Do you use a sniping service?

Howe�s Hunter · #1 09-02-2014, 01:53 PM

The great thing about a snipe service is you put in your max bid to begin with, and then don't worry about it again until after the auction is over.

If you get it, yah! you got if for what you were willing to pay or less.

If you lose it, dang-it, it went for more than you were willing to spend.

That leaves you with more time to look at other stuff or even (hard to imagine) spend time outside the hobby.

brewing · #2 09-02-2014, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuckInOmaha

The great thing about a snipe service is you put in your max bid to begin with, and then don't worry about it again until after the auction is over.

If you get it, yah! you got if for what you were willing to pay or less.

If you lose it, dang-it, it went for more than you were willing to spend.

That leaves you with more time to look at other stuff or even (hard to imagine) spend time outside the hobby.

So, kind of like bidding without snipping?

I've known about it, just never understood the benefit. It may be me though, I'm the time of person that is hesitant to do things the new different way.

bn2cardz · #3 09-02-2014, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewing

So, kind of like bidding without snipping?

I've known about it, just never understood the benefit. It may be me though, I'm the time of person that is hesitant to do things the new different way.

No not the same. Bidding without snipping allows another person to keep bidding you up just because they can (not just shilling, but other bidders). A snipe is essence a way of saying here is my hidden "best offer" but I won't pay a bid increment more than any other "best offer".

brewing · #4 09-02-2014, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

No not the same. Bidding without snipping allows another person to keep bidding you up just because they can (not just shilling, but other bidders). A snipe is essence a way of saying here is my hidden "best offer" but I won't pay a bid increment more than any other "best offer".

Makes sense. I may have to try.

Econteachert205 · #5 09-02-2014, 03:19 PM

starting to look mighty tempting

Northviewcats · #6 09-02-2014, 03:20 PM

Used to, but with an eBay app on the phone I don't really need to.

Best regards,

Joe

HalChaseCollector · #7 09-02-2014, 03:22 PM

Ive never done it and don't know what it is. Could someone give me a quick run down on what snipe services are? Thanks!

gregr2 · #8 09-02-2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HalChaseCollector

Ive never done it and don't know what it is. Could someone give me a quick run down on what snipe services are? Thanks!

You setup a free account, then you add the Ebay URL of the item you are interested in, then add your maximum bid amount. At the last few seconds of the auction, the service puts in the bid for you up to your maximum bid. It runs on several servers and I have never had one that didn't get executed. They can also send you email notifications if your maximum bid has been surpassed.

T206Collector · #9 09-02-2014, 03:39 PM

I always wondered who was placing ebay bids before 20 seconds were left in the auction -- I guess now I know. Half the respondents! WOW!

As a bidder, why would you let your competitors know your high bid? This just encourages people to bid you up early and often.

Stated another way, the only person who benefits from early bidding is the seller.

If you bid with enough time to let competitors or shillers see your bid and respond then you are just asking to pay more to win, and you undoubtedly will lose more.

Instead, try sniping. Take the ebay item number to Gavelsnipe. Put the number into the system and how much your top bid is. Then leave it alone. It will place the bid for you with 8 or so seconds left. Nobody can respond. You just get your bid in at your max. Set it, and forget it!

vintagetoppsguy · #10 09-03-2014, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northviewcats

Used to, but with an eBay app on the phone I don't really need to.

Best regards,

Joe

This. Unless I'm asleep, my phone stays with me almost all the time. I get alerts when items I'm watching are about to end. For me, I don't need a sniping service.

vintagetoppsguy · #11 09-03-2014, 11:43 AM

Double post...and that's weird because I didn't even hit the back button.

RGold · #12 09-03-2014, 03:56 PM

Enjoying this thread. Makes me feel like this is 1999 all over again.

Most every sniping service will let you adjust the buffer time(seconds before end of auction). Studies have shown that 8-10 seconds is the optimum buffer time to have your bids placed. There is a disadvantage to setting your buffer time to 3 seconds or less.

First, having the sniping service place your bids so late may result in your bids not connecting with eBay in time. This would not be the fault of the sniping service, but a problem with the eBay servers.

Second, having the sniping service place your bids so late may result in you losing an auction with a bid higher than the winning bid.

Example: Auction with $2.50 intervals
Bidder A snipe bids $101.50 with 5 seconds left
Bidder B snipe bids $102.00 with 2 seconds left

Bidder A wins auction because Bidder B's bid did not meet required minimum interval bid of $104.00.

itjclarke · #13 09-02-2014, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuckInOmaha

The great thing about a snipe service is you put in your max bid to begin with, and then don't worry about it again until after the auction is over.

If you get it, yah! you got if for what you were willing to pay or less.

.

I agree this happens 90% of the time, but as was case in my example using the snipe service actually hurt me. By placing my max bid at 8 seconds, it allowed time for the eventual under bidder to take me up 3x bidding increments. Ebay's new one click bidding feature means that someone can rattle off 3-4 bids in a couple seconds.

Again, 90% of the time it goes off without a hitch (with exception of this past weekend).. However, think there's no replacement for bidding manually at about 1-2 seconds. In my case, I was on line and could've/would've done so, except the snipe cannot be changed or deleted within 5 min of close. Looking at bid history, the item was mine at X, maybe X plus one increment had I sniped it manually.. But ended up at X+ 3 increments with automatic snipe.

Overall, very happy with the service though.

Jeffrompa · #14 09-02-2014, 05:46 PM

I am surprised by the results so far .

perezfan · #15 09-02-2014, 06:37 PM

Same here... simply astonished that the poll is even close to 50/50.

I haven't seen it mentioned above (or perhaps just missed it), but want to give a "shout out" to Gixen, who is my sniper of choice. Very reliable, completely free, easy to use, and has yet to mis-fire after hundreds of snipes

View Poll Results: Do I ever use a sniping service?
Yes	149	53.21%
No	131	46.79%
Voters: 280. You may not vote on this poll

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