Snipers

BluErf · 6th December 2005, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

Was eyeing on a keris (one that I quite wanted) for a number of days and the auction was to end at the early hours of the morning; woke up about an hour earlier to prepare for the snipe but lo, Kai Wee just placed a bid there and I supposed prior to going to bed. Momentarily felt the sting a little and decided not to snipe. I wouldn't have felt bad if I did but on the other hand I knew I was facing a very tough competitor.

I just came back from my wisdom tooth extraction surgery. The anasthesia is beginning to wear off and the pain is starting to creep in...

Haven't been really reading this post, but I can empathize with the strong emotions felt when one sees someone familiar throwing in a bid on an item that has been eyed for days. But there's no easy resolution to such a situation and it also depends on how badly the person wants the item. Very sorry if I have sniped things that any of the fellow forumnites had wanted. Sometimes, I don't know which ebay ID is who in the forum, really.

*Ouch* pain... pain...

John · 6th December 2005, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluErf

Haven't been really reading this post, but I can empathize with the strong emotions felt when one sees someone familiar throwing in a bid on an item that has been eyed for days. But there's no easy resolution to such a situation and it also depends on how badly the person wants the item. Very sorry if I have sniped things that any of the fellow forumnites had wanted. Sometimes, I don't know which ebay ID is who in the forum, really.

*Ouch* pain... pain...

Personally I'm of the view "may the best man win" should there be an item one very badly wanted in an open auction. But I let it pass if I see a forumite that I know well has placed a bid and if I do not want the item as badly.

BTW Kai Wee, congrats on winning the luk 5 malela (or carita?). A super piece and another great steal. Saw that yesterday and was hoping one of the forumites pick it up. I'll be taking a long pause from keris collecting to concentrate on antiquities but will still be lurking and surfing to stay in touch...

Andrew · 6th December 2005, 05:42 AM

I snipe every auction. No exceptions. And everyone who knows my eBay handle knows this. Lately, I've taken to placing an early, low bid to tip off those friends that I'll be back exactly 6 seconds before the auction close, and I'll be packin' heat.

There is a small group of folks I will consult with prior to bidding on certain items, to guage relative levels of interest. I won't waste my time bidding on something someone else just has to have. This isn't false collegiality, it's good business, in my opinion.

Yannis · 6th December 2005, 05:10 PM

Very good thread

I know the Ebay id for very few members of the forum. Except one or two persons that I have a more close relation I have no problem to bid against the others or even snipe them. They have done the same to me, no problem.

Andrew is honest when he says

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

There is a small group of folks I will consult with prior to bidding on certain items, to guage relative levels of interest. I won't waste my time bidding on something someone else just has to have. This isn't false collegiality, it's good business, in my opinion.

I am not in such group, but if someone ask my opinion for an item I will not have a problem to share it. If I am lucky he will pay back the favor some other time. It happened few times.

Bill M · 7th December 2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

I snipe every auction. No exceptions. And everyone who knows my eBay handle knows this.

Me too. I usually take a look at something I want and then place my maximum bid with the sniper software. It will hit in the last 6 to 4 seconds.

Usually I don't know who is bidding against me because I don't follow the auctions that much once I have placed a bid.

I have beaten a few Forumites here, and in some cases have emailed the bidder and offered it to them for my bid unless I was really in love with it.

And, hey, I have been sniped also. My first eBay auction. A wonderful CHinese wedding bed went for a dollar more than my highest bid. WOW! That hurt!

But now I realize that the winning bidder could have bid hundreds of dollars more than me and only had to beat my bid by a dollar.

So I throw out the line and see what gets caught. No offense intended to anyone.

But I have been "shadowed" and have gotten into a "testestosterone war" with other bidders inching the price up.

I do not care to play that game. Just set my bid and go do other things. See what I have caught when the auction is over and eBay sends me a message:

"YOU WON!" Now pay the seller.

"YOU WERE OUTBID" Here is a list of more stuff. Go and bid some more.

erlikhan · 7th December 2005, 03:49 PM

Is it completely free according to ebay rules to use sniper software? Some say they would ban if they catch you sniping with software or would cancel your winning bid. And more important, is it safe to give your ebay name and password to the sniping sites?

regards

Rick · 7th December 2005, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erlikhan

Is it completely free according to ebay rules to use sniper software? Some say they would ban if they catch you sniping with software or would cancel your winning bid. And more important, is it safe to give your ebay name and password to the sniping sites?

regards

Here's an ebay forum thread on sniping Erlikhan :
http://forums.ebay.com/search.jspa?o...iping+software

Yannis · 7th December 2005, 05:30 PM

I remember now a very wild sniping few months ago. A fine 16th century sword got more than $10000 dollars the last minute to close in $22000. The buyer is a member of the forum and a profesional dealer. Do you think that he could get it if he had show his intentions? Probably not.

VANDOO · 7th December 2005, 03:57 PM

I GUESS HAVING THE SNIPEING SOFTWARE WOULD BE THE BEST THING CONSIDERING THAT IT EXHISTS AND PROFESSENIAL SELLERS USE IT. A PERSON SITTING AT HIS KEYBOARD HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF BEATING IT NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU TYPE. IT MAKES THE WHOLE AUCTION IMPERSONEL LIKE SEEING WHAT YOU WANT AT THE PREVIEW, LEAVING ABSENTEE BIDS AND NOT ATTENDING THE AUCTION. JUST READ YOUR EMAIL CLEAN OUT THE LOSSES AND PAY THE WINS EVERY SO OFTEN AND DO MORE PLESANT THINGS THAN SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER POISED TO TYPE.

I WONDER IF LIQUOR SALES ARE UP? A GUY GETS HAMMERED ON EBAY HAS A DRINK TO KILL THE PAIN, BIDS AGAIN GETS HAMMERED HAS A DRINK AND SO ON. AHA!! PERHAPS THATS WHY THE PRICES KEEP GOING UP ON EVERYTHING ON EBAY. STOP THE DRINKING GUYS YOURE KILLING ME

CharlesS · 7th December 2005, 04:15 AM

Like many of us I have been on both sides of the sniper routine...won some, lost some. I can honestly say that when I put forth a sniper bid it is usually done at least 12 hours before the end of the auction, and I don't have a clue whose bidding, as I just wait to hear the results.

I do have a small group of forumites I confer with about items of mutual interest. I've stood down more than once, as have they.

Like so many of you, I am not sure there is a simple solution to this, but I do not believe that accusations or anger are beneficial.

6th December 2005, 05:42 AM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I snipe every auction. No exceptions. And everyone who knows my eBay handle knows this. Lately, I've taken to placing an early, low bid to tip off those friends that I'll be back exactly 6 seconds before the auction close, and I'll be packin' heat. There is a small group of folks I will consult with prior to bidding on certain items, to guage relative levels of interest. I won't waste my time bidding on something someone else just has to have. This isn't false collegiality, it's good business, in my opinion. Last edited by Andrew; 6th December 2005 at 06:00 AM.

7th December 2005, 03:49 PM	#6
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	Is it completely free according to ebay rules to use sniper software? Some say they would ban if they catch you sniping with software or would cancel your winning bid. And more important, is it safe to give your ebay name and password to the sniping sites? regards

7th December 2005, 05:30 PM	#8
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	I remember now a very wild sniping few months ago. A fine 16th century sword got more than $10000 dollars the last minute to close in $22000. The buyer is a member of the forum and a profesional dealer. Do you think that he could get it if he had show his intentions? Probably not.

7th December 2005, 03:57 PM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I GUESS HAVING THE SNIPEING SOFTWARE WOULD BE THE BEST THING CONSIDERING THAT IT EXHISTS AND PROFESSENIAL SELLERS USE IT. A PERSON SITTING AT HIS KEYBOARD HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF BEATING IT NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU TYPE. IT MAKES THE WHOLE AUCTION IMPERSONEL LIKE SEEING WHAT YOU WANT AT THE PREVIEW, LEAVING ABSENTEE BIDS AND NOT ATTENDING THE AUCTION. JUST READ YOUR EMAIL CLEAN OUT THE LOSSES AND PAY THE WINS EVERY SO OFTEN AND DO MORE PLESANT THINGS THAN SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER POISED TO TYPE. I WONDER IF LIQUOR SALES ARE UP? A GUY GETS HAMMERED ON EBAY HAS A DRINK TO KILL THE PAIN, BIDS AGAIN GETS HAMMERED HAS A DRINK AND SO ON. AHA!! PERHAPS THATS WHY THE PRICES KEEP GOING UP ON EVERYTHING ON EBAY. STOP THE DRINKING GUYS YOURE KILLING ME

7th December 2005, 04:15 AM	#10
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Like many of us I have been on both sides of the sniper routine...won some, lost some. I can honestly say that when I put forth a sniper bid it is usually done at least 12 hours before the end of the auction, and I don't have a clue whose bidding, as I just wait to hear the results. I do have a small group of forumites I confer with about items of mutual interest. I've stood down more than once, as have they. Like so many of you, I am not sure there is a simple solution to this, but I do not believe that accusations or anger are beneficial.