@pls-consignments wrote:
Well, since I've been on long enough to see contrast, I do actually. In my opinion, it creates an unfair advantage over others. Especially in vintage categories where the demographics are older. Since many more buyers are now more aware of these apps, including youtube videos on how to use them "as an advantage", it's just another negative deterrent for older buyers. I started including verbiage in my description that encouraged proxy bidding, even experimenting with late night auction endings to see if that would help. But no noticeable difference. But again, it's just my opinion. 😉
I think you may be applying age as a preconceived notion, thinking that older bidders don't know how to snipe an auction. I've been auctioning in various vintage categories over the years, and in some cases I do learn my buyers' age when chit-chatting back and forth about the item(s) they bought. I've had plenty of older buyers, and they snipe my auctions as effectively as anyone else.
(I can also say, as a bidder, that I can manually snipe a bid within seconds of the end; it's really not rocket science, although I would recommend that you make sure that your PC is set up to synchronize its clock with the network each day, since seconds count.)
Bidders in an open-outcry auction where there isn't a drop-dead time limit can still take a similar approach, sitting out the early bidding and waiting until the auctioneer is threatening to drop the hammer before swooping in with their bids. The fact that an eBay auction is going to end at an exact time, five seconds from now, just adds to the excitement.
Making things difficult with strategies such as late night auction endings will benefit those using sniping services while inconveniencing those manual bidders that you want to favor, and of course you can end up with a lower sale price for your efforts as well. I would just focus on making your auctions as clear, attractive and accessible as possible, and not on exactly how your winning bidder won.
Best regards,
