ebay bid sniping

[frannn]

But, I could have just as easily been outbid earlier. I have learned that if I really want an item, I will need to set my maximum bid as the highest I am willing to pay for it. If I just leave it at a set price because I am currently the high bidder, anybody can come along at the last minute and snipe me. I have been tempted to use a sniping program, but never did. I just try to keep track of what I am bidding on. Usually I can find another auction for the same type of item to bid on if lose a given auction, so I don't get too crazy over it (unless its a unique item; then I'm p.o.'d!).

 

[lilred]

A sniper only wins because he/she is willing to pay more than you are. If your maximum bid is less than you are willing to pay, that is your mistake. Just like any auction, you should be willing to bid up to the maximum amount that you are willing to pay. If you get the item for less, then you lucked out. If not, you still got your item at a price you were willing to pay. However, if you are another sniper with the same maximum bid amount, then the quickest one wins. Just bid the max u are willing to pay and let it ride.

 

[aussiemouse]

It's still is very frustrating when someone snipes at the last second and you can't do anything about it. Especially when there has been no bids on the item for a while. I've won some and lost some. I always put in the max I'm willing to pay, but not until the very last minute ... then I figure if someone else wants it that bad, for more money then go for it!

 

[ZebraStripes]

Granted I haven't bought a lot via ebay, however, I've lost quite a few to sniping. When I first started, I went in thinking I wasn't going to bid at the last minute. The first couple of losses made me see the light. If there is something I absolutely want, I'll bid before hand and then be there for the final couple of minutes. Now, so I don't drive myself totally insane watching auctions, I'll set my max bid and stick to it (ok...maybe not today when my very merry cranberry lotion when over my max!). That way I don't get caught up in the bidding at the end and end up paying more than I wanted to. I think sniping is all part of the game now and I expect it to happen. You win some, you loose some.

 

[jennifer293]

I AM SO BAD when it comes to this..I am a SAHM so I am constantly looking on EBAY while the kiddies are napping and if I see something I want I bid in the last 30-40 seconds of the auction. I have bought their whole WDW vacation wardrobe in the past week doing this..I hate to admit that I do this but if I want it bad enough I do it, and I haven't paid more than 2.00 for anything I have bought and it is all brand name clothing. Lots of it is NWT's!!

I am Jennifer and I have a SNIPING PROBLEM..is there a cure for this??

 

[PrincessTeddyBear]

I'm bidding on plus sized women's clothing and men's jean shorts....both must be in high demand.

What size plus sized women's clothing? The reason I ask is this weekend I'm going through the stuff in my room and putting stuff up for sale on eBay that doesn't fit anymore since I started my diet.

 

[mamalle]

im not much of a sniper- I just place my high bid and if I get outbid oh well. there is so many sellers out there- Im bound to find it again for what I want to pay.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

I've used the sniper program before. I've not been charged either. I don't bid on ebay too often. But, I notice if I put abid in, then people come along and jack up the price. That has yet to happen when using the sniper program.

 

[mom-2greatkids]

So that's what happened to me today!!!

I've never placed a bid on eBay before, but today I saw an adorable girls spring dress coat. I placed my final bid at about one hour before the auction was over. At 22 seconds left I was still the high bidder, but low and behold, I was beat out by $1 just before it was over. I was SHOCKED at the time and chalked it up to being a newbie. I guess next time I just have to bid smarter.

 

[CheapMom]

I snipe the old fashioned way. I just wait until the last minute and do my best. I almost never win unless I snipe.
I snipe to win.
I don't think sniping or sniping programs are unethical at all.

 

[JoyG]

I almost NEVER place bids on anything I want until the last minute. The reason is, once an item gets a bid, more attention is drawn to it. There's a lot of garbage on ebay that never gets bids, but you're more likely to click on something that already has a bid to see what the interest is all about. I watch things I want and wait until the last minute to bid. I have won almost all the auctions I want by sniping or bidding in the last five minutes. If its something you really want, you should be watching the auction end because then you can outsnipe the sniper. I usually snipe the old fashioned way and don't use software, I've got pretty quick typing fingers!

I don't see anything wrong with sniping with software or without. I think it's just a matter of getting comfortable using that bidding method. That's just the way it's done with high interest items. Once I got the hang of it, I became a really happy ebayer!

I watched Katie Couric on Today a few weeks ago at a live auction. She mentioned that sometimes bidders had a secret signal to let the auctioneer know they were bidding so others wouldn't bid against them. That's kind of why I don't place my max bid early on in the auction.

 

[welovedis]

I'll set my max bid and stick to it (ok...maybe not today when my very merry cranberry lotion when over my max!). .

LOL I have a bottle of this sitting in my dressing area and was thinking that I really didn't like it but wouldn't bother putting it on eBay since it might not get any bids. Guess I wrong, hehe! I don't know if it matters if it was used once though!

 

[ZebraStripes]

LOL I have a bottle of this sitting in my dressing area and was thinking that I really didn't like it but wouldn't bother putting it on eBay since it might not get any bids. Guess I wrong, hehe! I don't know if it matters if it was used once though!

Karen....let me tell you...you'd could probably make your money back!! BBW stopped selling it, so now, of course, everyone seems to want it!

 

[bigcrit]

Sniping has become pointless with the way Ebay handles bidding. You merely need to bid whatever your max bid is. Than let the chips fall where they may. I just deciade what a fair price is for me than wait till the last day and post my max bid. If someone values it more they will usually win. I have found that mis-spelled listing rarely have bidders and you can get things alot cheaper. So I try many variations of spellings to see if there is a mis-print out there and lay low to grab the item.



Good luck

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

I do the max bid thing too. If someone else wants it for a higher price than I want to pay, I just keep looking.

 

[gabbygrennell]

I snipe all the time!!! And many times I have been sniped myself!
I have used auction sniper several times, for when I am not going to be home... but i prefer to do the sniping myself!

As others have said, it really doesnt matter much if you put in your max bid to begin with... and if others want to pay more for it keep looking there will be another one like it to come along!

The reason I do not put my max bid out days before ending is that people come along and nibble away at your bid with probly no real intention of buying the item!

But I do love the challenge of sniping and winning! Makes the item that much more special! lol!

 

[Kellydelly]

I have used justsnipe.com a few times. It's great when you won't be around when the auction ends, or you don't want to forget to bid on something right before it ends. It is free.

 

[leahannpen]

So that's what happened to me today!!!

I've never placed a bid on eBay before, but today I saw an adorable girls spring dress coat. I placed my final bid at about one hour before the auction was over. At 22 seconds left I was still the high bidder, but low and behold, I was beat out by $1 just before it was over. I was SHOCKED at the time and chalked it up to being a newbie. I guess next time I just have to bid smarter.

This just happened to me last night. I was so angry. I was winning up until 18 seconds left and I have dial up at home...BAM...3 seconds left I was out bid by $1. I'm still not over it. Almost every item I've bid on (almost, not all) I've run into this snipping and it just irks me to no end. I know I need to just get over it, but it's just the point. But, like someone said, then I guess I should have bid higher. UGH! LOL. I really wanted that item too.

 

[d4est]

Like others have said, I don't bid until the latest possible. When I first started I would put in my max bid as soon as I found something I wanted. But then others would bid a tad higher, then my bid would increase, then another bidder, then another increase...blah, blah, you get the picture. I think it just jacks up the price, a sort of bidding war, and just isn't sensible. Now I wait until it is near the end and place my reasonable bid. If I don't win, my max wasn't enough, but at least I can't be held responsible for running the price up.

I have used a sniper before, like others, for those "must haves" that I might not be home for the final countdown. I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Anyone can use them, fair game...

 

[WDWorBUST]

I don't buy much on ebay - I don't sell much on ebay!! But I put in my max amount and if I get it great - if I don't oh well. However - I just sold a few things and a sniper came in at the last minute and bid the items up - then she hasn't paid and it's been 3 weeks - I am HOT!! The buyer right under her bought one of my other auctions and paid promptly....if you don't want it or you don't want to pay that much - don't bid on it!! However it was exciting watching the price zip up there at the end!! I could get addicted to that from the sellers side