Back in 2000, after my first unsucessful series of bids (more then one, nonsequetial) on an item I wanted, I came to a small epiphany. Each time I bid before it ends, I push the price a little higher. By bidding early, it is almost like showing my pokerhand to everybody before the first bet. Sure, everybody loves seeing my hand, but it sure as well isn't going to help me win. This is a race, but there is no limit to what kind of vehicle you want to use, and the race track is merely a recommendation. How you get to the checkered flag is up to you and how badly you want it. Sniping is quite popular today. There are even internet firms now that will snipe FOR you, for a fee. Simply, the companies enter your max bid when there is 1 to 5 seconds left, and you don't have to worry much about your own error or getting the exillerating rush of a successful snipe (I think my heart rate used to practically double, or so it seemed). Is this fair? Yes. Is it Ethical? Define ethical. You know just as much about the auction as that sniper, he is just using this common knowledge and his skill against the playing field. And these past few months, I have been finding that I am being sniped myself much more ofter, I enter bids with 30 and 15 second left, and then watch one to three bids fly in after me. Sellers hate it, because now other snipers don't have an option to snipe it again at the end because it is already over, but it does jack the price...sometimes to exhorbant heights. Just know your limit, and wait until end, and if you still want it and it is still below your limit, enter your limit then.
Right on all acounts. I have gotten caught up in bid wars many times. It never happens during one of my auctions....... *ponders* I wait till 15 sec to go, and hit my max+some change. Buy It Now changes all that. If the price is decent, and the item is worth the money, go for it, by all means!!
Troubling. It's the same attitude that brought us Enron, Worldcom, Tyco, etc. and helped crash the stock market. Everyone loses when no one knows the diffrence between right and wrong. [ 08. November 2002, 14:46: Message edited by: Bruce-in-MA ]
How is placing your max bid- whether there's 5 days or 5 seconds left unethical? That's the thing about an auction.... everyone gets the same chance to bid as high or low as they want. If my max bid in the last second is higher than your max bid placed 3 days ago.... I win. You should have bid higher, or you didn't want it that badly.
I agree with what you are saying 100% Let's face it, if you are willing to pay $50 ( or $50.23, according to our anti-sniping advice) it does not matter if you make the bid when the item is first listed or seconds before the auction ends,,,, A lot of folks (sometimes including myself too like to participate in sniping, like a sport. However, the reality of the situation is if your sniping bid is higher that the existing high bid, you will win; however, if you made the same bid days earlier, you probably still would have won! The best advice: stick to your intended maximum bid! If you don't win the intended item for your desired price this time, you'll probably see the same item again which gives you another chance! Harold
I have absolutely no problem with last minute bidders. If those "last minute bidders" didn't bid at the last minute, they'd be bidding the same amounts earlier anyway, so it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.
It seems lately that some sellers are not bashful about trying to get outlandish postage and HANDLING fees. When the actual shipping fees (or how they will be calculated) are not listed on the page, I automatically email the seller and find out what they are. In a couple of instances, the bother has been worth it. One guy wanted $12.00 (without USPS insurance, which I always request) shipping for a LL SD7. His reasoning?......he lives 4 miles from the post office!!! Buyer Beware!
Well, I purchased sniping software a couple of years ago. I have had great success with Auction Station. The use of sniping software has made me a more disciplined Ebayer. I find that it keeps me from getting caught up in bidding wars because I set the software to submit my maximum bid seconds before the auction close. If I get outbid then so be it I haven't paid more than what I was willing to pay. I no longer get caught up in bidding wars. This is something that happened to me often when I was first using Ebay. While some question the practice of sniping, at the end of the day the seller sells their item for a higher price. Also, anyone can snipe an auction with or without software or a bidding service. BTW: I've been sniped many times in auctions. Although dissappointing and sometimes infuriating when it happens, I accept it as part of the game.
I think things on Ebay lately have been slow, due to all the new releases coming out. I buy and sell on Ebay and up untill last week, I might have 1 in 3 auctions going off successfully. Then last week I tried something new. I included free shipping if the auction was piad via Paypal. All my auctions have gone since. As far as sniping goes, I don't think it is unethical at all. This is an auction after all and all who are bidding are going for the same thing. Sort of like a race or game. I have sniped and I have been sniped, it is all part of the game. What I find unethical, are all the people who bid on auctions and then don't pay for them. I have also come across quite a bunch of people who have done this lately. Bob
Good comments,,,,,, I agree that sniping is part of the "game". Again, I have to think if you know your maximum and bid it, you can't really be mad at anyone else for bidding higher than that, whether it is immediately or seconds before the auction end. However, I think the problem with sniping is that you are excited and think you will win an item and it doesn't end up that way Shipping (and handling) is a good item to understand, as it does add to the cost of the item. This cost needs to be evaluated BEFORE you bid. I usually try and charge a reasonable flat shipping fee when I sell: this saves money for the buyer (and encourages them to buy more) , and saves me time & labor of packaging and shipping multiple packages. Harold
Chessie, your comment back on page 1 should be the guideline for all involved in ebay. Set your own limit and don't exceed it. Many years ago, this concept was called "common sense" but it seems to have disappeared in recent years. I just bought a lens I have always wanted, bid my max, and won.
Another thing about Ebay, is if you don't win or you don't want to go as high as an auction is going for, just wait. I have found that most every item I have wanted shows up again and again, usually lower the second or third time around. Patience is a virtue after all.
Okay.. heres my take to it... I just picked up a BRAND NEW.. 1969 MRC NKP Berkshire mint in the box.. for $89.00 from a guy out in Australia.. Paid 10 bucks for the shipping.. Everyone in the states was asking at least $150 for them... I sold old PRR one for about $100.. and it didn't run.. But yahh.. some thigns I've seen go reeeelly high.. and when I try to sell the same thing.. it hardly gets bid on.. DRGW autoracks for instance.. I'm getting in some custom decals soon so I'll be doing some new Racks.. that no one has ever seen in N scale... or ANY scale for that matter.. Keep an eye on E-bay..
