posted on May 26, 2000 01:26:25 PM new
I gotta agree with many of the posters who either accept or encourage sniping. I've won some and I've lost some. I just had my first 2 auctions this week and made out like a BANDIT thanks to the snipers, bless 'em!
Coolest snipe war I got into was about 3 months ago, over an HO model locomotive I'd been watching like a hawk all week. This baby was MINE. I had dough to spend, even if I had to go a little overboard. There were a couple of bidders, and the clear leader had been bumping others' bids by a buck or two, nothing major. I got all clever and looked at stuff he'd bid on in his feedback page...he had like 6 deals, none of them for an amount over $25. What a pushover...
Now, just so you know, this loco is a discontinued model, in the road name/paintjob I model...would've been a FABULOUS price at $40, still good at $75, and getting painful at $100...but still worth it to me 'cause of the 'hassle factor' in looking for it.
It's 1 minute +20 sec. and counting...I hit the 'reload' button...and of course the Auction Gods make eBay's server slow to a crawl! It'd been refreshing in 5 sec. or less, now about 10-15...so, sweating buckets, I put in a bid of $75...server slows even more...'waiting for reply' for an eternity or so, then ZAP...outbid by proxy! So I re-bid at $125...I figure I'll be hurting, but I'll finally have it! Another eternity of 'waiting for reply,' then...YAY! HIGH BIDDER, with 10 seconds left! He hasn't got the time! The server's slowed to a dead crawl! I've GOT it! I WIN! LOSERRRRR!
So, I hit 'reload,' one more time, just to be dead sure...and NOW the page refreshes INSTANTLY....and I'm OUTBID by $2.50 with ZERO seconds left!!!
I seriously thought about sending a letter of congrats to the winner, but refrained, as people are sometimes funny, even about praise, regarding unsolicited mails...but this guy was a true artist...had to have fingers faster than The Flash! (and he's even nuttier than me...and somewhat poorer...heh) My hat's off to him...
Er...anyone know where I can find an HO scale Proto 2000 FA-2 in Louisville and Nashville colors? Still lookin...(snicker)
posted on May 26, 2000 01:59:59 PM new
I loved prof's amusing tale of snipe bidding, and agree wholeheartedly. Just last week I was waiting to snipe an auction and fell asleep but laughed when I found out I lost because I wasn't there. I think it makes auctions more enjoyable, and as a seller I have seen my auctions triple in the last few minutes which is really a thrill since I had many occasions where I wanted to close the auction having cold feet at the time. Bless those snipers for bidding half decently in the end!
I now have more auctions without reserve because of this, as I have more faith in the snipers than the general bidding population that always want something for nothing, and if you don't get the snipers in on time, generally walk off with it.
posted on June 5, 2000 09:46:36 AM new
Look Folks I am truly tired of people treating this as a "fairness" issue!!
LIFE IS NOT FAIR DEAL WITH IT!
I teach folks how to snipe with out sniper software, Sniping is what auctions are all about online or off.
At every physical auction I go to, and I attend many every week. When the auctioneer calls going once , going twice some one bids on that note almost every time. Is that not sniping?
Right when the high bidder thinks he as won and gotten a good price someone else out bids them at the last moment (I know I do).
So what if someone else is willing to spend more that your high bid for the last 4 days.
Auctions are about WINNING AND LOSING NOT FAIRNESS!!! You either win or You lose period!
This is a matter of money if you bid higher than a sniper does you will win, if not oh well!~
posted on June 14, 2000 09:27:32 AM new
I agree with using sniping as a budget control. This is especially true when I am
purchasing a gift. Watch several and see what still stays affordable at the end. I also agree with Sallyann, its the thrill of the last minute...You know what they say, moneys money and love is...well you know. This is business and the rules clearly allow for last minute bidding. If I want a fixed price, I can go to the mall.
posted on June 26, 2000 11:30:14 AM new
Hey, if you bid your highest amount and somebody else's highest amount is more than yours, then they deserve to win whether they bid at the beginning of the auction or in the last second. Why the negative connotation?? Bidding is bidding. Just be thankful if your high bidder pays in a timely manner and the rest is aesthetics!
posted on June 29, 2000 10:06:30 AM new
I really don't find sniping to be a problem. Any bidder can get started in the auction and use a proxy bid, if you then get snipped and feel badly for that you probably didn't have the proxy bid high enough.
Something the auction site could do would be to add a delayed auction close feature -- where the auction will not close for some predetermined time subsequent to the last bid, sellers might like that feature.
posted on July 16, 2000 11:51:56 PM new
I'm glad someone gave what I did today a name. It is called "sniping".LOL!! Today was only my second day bidding on E Bay and I outbid someone on an item yesterday with no problem at all. Then today I'm sitting here all happy with myself thinking I had outbid everyone on another item since there was only about 1 minute to go and I clicked back on the page and someone had outbid me by 50 cents.I was so mad..I thought "Hmm" How did they do that. The item came up again a couple of hours later and I figured out how they did it and I got the item in about the last 30 seconds. The other person bidding waited until about the last minute also and I just happened to be a little quicker because we battled it out up until the last few seconds.I paid $5.00 more than I would have had I gotten the first item but at least I got it and became something new I didn't even know what was.~A Sniper~ Lol!! Thanks for the info.
posted on July 21, 2000 03:56:46 PM new
WOW! Imagine if that 15 minute auction extension rule was used at a site that actually had more than one bid like Ebay. Here is what happens with an auction closing at 5:30:00. Bid comes in at 5:29:50, auction extension kicks in, auction now closes at 5:45:00. Bid comes in at 5:44:45, auction extension kicks in, auction now closes at 5:59:55. Bid comes in, you get the picture, it goes on and on. People will still hold off placing their bid until the end. So the auction eventually goes to the person with the most endurance. Most people like the finality of an Ebay auction. Item closes at 5:30:00 - You're the person who has placed the highest bid - YOU WIN - Next item please. You don't have to check back every 15 minutes to see who has outbid you after the auction kind of sort of but not really closed. As far as bidders getting frustrated with Ebay auctions that actually close, and going someplace else where they don't, they would have to have someplace else that offers the plethora of items that Ebay has to offer. Do a search for something that you are looking for on auctionwatch. Where's the item at - Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Ebay. They have no place else to go. They can either decide to place a higher bid or they can continue to complain about being outbid by those bad old snipers at the end. I once won an item for 152.50. I get a nasty email from the 150.00 bidder saying how they would have paid 175.00 for the item had I not placed my bid at the end. I simply replied to them that I then would have won the item for 177.50, since I placed a proxy bid of 229.99, and pointed out to them that they still would be the loser. A final word of advice - Bid more or find something that nobody else wants, and always be a winner.
posted on July 23, 2000 01:59:14 AM new
Ok ok, being an avid bidder AND seller these days I just have to comment here..
Yes, my proxy has been outbid by snipers in the past. Yes, I got mad (for about 2 minutes). I decided that item wasn't destined for me or that the money gods were just looking out for my wallet!
Now, if I want something, I either sit there and watch it and snipe. Or I put in my high proxy bid if I can't be there or for items that I'm not gonna cry over if I lose. Just today I put in a bid about a half hour before the auction closed and lo and behold I won.
I think visible counters are a great thing and a tool for both buyer and seller. As a buyer, if I see an item I really want and the counter has say, over 100 hits, I know it has high interest. That item I might decide to snipe on. If it has say, 10 hits, I might do a proxy bid and feel reasonably safe.
The other day I was trying to snipe an item because it had a low opening bid. But the first bidder was smart enough to put in a proxy that was at least several dollars higher. The first bidder won, I wasn't willing to pay more. I say good for him/her and GREAT for the seller because I helped them get more money and it wasn't from me
As a seller, I welcome those snipers. It kills me when I list an item low to get interest to watch it sit there for days with one bid for the minimum. I'm hoping those snipers show up and raise the price!
Auctions are a matter of skill and money. People who either don't have the money or the skill or both are the ones who cry the loudest about snipers. If it's the money, save more. If it's the skill, ask someone who's sucessful!
posted on July 24, 2000 01:02:05 PM new
I only wish I were home more, that way I could become a better sniper! I LOVE SNIPING!! As a seller, why would I mind it???
