[Archive]

Posted By: Steve Dawson

If you snipe, you won't be shilled

I guess it depends on your definition of "shilled."

Say that I'm selling a card on eBay that I think should bring at least $500, and with 2 hours to go it's sitting at $100. So I ask my friend to place a bid of $490. That takes the high bid to $105 and is the last bid until Steve comes in with a snipe of $500 with 5 seconds remaining and wins the card for $495.

By my definition, Steve got shilled.





Rob,

Point taken. I guess by sniping, you won't have your bid "run up" by someone. If you put a $500 snipe in, as per your example, and win the item for $495, you are getting the item at a price you're willing to pay (not unlike the original example in the thread's first post). You also have the "advantage" of knowing who the previous bidders are (as long as the high bid is below $200). Boy, the more I think about this, the more my head hurts!

I don't know, and maybe it's just naivete on my part, but I just feel better sniping, and knowing my bid won't atract any "run-upers" or anyone else.


Steve