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Damn those snipers!!

 
Ugly Redneck
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This is the 4th auction I have lost on ebay to snipers. Everytime I try to outfox them, they seem to be one up on me.
I've been trying to buy a new laptop on eBay and I've found some really really nice ones. The first time I was naive and I placed my bid well in advance, obviously I lost. So 2nd time I placed it about half an hour before auction close and again I lost. The third time I placed it 15mins before auction close and again I lost. The fourth time I placed my bid with 1min to go and some sniper placed his with 17 seconds to go!!
Damn those snipers! Next time I am going to place my bid with 5seconds to go!
 
Ranch Hand
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Next time I am going to place my bid with 5seconds to go!
That will not work, either, because your competitors use auto-bid. Why not try it yourself?
 
Ranch Hand
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how do you do autobid?
 
Ranch Hand
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I thought eBay auctions didn't end until 5 minutes after the last bid is entered...right? That gives everyone a chance to get in there no matter how slow their connection and hike that price up to the absolute max they're willing to pay.
I've also heard of auto-bid--it's some software that eBay lets you download where you can set your initial bid, when to enter it, what increments to up by, and max bid to make.
sev
 
Wanderer
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That will not work, either, because your competitors use auto-bid.
It might also have something to do with the fact that your competitors are willing to bid more than you are.
 
John Smith
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I've also heard of auto-bid--it's some software that eBay lets you download where you can set your initial bid, when to enter it, what increments to up by, and max bid to make.
I meant something else, -- the feature built in regular EBay bidding. If the item's current bid near the end of the auction is, say, $50, then don't bid $51. Instead, set your max bid to whatever you are willing to pay, such as $75. Your max bid is not shown to competitors, -- what will be shown is a $51 (assuming that the minimum increment is $1). However, if somebody bids $52, your bid will automatically go up to $53, and so on up until the maximum that you specified. This doesn't guarantee that you will win, of course, but it certainly increases your chances.
 
Ranch Hand
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I always put my bids in well in advance. The fact that people come along at the last minute doesn't give them a better chance of winning it, it just means they are willing to pay more. I rarely buy anything on ebay anymore though because people pay way too much. I'd rather pay the 5% more and get a real new item than take a risk for second hand off ebay. Just set your bid to the maximum you are prepared to pay and stick to it. Don't bothered refreshing the page to check how it's going, come back after it's finished. I know it is very frustrating if your the highest bid and someone comes along at the last minute and puts in a higher bid, so just don't watch.
 
Ranch Hand
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Snipers? Ninja looters more like.
When Im a seller theres nothing like watching your auctions in the final moments. I usually sit there in the last 10 minutes constantly refreshing my page to see how the bidding is going up... always nice to have someone bid on the last minute and push the final price up.
I can understand why some people consider Ebay addictive!
 
Paul McKenna
Ugly Redneck
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Finally a snipe for me!!! Screw you snipers!!! I win this time!!!
 
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