Snipers beware!
06-15-15 | 04:16 PM
#26
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From: Rat City, WA
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06-15-15 | 04:22 PM
#27
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From: Richmond VA area
Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.
I am a fan of sniping on Ebay, for a lot of reasons that have been discussed on other threads. It's become my habit to bid through Auctionsniper, no matter how big or small the item. I just find it easier and more effective.
Yesterday I had a new experience (I don't do a whole lot of Ebay-ing), although judging by some web-discussion I've found, this has been going on for at least a few months: I had entered a snipe bid on an item, and that bid was not accepted by Ebay. Apparently in an attempt to curtail hijacking of accounts, Ebay occasionally (I assume randomly) displays a verification window when a bid is placed. Because my bid was being placed by a third party system, I wasn't there to verify the bid, and it didn't go through. Of course I don't know if I would have won the auction, but I do know that my bid was more than double the lone bid that won the item.
I only use Auctionsniper, so I don't know if this problem is plaguing other sniping programs, but I don't see why it wouldn't.
Just a word of warning. In my case this was a small item of no real consequence, but if it had been an item I really wanted or needed, I'd be pretty bummed.
Yesterday I had a new experience (I don't do a whole lot of Ebay-ing), although judging by some web-discussion I've found, this has been going on for at least a few months: I had entered a snipe bid on an item, and that bid was not accepted by Ebay. Apparently in an attempt to curtail hijacking of accounts, Ebay occasionally (I assume randomly) displays a verification window when a bid is placed. Because my bid was being placed by a third party system, I wasn't there to verify the bid, and it didn't go through. Of course I don't know if I would have won the auction, but I do know that my bid was more than double the lone bid that won the item.
I only use Auctionsniper, so I don't know if this problem is plaguing other sniping programs, but I don't see why it wouldn't.
Just a word of warning. In my case this was a small item of no real consequence, but if it had been an item I really wanted or needed, I'd be pretty bummed.
I'm now wondering if these rare cases are the result of eBay's (apparently) occasional use of that verification window.
06-15-15 | 04:46 PM
#28
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: 1996 Marinoni Leggero, 1978 Bianchi Superleggera, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 2007 Specialized Rockhopper
I wonder why doesn"t Ebay offer this feature itself (snipe) when evidently does not really like the practice
06-15-15 | 05:22 PM
#29
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From: Waukesha WI
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
You put in a "snipe" for the maximum amount you want to pay. You go away- you find out later if you "won."
If someone was willing to pay more than you- you lost.
If you put in a bid for the maximum amount you want to pay- that allows someone else to say "I want it more" and out bid you. If anything, that's more like being a dick- outbidding some poor schmuck who put his all out on the table. If you did that, that would be rude. You make a conscious decision to "beat" that person. I don't want to be "that guy."
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06-15-15 | 05:50 PM
#30
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Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Louisville, KY
I actually prefer the 15 minute rule that some sites have. That insures that the seller and the buyer have had ample time to receive justice on an auction. On eBay, I prefer the "Set It and Forget It" method. If I'm outbid, so be it.
06-15-15 | 05:51 PM
#31
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Philly
I find it musing, and a little sad, when you see a complete auction that has over 50 bids. It is usually one guy that keeps increasing his bid by $5 until he is high bidder than along comes a snipe at the end to defeat both of the early bidders.
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06-15-15 | 06:05 PM
#32
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For a seller, however, that's the golden land!
06-15-15 | 06:17 PM
#33
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From: Chicago Western 'burbs
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06-15-15 | 06:52 PM
#34
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From: Central Virginia
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What is the timing of the actual automatic snipe bid? 1 second left, 10 seconds? I would think that some of the failed automatic sniper bids would occur if several, or even just two auto bids occur at the same time. How closely does eBay drill down on bid timing?
I do do my own snipe bidding, but it's pretty rare these days that anything I really want on eBay makes it to the end of an auction at a price I like.
I do do my own snipe bidding, but it's pretty rare these days that anything I really want on eBay makes it to the end of an auction at a price I like.
06-15-15 | 07:49 PM
#35
Old fart
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Appleton WI
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"esniper is complaining about a CAPTCHA. What's that?
"It's a security measure to prevent 'bots (like esniper) from working. See here for more details.
When eBay asks to solve a captcha this might be related to a weak eBay password. Try to change your password."
https://esniper.sourceforge.net/
06-15-15 | 08:20 PM
#36
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From: Baltimore MD
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I snipe manually. Waiting till the last second keeps the price down. Bid early, and the price gets driven up. Pretty simple really.
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06-15-15 | 09:47 PM
#37
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From: Mission Viejo
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
I miss the old days when you could follow everyone and know what they bid, or check what a seller had bought it for 6 months earlier. It was fun to try and figure out what someone might bid based on previous auctions.
I won a guitar by following one guy who had lost 2 other auctions for the same guitar and I checked what else he was bidding on and could see how much he increased his max and figured that if he wanted it he would bid x amount. Got lucky and outbid him by $5. I'm sure he was ticked, but all I did was my homework.
John
I won a guitar by following one guy who had lost 2 other auctions for the same guitar and I checked what else he was bidding on and could see how much he increased his max and figured that if he wanted it he would bid x amount. Got lucky and outbid him by $5. I'm sure he was ticked, but all I did was my homework.
John
06-15-15 | 10:41 PM
#38
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From: Northern San Diego
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There's just about nothing I like more than winning an auction by a penny.
06-16-15 | 04:54 AM
#39
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From: Wherever
But I also win a few.
06-16-15 | 05:09 AM
#40
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From: Baltimore MD
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Right. But I never feel bad if I do get out-sniped, as my bid is always the most I'd want to pay.
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06-16-15 | 05:37 AM
#41
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Yeah. Me too. I don't get near as exercised as I used to over this stuff. Quite often I just put in a "hail Mary" bid and forget about it.
If I wake up the next morning and have won, all the better. If not? No big deal.
If I wake up the next morning and have won, all the better. If not? No big deal.
06-16-15 | 05:47 AM
#42
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: LESS than I did a year ago!
+1
Manual sniping is my approach...and, as said by jeirvine...if I get out sniped and/or out bid, well, my bid is the most I would pay...so...let it go then!
Oh...and I factor in the shipping! Many people just look at the price...and then complain about shipping...I take it as a whole price!
06-16-15 | 07:08 AM
#43
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From: Louisville, KY
+1
Manual sniping is my approach...and, as said by jeirvine...if I get out sniped and/or out bid, well, my bid is the most I would pay...so...let it go then!
Oh...and I factor in the shipping! Many people just look at the price...and then complain about shipping...I take it as a whole price!
Manual sniping is my approach...and, as said by jeirvine...if I get out sniped and/or out bid, well, my bid is the most I would pay...so...let it go then!
Oh...and I factor in the shipping! Many people just look at the price...and then complain about shipping...I take it as a whole price!
I do the hail mary bid from time to time. I occasionally remember to do it via a sniper, but usually I just put the bid in. Then I find something I like even better that I want to put the hail mary bid on and sweat it out that I'm going to get both of those and spend more than I want (hasn't ever happen, almost never get either).
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06-16-15 | 07:55 AM
#44
Old fart
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From: Appleton WI
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-s Set the bidding time, specified as now, or seconds before
the end of an auction. If now is used, bids will be placed
immediately. The corresponding configuration option is
seconds, default value is 10 seconds. You should snipe
late enough in an auction to prevent a manual bidder to
update their bid, but before other snipes. In case two
bids are within one bid increment of each other, the first
bid placed wins.
06-16-15 | 07:58 AM
#45
Old fart
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From: Appleton WI
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06-16-15 | 08:33 AM
#46
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From: NYC+NNJ
Bikes: i don't have a bike. a few frames, forks and some parts. that's all
if i win, good for me. if i lose, someone else gonna pay for more than i was willing to. bad for him/her, good for me.
whether bid-and-f***-it or snipe-w-a-bot, all are the parts of fun. no?
06-16-15 | 08:38 AM
#47
Yes, as noted: "Most eBay bids are proxy bids. If everybody understood that, figured out how much they wanted to pay, and bid their maximum, sniping would not be useful. However, many bidders have no idea how much they want to pay, so they bid in small increments until they beat your proxy. If you bid your maximum at the end of the auction, you greatly reduce the chances of being bid up by such a bidder."
This appears to be a strong notion, also appears to function when there is a small incremental bid and two or more have at it to be top dog, even days away from the auction end.
Ego is a powerful force.
06-16-15 | 08:57 AM
#48
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From: Mission Viejo
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Since this is posted in C&V, it is a different ballgame than just bidding on current parts. Most of us who have ridden and worked on bikes for a long time have seen how the cost of old used parts have gone up when they become C&V. There will always be another buyer who wants to build or buy something that he or she had or wanted when that person was young and now they can afford it.
And except for those truly rare and classic parts, most of the older high end stuff is really cheap compared to new current parts. Sure, the days of buyer $100 DA derailleurs for $10 are gone, but when comparing the cost and quality of new current parts they are pretty cheap.
I know that there are those who complain about prices being bumped up whether by have-to-have bidding or last minute sniping. Unfortunately we probably have no one to blame but ourselves. The professing of "classic and vintage" over "old and used" has gone a long way to enhance the value.
John
And except for those truly rare and classic parts, most of the older high end stuff is really cheap compared to new current parts. Sure, the days of buyer $100 DA derailleurs for $10 are gone, but when comparing the cost and quality of new current parts they are pretty cheap.
I know that there are those who complain about prices being bumped up whether by have-to-have bidding or last minute sniping. Unfortunately we probably have no one to blame but ourselves. The professing of "classic and vintage" over "old and used" has gone a long way to enhance the value.
John
06-16-15 | 09:20 AM
#49
Thread Starter
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I do the hail mary bid from time to time. I occasionally remember to do it via a sniper, but usually I just put the bid in. Then I find something I like even better that I want to put the hail mary bid on and sweat it out that I'm going to get both of those and spend more than I want (hasn't ever happen, almost never get either).
If you're like me, sometimes the one you like better is already in the parts bin. Oh gee, I forgot I had that.
06-16-15 | 09:32 AM
#50
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From: Louisville, KY
Yeah, that too. I do the auction sniper as often as I remember, but I'm rarely on eBay these days (and when I am, it's usually for something buy it now), so I often forget I have an auctionsniper account. It is the way to go most of the time though.
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),