Ebay Sniping ? / OT

[KeepSwimming]

I hate it when by bids get sniped on Ebay. This has happened to be twice now for the exact same item. Because of my work hours I can't be there when some of these bids are nearing end (and of course they never have a BUY NOW feature), and in the last five or so minutes someone will slip in and grab the item up.

Has anyone used any of the ebay sniping programs like stealth bid or pro sniper? Do they work? How much? Is it safe?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[HayGan]

I have used auctionsniper.com several times. You first 3 successful snipes are free and there is minimal charge after that. I have won 2 auctions using it and will likely use it more in the future!

 

[C.Ann]

I've never used a "snipe" program - I've just done it on my own.. (I'm home when most auctions end so it's no problem for me..) The ones I like best are the ones that I can grab at the opening bid - I've gotten so many bargains that way.. If you could see my "watch list", it's a mile long..

 

[ohiominnie]

I haven't used those programs, but let me say, I am just the opposite. I can't stand when people bid up an item when it still has 5, 7, or 10 days left on it! I'd RATHER get into a bidding war at the end. It boggles my mind when ppl will bid something up 5 days before it's due to end.

I think the best strategy to ebaying is to set your limit and then go in near the end and put in that proxy bid. If you get outbid, it's ebay....it'll come up again, and hopefully at better hours if you don't have access at work or for some other reason. But, you have to be reasonable.

I also think it's crazy for people to complain and say something like "I hate ebay, I keep getting outbid on item xyz." But they also say "I refuse to pay more than $x.xx for that item." If you do a completed item search and see that ALL auctions for item xyz go for MORE than $x.xx, then it stands to reason that you will always get outbid on that item unless the demand fades for it.

Maybe you need to hire the services of a good sniper (like me) to win you your auctions. There are very few auctions, if I really want an item, that I will lose. Multiple open windows and a high speed internet connection make it easier. Although I will say, my bp goes WAY up in those last 60 seconds of an auction!

Ok, off my soap box.

 

[ohiominnie]

I haven't used those programs, but let me say, I am just the opposite. I can't stand when people bid up an item when it still has 5, 7, or 10 days left on it! I'd RATHER get into a bidding war at the end. It boggles my mind when ppl will bid something up 5 days before it's due to end.

Ok, I must add....

I LOVE when ppl go in and bid up an item 5, 7, or 10 days before it ends when it's something I am SELLING. I just sit there and watch the price go up and think "bid away, people. bid away!"

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I used to use bidrobot.com but my subscription expired and the renewal price was too high. I'm just not buying enough snipe worthy stuff right now to make it worthwhile. They however were very reliable and you could group items -- like keep bidding on all these auctions until I win one and then cancel all the remaining...



I'm pretty sure this activation code (COOL) for a free 3 week trial still works however.

http://bidrobot.com/cool/

 

[firsttimemom]

I've used esnipe for a couple years now. LOVE it!

Liz

 

[kilee]

As a seller of course I love it.

 

[SherriW]

I had my ebay account hacked into once ...... it was terribale!!

I thought abut using one of this sniping services but I did not like the fact that you had to give thme your ebay password. I contacted ebay to see if they endorse any of those services and they said to NEVER give out your ebay password to ANYBODY ...... including those services.

 

[DutchsMommy]

DH is like OhioMinnie - it is so funny to watch him, and when he wins it's like a little kid at Christmas

I'll have to tell him about these sniper programs - I don't think he is even aware, but I think he likes the thrill of the hunt too much to let someone do it for him LOL

 

[maggiew]

If there is something that I want, I just place my max bid at the true max I am willing to pay for that item. If I am sniped, so be it because they are willing to pay more than I was.

Maggie

 

[chrissyk]

I favor esnipe myself

 

[Amyn1274]

So don't hate me but I have been one of those who watch something until it is just about to expire and then go in and bid on it. I don't bid with the intention of outbidding someone intentionally just bid based on what my set limit is. If they have a higher bid then they will win and if I happen to set a max bidder higher than I win. In fact that happened a few days ago. I watched an item until 10 minutes left and decided I would spend 17.00 on this item. It was going for 12.00. I put in my max bid and won it for 15.50. So yes it does stink when you lose at the last minute, this has happened to me in the past too, but maybe putting a max bid you are actually willing to pay would help. That way you can justify that it went for more than you were willing to pay. As far as the sniper programs, I didn't know such a thing existed. I guess if it is an item you really want and are willing to pay whatever for it then that might be a way to go.

 

[tlbwriter]

I use esnipe and I'm very happy with it. I have much better luck with sniping than I do with live bidding. I'm never tempted to bid more than my pre-determined limit, and I get to sneak past other buyers who would bid higher than me if they knew I was there. I know it makes sense to bid the maximum you're willing to pay, but a lot of people don't do that - they bid the minimum increment that eBay allows. So, if my maximum is lower than theirs, I can still snag an auction at the last minute.

 

[nu cruzer]

I agree with Maggiew. Decide what your maximum bid is and put that in. If you start getting into bidding wars, you're going to end up paying more than you wanted to.

 

[Chicago526]

I just sniped yesterday for the 1st time! I did it manually though, not with a program. I wasn't the only last minute bidder either, so I don't feel bad about it. But I can access e-bay from work and this is our slow time of year, so I have the time.

If you don't want to use a program, why don't you see if you can find items then end when you are home to watch it? It may not work with items that there are only one of up for auction, but if there are 3 or 4 of the same thing, bid on the one with the convienent end time.

 

[chrissyk]

I agree with Maggiew. Decide what your maximum bid is and put that in. If you start getting into bidding wars, you're going to end up paying more than you wanted to.

The entire point of using the sniper is so you don't get into a bidding war, though! It places your bid right before the end of the auction. I put into esnipe whatever my highest bid is, and hope for the best.

 

[goofy370]

I do my snipeing myself. I will bid my max in the last minute of the auction. If I win, great. If not, then it is not meant to be.

 

[Donna]

So don't hate me but I have been one of those who watch something until it is just about to expire and then go in and bid on it. I don't bid with the intention of outbidding someone intentionally just bid based on what my set limit is. If they have a higher bid then they will win and if I happen to set a max bidder higher than I win. In fact that happened a few days ago. I watched an item until 10 minutes left and decided I would spend 17.00 on this item. It was going for 12.00. I put in my max bid and won it for 15.50. So yes it does stink when you lose at the last minute, this has happened to me in the past too, but maybe putting a max bid you are actually willing to pay would help. That way you can justify that it went for more than you were willing to pay. As far as the sniper programs, I didn't know such a thing existed. I guess if it is an item you really want and are willing to pay whatever for it then that might be a way to go.

This is exactly what i do. I will watch an item to see if it goes higher than what i would like to pay. At the end, if its still below my max of what i'm willing to pay, then i will go in and put in my max proxy bid. If i win, i got it for what i wanted, if i lose...i lose the item but thats the way ebay is. The loser will look at the bid history and not understand how ebay works and think you outbid them on purpose but in reality you only go in once and the proxy bids for you. I say to that person, you should have bid higher if you really wanted the item that bad.

 

[tmt martins]

I use the method of odd bids like $.56 cent increases or $1.03 this way when the sniper does it's thing it doesn't have time to get the 2nd bid in.
on thing i really want I just wait until the 20 sec. time and proxey what I'm willing to pay .To many times people get in a bidding war and end up paying more then what they wanted to just to win.
I like it when they get higher then a BIN price for the same thing on another auction .