eBay Snipers

Does anyone have any experience with using any of these programs?

I'm guessing by the fact that so many auctions i look at are won only seconds before they end, that alot of people must use them. And simply put, loosing to sniper progies sucks.

Theres all different programs that all claim to do the sniper thing, but which ones actually work and work well enough to rely on. Then theres also the safety, which ones arnt gonna stab you in the back.
And then theres the websites that do the same thing, i'd expect them to be maybe more reliable in the bidding department but you have the added risk of your login details on someone elses server.

Anyone got any suggestions.

 

i've never understood sniping. by default, ebay has automatic incremental bidding which means you can put in the highest amount you want to pay for an item and it will automatically increase your bid amount until the auction ends or someone outbids you. if you get outbid, that's more than you want to pay anyway so no harm.

 

Well, I can tell you from experience - usually if I'm willing to pay $20 for something, I'm also pretty willing to pay $20.10. And, unforutunately, that's what snipers usually end up doing - bidding at the last second for about .10 more than your max bid and winning. So, I have found that sniping is just about the only way to get what you want on Ebay regardless of their incremental bidding system. It sucks, but it's the reality of the situation.

 

im saying nothing about ebay snipers


most things i buy from there are sniped lol, its easier than bidding on something then waiting a number of hours to find out if you won,

of course i've been sniped myself a few times

last time i got out bid by a one whole penny lol

 

sniping works because lots of people do it. you simply hope you are the last one in.

I know a guy who said he had some success using one, but I don't remember which.

 

my dad does eBay sniping...at least thats what i think based on what you guys are saying...he waits till last minute to put in his bid, and he usually wins

 

Does ebay sniper refer to people who refresh the page every few seconds when there is about 60 seconds left and when there is 25 seconds left they put the highest amount they want to pay? If that is the case....I'm guilty. That is how I usually win the auctions. I am a vulture waiting for the right moments.

 

I simply bid on items on eBay when there are under 20 seconds left on the auction. I put in the amount I want to pay plus one penny more than the current number of cents. So if price is 5.00 and I'm willing to pay 8, I'll put 8.01, so that if the other person used proxy bidding (automatically incrementing price) and entered 8, then I'll still outbid them. Hope this helps Note: this only works if your bid is over the minimum bid amount (ie you're setting up a proxy bid yourself)

 

I believe that if you "snipe" within a certain number of seconds before the auction ends, then ebay's built in incremental bidding does not have time to kick in even if your max bid is higher.

 

a ha

thanks, didn't know that

 

I use AuctionSentry deluxe and it works great for me, i usually snipe 1.5-2 seconds before ending and yes, the ebay increamental thing will not kick in at that short amount of time

however you can lose at that time if you have significant network delay

 

Isn't eBay sniping illegal?

 

i believe its frowned upon but not illegal

 

I bid in the last 3 seconds. Bidding early shows interest in the item and attracts more bidders. Stealth is the way to go.

 

though if it's an item that started really low, you can bid some low but not extremely low price to get it away from others that have not been bid on yet, might not get noticed that way. Then wait till the end to put your real bid in.

 

I used to at least get in the bid about 20 secs before auction ends (slow connection sucks). I wasn't aware about all these ebay snipers. I've just lost like 5 auctions because someone outbid me about 5 seconds in. It may be frowned upon, but if it'll win me auctions, I'm using it.

 

I've always seen ebay sniping as an unavoidable consequence of tossing a bunch of people on ebay to bid for things. Human nature and what have you. So, I do it when I buy things on ebay, because else, how would I ever win an auction?

but you mean using programs... meh. Don't plan on doing that... I don't use ebay enough for it to be worth the bother, and it seems to me that the end effect would be pretty much the same as doing it "manually".

 

I have never trusted any sniping programs, so have never used any. I just about always bid in the last 5-10 seconds, unless I'm not going to be home when the auction ends.

Why I bid at the last few seconds is mainly to get things cheaper. For example, I have done this many times. Say the current bid is $20 and I'm willing to pay $25. I then enter in my max bid at $25. Then when It says I have been outbid, I reconsider my max bid. I think to myself... hmmm... maybe I should bid $28. The person then might to the same thing. But if they see they are winning the auction, then you can outbid them at the last second with out giving them a chance to rethink their max bid. It's the ebay game!

 

In my opinion there is no such a thing as sniping. I think that purpose of auction is hope to be the winner. Plus I think that everyone has right to join auction in every stage of it. Including last 20,10 or 3 seconds.
The thing is that if I watch an auction and prepare my self to pay 1210 max of what I can pay, then that is what I will bid on 5th second before the acution ends. If you decided to pay 1220 at the beginning of the auction and you set it up as your max. I will not win, you will. I think this is fair.
Auctioning is kind of thrilling, if you are lazy or nervous about loosing, use buy now option or set high max bid. Otherwise stay focused to last second.

Now solution for last seconds auctioning.
2 ways I use are:

Before Operas widgets I used to open 2 tabs. 1 with auction the other 1 with bid already set and ready to accept. All you have to do is refresh 1st tab every second and when time is right go to second tab and accept the bid.

Second method used ebay widget from Opera. You can set time interval and item nr. Set widget to 2s refresh interval and stay on top options.
In auction tab be ready for action.

That’s my few cents about controversial but exciting auctioning method.

 

You really are missing the point my friend.
Like I mentioned, everyone has some maximum. Even snipers you know.
I am willing to pay 60 not more thats it. If you want to pay 65 I will not win, even if I bid 60.05, your automatic max is 65, I lost. Its all about knowing value of items you are bidding. Commitment to certain level, which you accept to pay.

 

anyone who pays any attention to bid history learns that most users try and snipe. it's not like you need a course or something. Second, snipers are usually looking for a really good deal, and won't bother bidding more if it gets only into the sorta-good deal range. So if you bid on the first day a normal price you still have a good chance.

I don't know if what people said about the auto-bidder not updating over the last few seconds is true or not, if so they should change it to check all bids and actually let all proxy bidding play out before declaring a winner.

Personally I hate waiting on auctions, and usually look for people with low buy-it-now prices.

 

A lot of times I'll sort the view for newly listed items. You'd be surprised, like strikeback03 said, you'll find a better deal with buy it now. That's how I got my laptop. I saw what the exact same configuration that I wanted was going for. Some auctions ended at $1175, some at $1255. A newly listed was being offered at $1200 w/Buy it now....I took it without hesitation. Could I have got it cheaper if I waited until the end of some auctions, maybe...but I think I made out really good.

 

In normal auction, which takes place in auction house. You have a right to join the auction in any given moment. Auction starts with small amounts and is started by people who hope it will end soon and they win. People who know value join later in the acution. Sometimes after 2nd call just before 3rd one. Sometimes over the phone, sometimes someone rises their hand, whatever.

My point is: I join the auction in last moment not to rise the price to high. As it is in my best intrest to keep it as low as possible.
What could have happen is that we got phone. It is worth lets say 70 quid.
There quite a lot of them auctioned today.
I am a first time buyer and i set up my auto bid to 75. Forget about auction.
Now it is upto other people if i win it or not. Some sniper comes in last 10s. However he knows value of the item, his max is 70 and he will not pay more. No point ... there is much more of them ending in a few moment. So I win.
Because I just want to have it and I dont care. Some people buy to sell in real world. Some have different motivations. Then you have to fight and try every single one in last moment.

Well this is what i think.
And one more time, I don't use any sniper programs. Just my skills and common sense. So stop mouning and start putting some effort in to auction.
Real auctions look different, they are violent, can change rapidly, exciting.

 

i think zx10guy is right technically since bidding at the last second is sniping and that its happening

but i also agree with masterfu in that it is still their right to do so and if you haven't learned that this is a dog eat dog world, you're in for a big surprise

either way, those are some good POVs and clearly stated arguements

 

Well said ...

If you don't swim with the stream your life is much dfficult. All you have to do is have some common sense in what you are doing.