Snipes are killing ebay auctions

[drc]

My feeling is sellers would use auctions more if they thought they'd get fair sales prices in return. I'm sure that after having a $200 item for for $9.99, many sellers aren't about to relay on those promises of magical snipes with 2 seconds left.

Buyers found a technique (last second snipes) to get the lowest price possible at auction, then are shocked and dismayed when auctioneers don't like selling things for the lowest price possible and choose to sell a different way.

Yes, I firmly believe that snipes are the main cause for the demise of auctions. I said this perhaps two years ago.

I also understand and appreciate that snipes help prevent being shilled, but snipes are still why auctions have died out on eBay. If you want to say snipes and shills were co conspirators, I'll go along with that.

[BCauley]

I don't blame sniping at all. I blame the problems that ebay has on ebay itself. I like to use them to dump things off quickly but actually find myself purchasing my vintage either through the B/S/T on here, dealer sites in the links above, or my new favorite, Joe's Vintage Cards.

[Hankphenom]

I'm having a hard time understanding most of the arguments being made here. For sellers, why not just protect yourself with a decent reserve? Then it's cost you little and now you can either try again or find another venue for your sale. If catalog auctions are so great, then use those even if you have to do some grouping. But now there are auctions that accept individual lots worth $100 or so. Or start doing shows. Or bring your stuff to a show and sell to a dealer. As for the argument that sniping eliminates the psychology that drives auction prices, can't you have two buyers who REALLY have to have something and leave enormous snipes that drive the final way beyond the third bid. I've seen this happen a lot in checking bidding histories on eBay. So gosh, the poor eBay sellers aren't getting what they want for their merchandise? Is it possible that they paid too much? Or that the economy sucks right now and very little moves like it used to? Or that they're pulling their stuff too early and losing some good last-minute bids? Nah, can't be those, it must be the sniping that's killing them. This just strikes me as the online equivalent of the show dealers who won't look at their customers, overprice horribly, don't know how to buy, won't work hard enough to get new stuff, then complain about what lousy shows they're having.

[hunterdutchess]

I think ebay should take note from Heritage and only post the reserve after the auction has ended. Most reserve auctions get little or no bids.

[Hankphenom]

Why in the world wouldn't reasonable reserves get bids?

[drc]

Ask the bidders not the sellers. Many bidders have long avoided bidding in auctions with reserves. Just the way it is.

[Rich Klein]

I know I've never bid on an auction with an reserve

Rich

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I know I've never bid on an auction with an reserve

Rich

I agree as far as hidden reserves, I've never understood the value to the seller of those, and they can drive a buyer crazy. Use a minimum, or a stated reserve, or whatever you want to call it, if you want to protect your item. But tell us what it is, so we at least have an opportunity to match it.

[T206DK]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Why in the world wouldn't reasonable reserves get bids?

the key word is "Reasonable".