I have talked to all the people I buy from about sniping, and they aren't as unhappy with it as the outsniped losing bidder.
A sniped auction is not always the "steal" a sniper hopes it will be. I see a lot that beat and meet retail.
I agree with you on the bidders side, hand tipping as Cmbtbts put it.
It's a game, played by the clock and snipers have taught sellers to be on guard, know the market.
I almost got a lens for my camera for under a buck. The $0.01 price had one measly bidder sitting there happy as could be. I was ready to jam...then looked on watch and the seller had closed the auction.
Who could blame him?
posted on January 6, 2001 04:12:50 PM new
OK, I'm claiming complete ignorance here. What the heck is sniping? I primarily sell on ebay, and have no idea what you guys are talking about.
posted on January 6, 2001 07:24:14 PM newCapriole:
"For sellers sniping means additional bids, I have talked to all the people I buy from about sniping, and they aren't as unhappy with it as the outsniped losing bidder. "
As evidenced by certain comments made here, sellers don't necessarily understand that sniping is NOT especially good for their profit margin. All because you made money on an item doesn't mean sniping is good for business. Who knows how much you would have made if bidders had a chance to respond to the snipers last minute bid.
As I stated previously, sniping takes the single most important aution element out of the auction: EMOTION. Sniping discourages bidding wars, and bidding wars will get you top dollar.
posted on January 6, 2001 08:59:49 PM new
i've thought a few times about adding a link on my auctions to sniping services. when i snipe an auciton i set the price i'm willing to pay so if you get two snipers on the same auciton it could actually net you more money
posted on January 6, 2001 09:05:10 PM new
powderblue
That is your opinion and your opinion only which appears to be the FINAL WORD for you but is not for others.
This is a forum of different opinions not of just one person such as powderblue. To have a dialogue on whatever topic or issue one needs to have diverse viewpoints.
Speaking of "diversity" there is diverse ways of buying and selling on eBay. Sniping is one way. In my opinion, it adds spice to the recipe.
posted on January 6, 2001 09:35:13 PM new
LOL...
No emotion in an auction when sniping...
bwahahahah....
Have you been to a snipe party auction? Watched one? Every dog is planting his mark and if you don't get out of the way...
A price spirals dizzily in the last 5 seconds...and you just hope no one retracts or you will be the fire hydrant!
The other side of the coin, some bidders who go in with muscular proxies hold ground to snipers.
I have been the one second sniper beaten by a freakin' zero second sniper.
And some auctions are held fast by the proxy bidder...despite my atomic clock.
Dead auctions with low opening bid and no reserve are the deal breakers for sellers.
All the rest is anecdotal and the more I snipe the more I am inclined to think that there are a ton of snipers....the clock is my only friend in many auctions.
I agree with Bobbysoxer, there is hardly a last word. And look up sniping and you can see that there have been and will be many more words in the future.
posted on January 7, 2001 08:15:11 AM new
Hello PowderBlue & BobbySoxer,
I will freely admit that my first post here ineffectively restated Powder's final word on sniping if you to will agree to stop arguing and stick to the topic.
posted on January 7, 2001 08:53:50 AM new
I won't place snipe buttons on my auctions, nor would I use one. I would be inclined to avoid auctions that use them. I also skip auctions that download slow, have long wordy TOS, over charge for shipping, charge packing or handling fees, have discriptions that are too brief,have misspelled words, or contain threatening language about what will happen to me if I don't pay or answer their emails almost instantly.
posted on January 7, 2001 01:54:55 PM newCapriole:
There is NO emotion (as it impacts price) when an item is sniped. There is some emotion over the result---but that's all after the fact, and has no affect on the final price.
The emotion that is missing in a sniped auction is the emotion that makes one bidder try to "win" an item by engaging in a back and forth bidding war. Sniping eliminates that and therefore stunts the potential final bid price.
I can't even tell you how many times I've gotten items for well below market price by sniping---not a happy day for the seller. On the other hand, I've seen dopey buyers bid and bid and bid throughout an auction, driving the price up on themselves---which benefits the seller.
posted on January 7, 2001 02:10:48 PM new
^5 High five bobbysoxer
Powderblue sounds like "MY word is the word of God, the one and only word..." Haaah... we all have our opinions, and what is YOUR final word for YOURSELF, powderblue, is certainly NOT necessarilly OUR final word. And no need to rudely comment that others have "restated - ineffectively" what YOU have already stated. Sheeeesh. THE GREAT AND POWERFUL WIZARD OF OZ HAS SPOKEN!!! (Rolling my eyes.)
As far as sniping, oh that's easy - I love it when I do it, hate it when someone else is doing it.
posted on January 7, 2001 02:15:06 PM new
I'm still new at 'sniping' but, unless it can actually block a higher bid, can it really be bad for sellers? I can see where it would tick off other buyers, but I dont' understand how it can be bad for an auction.
I could be missing the boat though, it certainly wouldn't be the first time!
Some sellers don't like sniping because the effort to "pump" people up to have a bidding war to be undermined with sniping. It is in the same lines as "impulse" buying. "Can't live without it...gotta have it!" Buy Now!
Preying on people's emotions is a sales strategy.
One example is impulse buying is used when you are standing in line at local store and they have candy, magazines, gum and other "impulse" items strategically located. Ever notice how they place items that attract children? The kiddies bug mom and dad to buy....
Sniping removes the emotion behind the bid wars strategy that drive eBay auctions way above what the item is really worth. Market value. Some people get so caught up with their various emotions such as "winning" the auction or can't let that person outbid me they will bid 100% the market value. Not very good investment but great for the seller.
I disagree with the ethnics of eBay methods to "pump" people up to enter/re-enter the bidding war when they have been outbid by another bidder. Their outbid emails and the outbid message that pops up after one places a bid are used to "pump" the emotion. Driving up the bidding.
As a seller I enjoy sniping. As a bidder I have been sniped but have learned to live with it or how to play the snipe game.
Right now I am monitoring an auction. I have a snipe bid set for the last 8 seconds. The bid I have is extremely high but I "want" the item for sentimental reasons and believe it is truly a good investment, financially speaking. FYI it is for my private collection not for my business.
posted on January 8, 2001 11:58:24 PM new
I would think adding a snipe button would actually put users OFF bidding on the item. Knowing that every person who has viewed your auction might also be waiting in the wings with a last 10 second sniped bid is hardly comforting! One of the nice things about the art of sniping is pretty much being the ONLY one doing it (right now, anyway), so I wouldn't be advertising the fact too much!
To those few AW Members who have posted they didn't know what sniping is or how to do it, a few quick tips just for you:
1. One day out from auction end on an item you want, read up on who the top bidder is. Find out about their previous transactions (use the Search feature) and see if they are usually a sniper in their auctions (check the times they placed their bids). Try and get a feel for the bidding pattern of this top bidder on previous auctions (or this auction). Once you know that, you'll get to know whether they are feeling 'serious' about this item, or just throwing up a Hail Mary. Know the enemy!
2. If you haven't placed a bid yet yourself, do so now. You need to find out where this current High bidder may be topping out at. Obviously stay within your own bidding limit! After a few bucks (depending on the item in question: use common sense here) you want to be well under (best case scenario), or getting close to (worst case) your top bid for this item. At the very least, you want to be the top bidder, but holding a high bid UNDER your maximum budget, at this stage.
3. So we have a feeling for what the item is worth, some idea of our competition and (hopefully) we currently hold the High bid (but don't worry if you don't, we'll go on anyway and let them think they've got us!). Now it's time to surf off to www.esnipe.com, who are going to deliver the coup de grace for us while we SLEEP (many times). Logon (you'll need to join up first, but everything here is free) and 'snipe' the item you want from the menu (full details at the site on how to do that).
4. That's all I'm telling you. The rest you (like I did) should figure out yourself. And if you snipe ME to win an item now (ahhh, you learn quickly Grasshopper!), I'm sending RESPECT your way, not hate!
posted on January 9, 2001 08:03:54 AM newscanfind-
I'm curious about your sniping technique. If you plan to do as you state in step 2-
Obviously stay within your own bidding limit!
...why do you-
...need to find out where this current High bidder may be topping out at.
and-
...want to be the top bidder, but holding a high bid UNDER your maximum budget, at this stage.
It seems to me, there are at least two flaws to this step:
1) If you make any bids prior to your eventual snipe bid, it will result in raising the amount you will need to spend if somebody else comes along and bids after you.
2) By bidding as you describe, you are alerting the current high bidder to the fact that somebody else is interested in the item.
If your goal is to win the item and you know what your maximum bid will be, the only time you need to have the high bid is at the end of the auction, so there is really no point in bidding until the very end.
posted on January 9, 2001 08:06:19 AM new
As a seller, I don't mind snipers, but as a buyer I would never bid on an item that had a snipe link button, why bother ?? I am trying to have it both ways, I personally do not snipe items.
Rocker