Sniping eBay Auctions
Dec. 30th, 2003 05:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
agilebritOkay, I admit it. I probably spend more time hanging around eBay than any sane person should. However, for the stuff that I collect (anteaters, Oaxacan carvings, and old books), it's the place to get things that you just can't find locally. I've bought things from sellers right here in the Salt Lake Valley, and I've bought things from Hong Kong, the UK, Australia, and South Africa.
Now, to me, the SMART way to bid on eBay is to figure out the absolute MOST I'm willing to spend, and bid that amount all at once, as late as possible in the auction. Like, the last five seconds. However, there are some people who see bidding like this as "stealing." Who, exactly, am I stealing from? The widget belongs to the seller until the clock stops. Early bidders don't get "dibs." The way eBay is SUPPOSED to work is that everyone bids the most they're willing to pay, the bids battle it out, and high bid wins.
However, some folks are stuck in Going Going Gone mode, and don't realize that eBay auctions are timed, and when the clock stops...the auction is OVER. If I bid in the final seconds, no one will have the chance to counter. So, if someone wants the same widget I do, then they'd better put their best bid forward FIRST....because they won't have the chance to do it LAST.
I feel better now. I will post a link to my eBay "me" page over on the links section so that anyone who wants to know more about sniping will be able to access that information.
Now, to me, the SMART way to bid on eBay is to figure out the absolute MOST I'm willing to spend, and bid that amount all at once, as late as possible in the auction. Like, the last five seconds. However, there are some people who see bidding like this as "stealing." Who, exactly, am I stealing from? The widget belongs to the seller until the clock stops. Early bidders don't get "dibs." The way eBay is SUPPOSED to work is that everyone bids the most they're willing to pay, the bids battle it out, and high bid wins.
However, some folks are stuck in Going Going Gone mode, and don't realize that eBay auctions are timed, and when the clock stops...the auction is OVER. If I bid in the final seconds, no one will have the chance to counter. So, if someone wants the same widget I do, then they'd better put their best bid forward FIRST....because they won't have the chance to do it LAST.
I feel better now. I will post a link to my eBay "me" page over on the links section so that anyone who wants to know more about sniping will be able to access that information.
