sniping

[tlb999]

Well, I just posted a comment against sniping.  The I found the forum where other people have commented on the same subject.  I guess I got an education because I now understand why eBay allows sniping.  I just need to up my maximum bids.

[northernlightsofoz]

 "I just need to up my maximum bids." 

If you do, try to snipe it when there is 5-6 seconds left.

[duncanvr]

My followers always use auction snipe on my lots and get a war in the last 5 seconds. Meanwhilst item sat all week with no bids. Then had some complaints like they lost the item because they did not set their bid high enough. Oh well.

[powell-memorabilia]

Exactly - people just need to enter the max they are willing to pay, then forget about it.  I've been on some auction sites where that isn't the best approach, but, in general, eBay buyers are best served by going that route.

[nuvistors]

The highest bid always wins !

No matter when it was placed .

[turquoisetulips]

I've done that but  only on a few items that I really needed . It's nerve wracking 

[portkoop-0]

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@nuvistors wrote:

The highest bid always wins !

No matter when it was placed .

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Funny how that works.

Ebay's bidding system is in fact quite clearly explained, but bidders in general want to buck that approach and try the "standard" bidding system as if there were an auctioneer and this was a fight to the end with people throwing up hands or bids, granted it is far more fun and challenging that way lol

[a_c_green]

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@northernlightsofoz wrote:

 "I just need to up my maximum bids." 

If you do, try to snipe it when there is 5-6 seconds left.

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That's definitely the best way to do it. Assuming you know yourself well enough that you're genuinely bidding the most that you would be willing to pay, then you'll have no regrets if you don't win it. You won't have time to get carried away and bid a second time if the first bid doesn't succeed.

In addition, this final-seconds bid prevents others with deeper pockets from counterbidding against you to regain their lead, and it doesn't give newbie bidders enough time to nibble-bid your price up, either with or without exceeding it. There's no point in bidding on Tuesday in an auction that doesn't end until Thursday.

[donsdetour]

Well with any auction you should KNOW what you are willing to pay.

 This will have to include shipping taxes etc.... Never go over that amount.

Entering bid at the last possible moment (snipe) is the best way.

Saves some problems that can happen on eBay.

You get out bid or not.

This stops the auction fever that happens to some (I am going to win no mater what).

[jack_bucks_ghost]

i'm sorry, what exactly is sniping?...not familiar with the term

[alcoforever]

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@jack_bucks_ghost wrote:

i'm sorry, what exactly is sniping?...not familiar with the term

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Sniping is the act of bidding in the last few seconds of an auction.  It can be done manually or there are snipe services that will do it for you (for a fee).

[jack_bucks_ghost]

@alcoforever 

oh, ok--thank you!!!

[lightlily_arts]

I've been on eBay for 20+ years and in the early years the majority of listings were auctions.  Also there has been sniping services available since that time where many bidders used to bid on auctions.  Nonetheless, you still had to have the maximum bid to win any auction whether you used a sniping service or not.  I learned to bid in the last seconds of an auction and always bid my max.    Most of the time I won.

People will continue to complain about auction sniping but at the end of the day it's simply the person who bids the highest.

[rafaelecuon-0]

No. Sniping is unfair and detrimental to the interests of the seller. Most other online auctions prohibit sniping or give the highest bidder an alert of being outbid. Ebay sucks in this respect. I'll never use an ebay auction again. There's no way to win.

[rafaelecuon-0]

Good for you. Nobody else understands why ebay allows sniping. It's contrary to the interests of all parties except ebay. It prevents sellers from getting the highest bid for their item.