I got Sniped...

[HwyCruiser]

...on ebay. I was bidding on something I really, really wanted on ebay last week. I followed the auction for a week and after a couple of increased maximum bids I had the high bid until 8 seconds left before close. Then all of a sudden someone out of the blue swooped down and out bid me just as I refreshed the browser and won what should have been MY stuff for $5 more in the last second of the auction. He wasn't on the bid list the entire time. :mad2:

I've been reading up on ebay bidding strategies on the web and it seems those who use this snipe tactic are quite successful at winning the bids they go after. Is anybody here using this technique, who's software are you using, and what are the tricks to pull this off? It just kills me that I lost out. I understand that if my high bid was more than he was willing to pay I would have got it, but to see my hopes dashed like that without warning was frustrating to say the least. At least I have some satisfaction of driving the bid up to my max, which is very little condolence. :rolleyes:

[Hotrauder]

...on ebay. I was bidding on something I really, really wanted on ebay last week. I followed the auction for a week and after a couple of increased maximum bids I had the high bid until 8 seconds left before close. Then all of a sudden someone out of the blue swooped down and out bid me just as I refreshed the browser and won what should have been MY stuff for $5 more in the last second of the auction. He wasn't on the bid list the entire time. :mad2:

I've been reading up on ebay bidding strategies on the web and it seems those who use this snipe tactic are quite successful at winning the bids they go after. Is anybody here using this technique, who's software are you using, and what are the tricks to pull this off? It just kills me that I lost out. I understand that if my high bid was more than he was willing to pay I would have got it, but to see my hopes dashed like that without warning was frustrating to say the least. At least I have some satisfaction of driving the bid up to my max, which is very little condolence. :rolleyes:Of course I would never do it...but I wonder why anyone does anything else. If you have a $ figure you are WILLING TO PAY why drive up the price before the end of the auction. If the highest bid is still less than your top dollar why not bid that top dollar with only few seconds left in that auction.....you will only pay the last bid amount plus the next step increase. .....if you let the dummy in the next lane look under your hood....you probably won't get the kill...??? In answer to your question.. there is no software that I am aware of..you just have to be there and paying attention when the item is ending..BTW was the item MM related?

Marquis of Ebay Rules??

:lol:


dennis
04 DTR

[martyo]

Just use your favorite search engine and use the key words "sniping" and you will get about a bazillion hits. In fact, you can buy snipng software on e-bay.

Sniping is how the e-bay pros do it and do it well.

[duhtroll]

Heck, I snipe all the time and I'm proud to admit it. It's perfectly legal I only have ever lost once that I can remember. The simple truth is that many times sniping can get you an item cheaper. Where money is involved I take no prisoners. I've been sniped on items before (that I wasn't watching closely at end). Did I care? Only slightly. There's always more crap out there to buy.

All you need is a fast internet connection and sniping is very, very easy. Keep one browser window open on the item, and another on the bid confirmation page. Keep hitting refresh on the item page and watching the clock. I can make bids up until 2 seconds prior to auction end and be 100% successful in getting them in because I have a decent connection. I can probably do 1 second but I haven't really tested that.

I'm still entering the bid I am willing to make, but the difference between sniping and regular bidding is that my bid is now a reaction to what others think an item is worth, and then almost always when an item has been underbid.

In other words, snipe an item that's going for less than it's worth.

Most of the rest of the time I use the "buy it now" items. People who are caught up in auctions don't realize that much of the time the BIN price is where the bidding stops, and many times they go higher than the BIN.

I'm disappointed by an ebay item or transaction about as often as I am with something I bring home from a store or online store, so I swear by ebay. Knowing how to use it saves money, and it's easy to learn.

-A

[HwyCruiser]

A, I agree with your comments on thoughts on this. I guess there isn't anything unethical or unfair about it since the tactic is well within the rules, I just wanted to know the ins-and-outs.

It just sucks to be on the short end of the stick on it since I had the high bid still well under my maximum bid for 45 minutes prior to the auction close. Thanks for the pointers on the DIY method.

[the_pack_rat]

Of course I would never do it...but I wonder why anyone does anything else. If you have a $ figure you are WILLING TO PAY why drive up the price before the end of the auction. If the highest bid is still less than your top dollar why not bid that top dollar with only few seconds left in that auction.....you will only pay the last bid amount plus the next step increase. .....if you let the dummy in the next lane look under your hood....you probably won't get the kill...??? In answer to your question.. there is no software that I am aware of..you just have to be there and paying attention when the item is ending..BTW was the item MM related?

Marquis of Ebay Rules??

:lol:


dennis
04 DTRYea what HE said.

I was going to share my bidding "MO's" with you all ...

But then I'd have to kill ya's

:P

I once sniped an auction ...

And the person I sniped actually sent me a msg via the Ebay system crying like a baby ... the gist of it telling me, doing that was unfair - I was a jerk etc etc.

I wrote back & said only this ...

"Don't go away mad ..... just go away". :P

Now, I have been "up - sniped" before myself too ... & while it was dissapointing to miss out on something I may have really wanted ... I would generally have no problem conceding & saying ...

"Well played".

[Logan]

Yeah, I'm a friggin snipin pro. I never, ever bid on an item early. I always wait until about 5 seconds remaining to bid.

Nanner Nanner boo boo! ;)

[blackf0rk]

I'm not exactly the smartest guy in the entire world, but it seems to me that if you're bidding on something prior to the last minutes it's available you're only contributing to it's price rising.

I do not bid on any item prior to it having only a few hours left. Depending on the bidding list, I wait until only a few minutes.

Why place your bid 5 days in advance when you know someone is going to outbid you? And since you put your bid in, you've just raised the final price by the amount of your bid.

I didn't have to read any books about it. It's common sense. And it's not anyone's stuff (beisdes the auction holder) before the bid ends - so anyone who gets 'sniped' is just missing the 'game'.

[AzMarauder]

...on ebay. I was bidding on something I really, really wanted on ebay last week. I followed the auction for a week and after a couple of increased maximum bids I had the high bid until 8 seconds left before close. Then all of a sudden someone out of the blue swooped down and out bid me just as I refreshed the browser and won what should have been MY stuff for $5 more in the last second of the auction. He wasn't on the bid list the entire time. :mad2:

I've been reading up on ebay bidding strategies on the web and it seems those who use this snipe tactic are quite successful at winning the bids they go after. Is anybody here using this technique, who's software are you using, and what are the tricks to pull this off? It just kills me that I lost out. I understand that if my high bid was more than he was willing to pay I would have got it, but to see my hopes dashed like that without warning was frustrating to say the least. At least I have some satisfaction of driving the bid up to my max, which is very little condolence. :rolleyes:
I always snipe.....

I can only snipe on an auction with bidding that hasn't gone higher than I am willing to pay.

I know the TOP dollar I will pay... and that is what I enter in the last 10 seconds of the bidding.

Why do I snipe...? Two reasons...

I don't inflate the bidding in the auction early.

I don't give someone else a chance to reconsider their high bid.

Now if someone else has put in a proxy bid that is higher than what I drop in the final 10 seconds... I don't win. But it doesn't matter.... I entered the highest price I was willing to pay. So even if I had entered my bid 20 minutes earlier... it would make no difference.

BUT ... if my proxy bid is higher than what other folks have entered... they have no time to decide to go higher... and get it entered.

[Mike Poore]

Yeah, I'm a friggin snipin pro. I never, ever bid on an item early. I always wait until about 5 seconds remaining to bid.

Nanner Nanner boo boo! ;)
What? You guys actually bid? It's E-Snipe, and you sign up and pay for the service. The fee is a small percentage of your winning bid, and it's the only strategy I ever use. I determine what I'm willing to pay, or the value of the item being auctioned and submit my bid to E-Snipe. You never pay more than the next incriment above the next lower bid. Another strategy that works is the Maximum bid; but in this case, you can end up paying a little more. An example: There was a signed volume about the Fox Shotgun, which was easily worth $150. I placed an E-Snipe for $125 and in the last instant, got it for $100.02. The next highest bidder, who lost, never knew I was in the auction.:coolman:

You guys want Marquis 'de Queensbury rules? Forget it, stab 'em in the back, and take no prisoners.:banned:

[Petrograde]

hmm,... thanks guys. I've only bought a few things on Ebay,..

I think I'll go snipe someone! :P

[jgc61sr2002]

I never bid on an item early. I decide on the price I want to pay and enter it shortly before the end of the auction. If I am out bid so be it.

[STLR FN]

Ahhh Bid-sniping, do it all the time, I have cable. As others have said, I know what I'll pay then go from there. If the price is already over what I'm willing to pay I stop but most of the time that's not the case.

[hitchhiker]

...on ebay. I was bidding on something I really, really wanted on ebay last week. I followed the auction for a week and after a couple of increased maximum bids I had the high bid until 8 seconds left before close. Then all of a sudden someone out of the blue swooped down and out bid me just as I refreshed the browser and won what should have been MY stuff for $5 more in the last second of the auction. He wasn't on the bid list the entire time. :mad2:

I've been reading up on ebay bidding strategies on the web and it seems those who use this snipe tactic are quite successful at winning the bids they go after. Is anybody here using this technique, who's software are you using, and what are the tricks to pull this off? It just kills me that I lost out. I understand that if my high bid was more than he was willing to pay I would have got it, but to see my hopes dashed like that without warning was frustrating to say the least. At least I have some satisfaction of driving the bid up to my max, which is very little condolence. :rolleyes:
This used to frustrate me all the time.

Here's what I do now:

Let's say there is an item that I want and I am willing to pay 200.00 for it.

Instead of bidding on it right away, I put it on my watch list and set a meeting alarm in Outlook for 10 minutes before the auction's end time.

I open the listing in one browser window, get signed in and ready for action.

Let't say that the item has risen to 110.00 by this time.

I hit [Control + N] three times to open 3 duplicate windows and arrange them so I can move freely between them.

I set up a bid in the first browser for 125.00 and enter that amount stopping at the final confirming screen which will send in the actual bid.

In each of the two additional browser windows I enter and set up bids for 150.00, 175.00, and 201.99 again stopping at the final confirm and sending screen.

I then prepare for battle.

I position my self at the first and lowest window and hit F5 to constantly refresh the screen. When the seconds get to about 20 seconds before the end of the auction period, I go from window to window 'confirming' my bids!

Not only does this get my ultimate bid entered for a little more than 200.00, it
helps deflect other incoming potential bids due to the rapid fire sends in the last seconds of the auction. Bid Snipers cannot keep up with this 'last second slam' rapid fire technique and it works!

Click, Click, Click, Click and I dominate the end of the auction.

My screen is large enough to setup six of these windows if needed!

An example pic of the setup for this technique is shown below:

http://usera.imagecave.com/hitchhiker/LastMinuteSlamBiddingtodefeats nipers.jpg

Works for me!

Regards,

David

:D

[Sully008]

That's how I do it ^^ as well. I like doing it that way instead of using sniping software is for the "rush" that you get just waiting to see if you win or not. If I win, I win. If not, someone wanted it more than I was willing to pay for it.

[Mikeenh]

I use auction Sentry. You put the item you want in, your max bid and how many seconds you want the bid entered before the end and the the program work for you.

[huot5]

Collector items vs auto parts items are two different animals. The problem lies where the winning bid may come in .50 cents more than your highest bid. then that hurts. what you try to do is stay below the retail or jobber prices that you can get some of these items at online stores or thru some for sale threads including shipping costs (some sellers charge an arm and a leg).

I picked up some great Marauder stuff and Harley truck stuff for way below costs from other sites. luck counts for alot.

[Marauderjack]

Like football game...4Th quarter and a few seconds left....FIELD GOAL....TADA!!!! :beer:

That's when it counts!!!:bows:

Marauderjack ;)

[MarauderMark]

If you really want the item in concern then in the last seconds of the auction just bid it up (cheap items a $100 or 2) (more expensive items a few thousand or more) so buy the time they see how high it is it may be to late or they may pay out there a$$ for it..either way you win. :D .

[SILVERMARAUDER]

Collector items vs auto parts items are two different animals. The problem lies where the winning bid may come in .50 cents more than your highest bid. then that hurts. what you try to do is stay below the retail or jobber prices that you can get some of these items at online stores or thru some for sale threads including shipping costs (some sellers charge an arm and a leg).

I picked up some great Marauder stuff and Harley truck stuff for way below costs from other sites. luck counts for alot.
Depends on if the guy who outbids you he could have put in a higher proxy bid in essence you may not have lost it by .50c. but snipping is a rush really enjoy doing it. I have a buddy that bids on a diffrent site on guns and if you bid in the closing min/seconds it adds time to auction :down: imagine if ebay did that :cry:

[twolow]

Talking about not bidding till the last second to keep the price down...

I have sold a few things on Ebay and was irritated at how the price isn't where I want it so I have my friend log in and bid on my item to have the other bidders outbid bid him. In fact I have had my friend go in in the last few minutes and drive the price up...seems to work getting me more cash.

I also had a item flop on Ebay and didn't want a guy to get it for such a low price so had my friend bid and win so I didn't have to 'give it away'.

[AzMarauder]

Talking about not bidding till the last second to keep the price down...

I have sold a few things on Ebay and was irritated at how the price isn't where I want it so I have my friend log in and bid on my item to have the other bidders outbid bid him. In fact I have had my friend go in in the last few minutes and drive the price up...seems to work getting me more cash.

I also had a item flop on Ebay and didn't want a guy to get it for such a low price so had my friend bid and win so I didn't have to 'give it away'.
Well sniping is well within the rules of Ebay....
Having your friend bid up your auction is just the opposite....

:down:

[duhtroll]

There's a term for that, and if ebay finds out you're doing it you're finished on ebay.

Totally illegal.

-A


Talking about not bidding till the last second to keep the price down...

I have sold a few things on Ebay and was irritated at how the price isn't where I want it so I have my friend log in and bid on my item to have the other bidders outbid bid him. In fact I have had my friend go in in the last few minutes and drive the price up...seems to work getting me more cash.

I also had a item flop on Ebay and didn't want a guy to get it for such a low price so had my friend bid and win so I didn't have to 'give it away'.

[SILVERMARAUDER]

yes it is called bid "shill" bidding not a legal activity and can get you kicked off ebay or poss worse! :nono:

[Petrograde]

Talking about not bidding till the last second to keep the price down...

I have sold a few things on Ebay and was irritated at how the price isn't where I want it so I have my friend log in and bid on my item to have the other bidders outbid bid him. In fact I have had my friend go in in the last few minutes and drive the price up...seems to work getting me more cash.

I also had a item flop on Ebay and didn't want a guy to get it for such a low price so had my friend bid and win so I didn't have to 'give it away'.


:shake: dude,... thats :bs:

[twolow]

That's the response I was expecting :)

I never said it was right, just admitted to doing it.

[Mike M]

Are you logged into ebay 4 seperate times or just once with 4 seperate windows. The control n doesnt seem to work with Firefox.

[Sully008]

Are you logged into ebay 4 seperate times or just once with 4 seperate windows. The control n doesnt seem to work with Firefox.

You only need to be logged in once, Mike. Then open a new window and copy/paste the address into the new window. Now you have the bidding page open in two windows. You can do this for however many windows you want open. It should work with Firefox.

[hitchhiker]

Talking about not bidding till the last second to keep the price down...

I have sold a few things on Ebay and was irritated at how the price isn't where I want it so I have my friend log in and bid on my item to have the other bidders outbid bid him. In fact I have had my friend go in in the last few minutes and drive the price up...seems to work getting me more cash.

I also had a item flop on Ebay and didn't want a guy to get it for such a low price so had my friend bid and win so I didn't have to 'give it away'.THAT IS FRAUD!

Ebay will remove you for this and possibly more!

I am not a snitch so I will not report you.

Keep in mind that a large percentage of members are LEO's
and ARE obligated by their oaths to report illegal behavior or
confessions to same.

I post a 'Pot' picture once in awhile as a joke, but that's only
because I keep none around. If an LEO shows up at my door,
they get invited in.

Consider yourself fortunate.

:mad2:

[STLR FN]

Use a reserve auction in cases like these. This way if it doesn't meet the reserve you're not obligated to sell and it's legal.
Talking about not bidding till the last second to keep the price down...

I have sold a few things on Ebay and was irritated at how the price isn't where I want it so I have my friend log in and bid on my item to have the other bidders outbid bid him. In fact I have had my friend go in in the last few minutes and drive the price up...seems to work getting me more cash.

I also had a item flop on Ebay and didn't want a guy to get it for such a low price so had my friend bid and win so I didn't have to 'give it away'.

[twolow]

I can see where Ebay could remove my account but having a friend bid on my item isn't exactly a felony. I wouldn't have spoken about what I have done in the past on Ebay unless I was sure my Ebay account wasn't in the name, screen name, or email address I use here.

I use Ebay a few times a year so it really isn't a big loss. I have had some disputes with Ebay in the past that have led to my prior account being terminated but all it takes is a new email address and credit card number to be back online. Thats why they cannot weed out the Africa scams.

Didn't mean to get you guys all upset :P

[Two Hawks]

Many of the items I bid on have snipers in the gallery. The hardest part for me is determining my max amount to snipe with. Normally get my bid in with about 5 seconds left, but I still get ko'd more than I like.:shake: The only satisfaction I get is knowing the other sniper had to pay more than I was willing to pay. :D :D

And yes, having your friends bid up an item for you is just not right. Why not just start the item with a higher open? I try to never list anything for less than I have in it.

BTW, I hate reserves, usually will not even consider bidding unless the reserve is known.

[Mike M]

You only need to be logged in once, Mike. Then open a new window and copy/paste the address into the new window. Now you have the bidding page open in two windows. You can do this for however many windows you want open. It should work with Firefox.

Oh ok, the copy paste thing now makes sense. I have been doing alot of Ebaying lately and I like your method the best....can't wait to try it.
Thanks

[MarauderMark]

I can see where Ebay could remove my account but having a friend bid on my item isn't exactly a felony. I wouldn't have spoken about what I have done in the past on Ebay unless I was sure my Ebay account wasn't in the name, screen name, or email address I use here.

I use Ebay a few times a year so it really isn't a big loss. I have had some disputes with Ebay in the past that have led to my prior account being terminated but all it takes is a new email address and credit card number to be back online. Thats why they cannot weed out the Africa scams.

Didn't mean to get you guys all upset :P
Me and my son did this before and got reported to ebay.There was an investigation and they found out what we did(which we didn't know was bad)They suspended our ebay accounts till we both wrote a letter and faxed proof of I.D. then they reinstated both of us..That was enough last time we ever did that..they did say if we EVER get caught again we will never use ebay again..But no further action..

[hitchhiker]

Depends on if the guy who outbids you he could have put in a higher proxy bid in essence you may not have lost it by .50c. but snipping is a rush really enjoy doing it. I have a buddy that bids on a diffrent site on guns and if you bid in the closing min/seconds it adds time to auction :down: imagine if ebay did that :cry:

Yahoo auctions operate that way.

An eBay strategy forum would be interesting!

:D

[AzMarauder]

Many of the items I bid on have snipers in the gallery. The hardest part for me is determining my max amount to snipe with. Normally get my bid in with about 5 seconds left, but I still get ko'd more than I like.:shake: The only satisfaction I get is knowing the other sniper had to pay more than I was willing to pay. :D :D

And yes, having your friends bid up an item for you is just not right. Why not just start the item with a higher open? I try to never list anything for less than I have in it.

BTW, I hate reserves, usually will not even consider bidding unless the reserve is known.
Reserve shouldn't be an issue... keep track of the items you are interested in bidding on.... if you can.. show up to snipe... and if the price hasn't gone above your intended maximum bid.... fire it in in the final seconds. Like you said yourself.... if you have a fixed amount you will spend... if you don't win it... you didn't want to spend what it took to get it.
:D

[martyo]

I can see where Ebay could remove my account but having a friend bid on my item isn't exactly a felony.

See now this is proof that going to the Tennessee YMCA night law school program is a bad idea! It leaves you misinformed.

What you did is called bid rigging and, because you did it over the internet, it is wire fraud too. Victim-less crimes until it happens to you and then you b!tch like a little girl.

Better still is when you admit on public forum to committing a felony. :rolleyes: Good thing there is no such thing as IP tracking, right Logan?

Good grief.

[MarauderMark]

Wtf.. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

See now this is proof that going to the Tennessee YMCA night law school program is a bad idea!

[twolow]

See now this is proof that going to the Tennessee YMCA night law school program is a bad idea! It leaves you misinformed.

What you did is called bid rigging and, because you did it over the internet, it is wire fraud too. Victim-less crimes until it happens to you and then you b!tch like a little girl.

Better still is when you admit on public forum to committing a felony. :rolleyes: Good thing there is no such thing as IP tracking, right Logan?

Good grief.
LOL, the day the Sheriff knocks on my door for something as trivial as this I will be more than happy to take the community service and probation. Heck, I already donate time to Meals on Wheels so thats time already served :P

[martyo]

LOL, the day the Sheriff knocks on my door for something as trivial as this I will be more than happy to take the community service and probation. Heck, I already donate time to Meals on Wheels so thats time already served :P

In my business we do a lot of auctions and the process is truly sacred. Two folks just went to jail. What a shame.

[RCSignals]

As long as an auction is open for bids, a last second bid is perfectly acceptable. The Yahoo policy of extending time because of a late bid is just poor sportsmanship.

If you have straight bid using eBay's bid proxy system, and you are outbid but feel 'cheated' out of the item, the answer is simple. You didn't bid high enough.