eBay... probstein123

[Laxcat]

Originally Posted by Sladge34

So it sounds like everyone's ok with snipe bidding. Guess I'll just have to start bidding that way.

To clarify: No. I hate snipe bidding. Putting in the highest offer you are comfortable with is the exact opposite of snipe bidding.

[Sladge34]

That puts a lot of faith in auction houses. If people are sniping, what makes you think auction houses aren't seeing people's bid, then looking at there high bid, and bidding that person up. Mastro auctions comes to mind here.

[Sladge34]

What is so hard for these huge companies with tech savvy guys working for them to run a legit, real, true auction??

[silvor]

I think the snipe bidding is what keeps the auctions honest.

I mean, if I or any hobbyist lists an auction starting at 99 cents, rarely are there bids early. Yet, the big guys get bids almost immediately.

Example, if an auction starts at 99 cents, and you put in your $100 bid right away, well, a dishonest auction can just keep bidding and creep up the price little by little. Once they hit your price, they can retract, then bid right under you.

If you snipe and put in your max bid, that eliminates that. Sure, the fake bids can still happen, but then if the fake bids overbid, well they can get stuck with winning and have to relist.

[D. Bergin]

Ebay has a hard and fast closing time. Once you understand that you strategize around that.

Always been that way. Ebay lied when they said they have a "problem with snipe bidding". They set up a system that would automatically gravitate towards that strategy.

[Laxcat]

Originally Posted by Sladge34

That puts a lot of faith in auction houses. If people are sniping, what makes you think auction houses aren't seeing people's bid, then looking at there high bid, and bidding that person up. Mastro auctions comes to mind here.

If auction houses/ebayers are shilling, then in my opinion, they are committing fraud. The problem is proving it. If I have the slightest inkling that shady business practices are going on I just refuse to do business with that person/auction house. They will only keep doing it if it works.

[perezfan]

Just snipe in the final 5 seconds with the highest amount you're willing to pay. If you put your max out there too soon, you are making yourself vulnerable (both to competing bidders and to potential shills).

Why would you utilize any other method?

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Just snipe in the final 5 seconds with the highest amount you're willing to pay. If you put your max out there too soon, you are making yourself vulnerable (both to competing bidders and to potential shills).

Why would you utilize any other method?

+100 I couldn't agree more unless you like to spend extra money.

[dgo71]

If my max is $100 and I get bid up to $95 then honestly it doesn't really matter to me who is bidding me up. Sure, the idea of shill bidding sucks but as someone mentioned, proving that is tough and time consuming. I just look at it as I was willing to pay 100 and if I got it for 95 I still got it for less than I would've paid. If it goes for 101 then I keep looking for another in my price range. The problem is people want the item but they also want to get it for a steal. It's hard to have it both ways. While deals can be had if the bidder is patient and savvy, getting an item for well below market value shouldn't be the expectation, especially if the item is drawing significant attention.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by dgo71

If my max is $100 and I get bid up to $95 then honestly it doesn't really matter to me who is bidding me up. Sure, the idea of shill bidding sucks but as someone mentioned, proving that is tough and time consuming. I just look at it as I was willing to pay 100 and if I got it for 95 I still got it for less than I would've paid. If it goes for 101 then I keep looking for another in my price range. The problem is people want the item but they also want to get it for a steal. It's hard to have it both ways. While deals can be had if the bidder is patient and savvy, getting an item for well below market value shouldn't be the expectation, especially if the item is drawing significant attention.

Look at your maximum bid this way "I will bid $x over the next higher bidder up to a maximum of $XX" with $XX being your bid and $x being the auction increment.

I actually like this better as a buyer than a sealed bid auction where I will always either pay my bid amount or lose the item. This way I can still win an item by outbidding the second highest bidder by a small amount. I wonder what percentage of ebay auctions sell for less than the maximum bid? In other words, say the high bid was $100, but the second highest bid was only $75, then the auction ends at $75+bid increment, not $100, which someone was (supposedly) prepared to pay.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Just snipe in the final 5 seconds with the highest amount you're willing to pay. If you put your max out there too soon, you are making yourself vulnerable (both to competing bidders and to potential shills).

Why would you utilize any other method?

I agree completely.

Bidding at the last moment is not unethical or illegal, yet shilling is.

Many eBay sellers will "shill" you up if you place an early bid. I don't mind competing against other bidders, but I am not going to give the seller a opportunity to squeeze more money out of me using shill accounts.

It's unfortunate bidders need to take this approach, but too many crooked eBay sellers have forced this type of response.

That said, it's almost a moot point anyway. Only about 10% of ebay offerings are auctions anyway. It has become the land of overpriced Buy It Nows.

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

That said, it's almost a moot point anyway. Only about 10% of ebay offerings are auctions anyway. It has become the land of overpriced Buy It Nows.

That was the case for a while, but I've noticed over the past year a huge switch back to auction style. At least for the stuff I'm looking for.