In the "poll" about EBay use in another thread, I said, among other things, "use sniping software." Others have mentioned it. But, Roy Jackson said, "One thing I do not like about ebay is the programmed bidding (puts that last minute bid in so one has no time to counterbid)."
Do you use sniping prgrams? What do you think of them?
Personally, I use Auction Scoop, which I purchased in the download version for $14.95. I have also used fee-based sniping services in the past, and the $15 is a good deal compared to recurring fees. Because I have a high speed cable connection and my computer is always on, the software based on my own computer works just as good as the services. I have won several items at the last second by not tipping my hand early. More importantly, because of the automation, I have lost some bids that went higher than my pre-set limit. If I had been bidding personally, I would have been sorely tempted to increase my bid, and probably pay too much -- or at least more than I had previously been willing to pay -- for the item. It imposes discipline on me.
For those not familiar, when using a sniping program, one loads the item number into the program, set the top amount you're willing to pay, set the amount of time before the acution ends to place the bid (usually 5 to 8 seconds), then forget about it. At the appropriate time, the program makes your bid. If there are other proxy bids, EBay's proxy bidding system quickly (almost instantaneously) determines who has the top bid. If yours is higher you win; if the other guy's is higher, you lose.
From a buyer's perspective, most people bid too early, bump their bids in small increments, and often get caught up in the emotion of buying and go too high. That's good for the seller. Using sniping software, you're a stealth bidder until it's almost too late for anyone else to change a bid and sneak it in. That's good for the buyer. Also, as I mentioned, you give control of your emotions to the program, and never pay more than you predetermined it was worth to you. Also good.
From a seller's perspective, it depends on the circumstances. If typical bidders have made small increments in their bidding, or have placed a low proxy bid not far above the current bid, the the sniper hurts them, because he did not participate in helping to boost the price. But, if one bidder has entered a high proxy bid, the sniping software can quickly force the bid up to much higher levels than were previously seen. Without the sniper, the proxy bidder would get it for less, often far less. That's good for the seller. In my experience, I've seen it happen both ways.
The sniping programs do not guarantee you will win a bid; you will only win if your sniping bid is higher than any proxy bids. That's always good for the seller, because it always raises the bid at least one step above all the bids that have been placed, if the sniping bid is higher. If the sniping bid is not higher, then it's as if it had never been placed. I've particpated in some auctions, however, where someone's proxy bid and my sniping bid were both far higher than any other bids, and the price jumped dramatically in the last 3 seconds. I've won some of those, and lost some.
Do you use sniping prgrams? What do you think of them?
Personally, I use Auction Scoop, which I purchased in the download version for $14.95. I have also used fee-based sniping services in the past, and the $15 is a good deal compared to recurring fees. Because I have a high speed cable connection and my computer is always on, the software based on my own computer works just as good as the services. I have won several items at the last second by not tipping my hand early. More importantly, because of the automation, I have lost some bids that went higher than my pre-set limit. If I had been bidding personally, I would have been sorely tempted to increase my bid, and probably pay too much -- or at least more than I had previously been willing to pay -- for the item. It imposes discipline on me.
For those not familiar, when using a sniping program, one loads the item number into the program, set the top amount you're willing to pay, set the amount of time before the acution ends to place the bid (usually 5 to 8 seconds), then forget about it. At the appropriate time, the program makes your bid. If there are other proxy bids, EBay's proxy bidding system quickly (almost instantaneously) determines who has the top bid. If yours is higher you win; if the other guy's is higher, you lose.
From a buyer's perspective, most people bid too early, bump their bids in small increments, and often get caught up in the emotion of buying and go too high. That's good for the seller. Using sniping software, you're a stealth bidder until it's almost too late for anyone else to change a bid and sneak it in. That's good for the buyer. Also, as I mentioned, you give control of your emotions to the program, and never pay more than you predetermined it was worth to you. Also good.
From a seller's perspective, it depends on the circumstances. If typical bidders have made small increments in their bidding, or have placed a low proxy bid not far above the current bid, the the sniper hurts them, because he did not participate in helping to boost the price. But, if one bidder has entered a high proxy bid, the sniping software can quickly force the bid up to much higher levels than were previously seen. Without the sniper, the proxy bidder would get it for less, often far less. That's good for the seller. In my experience, I've seen it happen both ways.
The sniping programs do not guarantee you will win a bid; you will only win if your sniping bid is higher than any proxy bids. That's always good for the seller, because it always raises the bid at least one step above all the bids that have been placed, if the sniping bid is higher. If the sniping bid is not higher, then it's as if it had never been placed. I've particpated in some auctions, however, where someone's proxy bid and my sniping bid were both far higher than any other bids, and the price jumped dramatically in the last 3 seconds. I've won some of those, and lost some.
my dollar amounts)
