this sniping business is pretty fun!

mact

So I sniped my first coin today. At work we have a high-speed internet connection and a while before the auction ended I synched my computer time to ebay ending time. With 3 seconds to go I got this, not anything major but neat.

68-d linc error

LanLord

what did you use to sync your clock to ebay? Or did you just note the differences?

mact

I just noted the difference. When the computer clock got to a round number like 9:30 I refreshed the ebay item and added the difference to the computer clock in my head. Wrote it down, set my bid and with 3 secs. confirmed the bid.

stockwiz

I always get an adrenaline rush when I'm about to snipe, worried that I'll run out of time before I enter all the information. When I don't feel like having nervous breakdowns, I use esnipe.com and impress people with my "one second snipes"

Seeker

If U want a coin bad enough, pay to play, overbid and get it, and it will take a bite outa snipe

airplanenut

Just open 2 browsers... place your bid in one so it goes to the confirm screen...

Refresh the other browser, starting a stopwatch when you do; write down how much time is left...
Keep refreshing to make sure your bid will be valid, then when your watch shows the end is near, click place bid

BBN

Got ya beat. I hit with 1 second twice.

With no assistance

stockwiz

<< <i>Just open 2 browsers... place your bid in one so it goes to the confirm screen...

Refresh the other browser, starting a stopwatch when you do; write down how much time is left...
Keep refreshing to make sure your bid will be valid, then when your watch shows the end is near, click place bid >>



Good idea! I'll remember that method.

mrpaseo

OK, what is the criterier (sp?) for sniping an auction? Does it mean bidding at the last minute or stealing it from another bidder because you posted higher closer to the closing of the auction?

It looks to me you posted higher but like 15 hours closer to closing than the last guy...Not sure if that is a snipe or not. I could be wrong, I'm still learning.

Very nice Lincoln by the way.

Thanks for sharing,
Ray

mrpaseo

Two more notes, 1) I practice the two screen method, with dial up, I have to time it to the last 5 minutes, just to get it in the last 5 seconds...lol.

Second, did you all see the retracted bid of 999 dollars on that one...lol. Guy had happy fingers that day.

Ray

BBN

sniping to me is bumping the other moron at the last second. Russ did that to me w/ a Kennedy about 2 weeks ago. Actually he outsniped me.

mact

Well maybe not a snipe more last a last minute bid.

windwhispersintrees

I don't get it...is sniping just for fun or competition?

Because of ebay's automatic proxy bid system, it's easier to bid the max you're willing to pay for an item (ie. what it's worth to you), regardless of how much time is left in the auction. So, if somebody bids more than you with days or seconds to go, what's the loss? It wasn't worth more to you than your max bid & there's no point in getting caught up in a bidding frenzy just for the sake of winning.

Sniping only seems to work if the current high bidder is willing to pay more than you, but failed to bid with his max price. That way, if you bid at the last minute, ebay won't proxy bid for him because he doesn't have a higher unseen max price. Those are the folks that have multiple bid entries for an item because they keep getting outbid.

I once thought it was better waiting to the end before placing my max bid. But, there doesn't seem to be any advantage. If you wait, others see the still low price and bid anyway. Perhaps by bidding earlier, and raising the price, that scares away some of the non-serious bidders who are looking for a steal.

jom

Wind: If you place the highest bid you are willing to pay late in the auction then you are less likely to have that bid run-up at the end. Sure, you still pay only your max but why not get it for less if you can?

jom

BBN

sniping is to let the high bidder ride it out thinking he's won then hammer him at the last minute. Otherwise he'll just outbid you and may go higher then what you want. IMO sniping keeps the price down to an extent.