Sniped by ten frickin' cents? Are you serious?!
mirabela
Posts: 5,012 ✭✭✭✭✭
Pardon my rant, but does anyone else feel this is just stupid and wrong? I had a max bid (ebay, of course, sold some stuff there recently, was looking around) on a raw, dark originalish VF+ ish looking no-drapery seated quarter that might have just gone XF. But probably not. 65 bucks. Someone wins it for $65.10?????? Now if someone is willing to step up and put down $70 I have no problem with that, but going over by ten g*ddam cents should *not* do it! Am I crazy? Is this not simply crooked and wrong?
Sigh...
Sigh...
mirabela
0
Comments
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
<< <i>Now if someone is willing to step up and put down $70 I have no problem with that >>
Perhaps you should have done so.
Russ, NCNE
My Auctions
it could have been $101.10
<< <i>you do not know what their max bid was
it could have been $101.10 >>
No, that's not accurate. eBay's increment bidding system wouldn't bump up a higher max bid by only a dime. In this case, the high bidder literally bid $65.10!
peacockcoins
Self Indulgence | Holey Coins | Flickr Photostream
roadrunner
If that's the rules, fair is fair. I just had no idea...
I agree though that there should be standard increments that ebay abides by. So only someone bidding $65 or $70 could get the coin....not $66 or $67.
roadrunner
Glenn
No...Just a lucky punch on the keyboard.
Tom
Does the association have t-shirts in XL?
You weren't outsnipped - you were outbid.
The $65.10 bid was there before yours and your bid of $65.00 triggered the other bidders max.
If your bid was high at $65.00, the $65.10 snipe couldn't be placed because it wasn't above the next bid increment.
There is no reason bid in even dollar amounts on eBay - it's those pennies that can win auctions
My posts viewed
since 8/1/6
<< <i>You weren't outsnipped - you were outbid.
The $65.10 bid was there before yours and your bid of $65.00 triggered the other bidders max. >>
He may still have been out-sniped if the other bidder sniped right before he did.
Russ, NCNE
I was buying Kruggerands and Maple Leafs a couple of years ago and my main competition in bidding was bidding the same exact thing when a group was listed and I outbid him on several on more than one occassion by 1 cent. The spot price was changing and so was his bid, but he only varied the bids weekly. I would just inch one or two up until I found exactlyout what he was bidding, then wait until right before closing and beat him on the resy by 1 cent. He e-mailed me several times asking how I did it.
So anyway -- Eric -- you can save the T-shirt, it's OK. I was just startled to find out what evidently you all knew.
If I lose a coin because someone bid higher, well they wanted it more than me. There will always be another one coming along.
Collecting Penguins, Named Ship Coins and other assorted goodies
Looking for Circulated coins of Papua New Guinea
stores.ebay.com/Grumpy's-Cave
<< <i>Relayer -- I placed my bid hours before closing (I know, I know) and the other bid wasn't in there. He or she bid after I did, much later. Look, I get it -- he bid higher and that's that. I was just surprised to find you could tip it over with such a tiny increment. I had no idea. The non-round number plan is a good idea -- I used to know that, but it's been so long since I bid on anything on ebay I'd forgotten it.
So anyway -- Eric -- you can save the T-shirt, it's OK. I was just startled to find out what evidently you all knew. >>
Well, just join the club, and always bid some oddball cent amount. I lost a coin a couple of weeks ago by 88¢.
which is why you lost. If you want to play - you must pay.
Denny Crane.
Edited to add: Plus there's no way I could afford to purchase all the coins I would like to bid on. You can call it a natural selection process.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I specifically recall an 1894 P Morgan a couple of years ago (doesn't everyone wish they had got one a couple of years ago?) that I wish had turned out differently. I entered what turned out to be the highest bid with 14 seconds to go. Another sniper outbid the high bid showing but he only bumped "current high-bidder" to his max. He bid with 16 seconds to go. That made my high bid fail to reach the required increment and DIDN'T EVEN SHOW ON THE BID HISTORY.
Same players, same bids, I bid with 16 seconds to go, the other sniper bids with 14 seconds to go, and I win the coin, the other sniper's bid doesn't show. And, he wasn't bidding high enough to win in any case. Just high enough to screw up my bid.
So to everyone whom I have out bid by 12 cents.........I'm glad I won. I only took one shot with my highest bid, I just didn't telegraph that it was coming............Bruce
My Morgan 58's
I see what happened now
When richard started hacking away at your bid the price was $52.01 set by allcsinc.
When richard bid $65.10, the price was only at $61.10
So he would be able to place a minimum bid of $62.10 - he bid $65.10 and got the coin.
NOW if you would have snipped it
If you would have waited to snipe it, richard would have owned it at $48.00 (with his first bid of $53.05) and would have not entered any other bids. Your snipe would have took the coin for $54.05
So not only would your snipe at $65.00 won the coin, you would have got it for $10.95 less than you were willing to pay.
My posts viewed
since 8/1/6
The only problem with this approach is you can get stung by a shill bidder sometimes, though if I put in the maximum I'm willing to pay and some shill runs it up to my price, I may have been able to get it a bit cheaper. BUT, I was willing to pay my maximum bid.
Personally, I think sniping is somewhat of an ego trip, "I got it for $2.50 more than the next highest bid with only two seconds left!)" Who gives a ^%#)()^*$%@!!!
Mike
Lincoln Wheats (1909 - 1958) Basic Set - Always Interested in Upgrading!
<< <i>I see what happened now
When richard started hacking away at your bid the price was $52.01 set by allcsinc. >>
I call bidders like 4723richard "nibblers". They just nibble away until they've either beaten you, or pushed your bid way up. These nimrods are one of the major reasons sniping is so effective. As relayer said, had you sniped this auction, you would have won, and for much less than your max.
mirabela, you weren't sniped in this auction. Snipers bid their max once and only once exceedingly late in the auction. You were nibbled.
jom
<< <i>I operate on the premise there's always another streetcar coming down the line. >>
But, what if you really desire the coin?
Russ, NCNE
Bruma, In the first scenario the reason you bid didn't show up on the bid history was because the bid wasn't accepted because you didn't bid at least one increment over the high bid. When the other guy bid at 16 second his bid raised the high bid to his max and when your bid arrived two seconds later it was not an increment above the high bid, was rejected, and didn't show in the history.
In the second instance the other bidder had no effect on the auction at all. Your bid a 16 second raised the previous high bid to its max and put yours above it. When the other bidders bid arrived two seconds later his bid was rejected because it was below the high bid (yours) and it was rejected and it didn't show in the bid history. But it did NOT cause your bid to be raised to the max.
Paul
Last time I won a piece by 11 cents (with a manual 6 second snipe), the underbidder emailed me hoping I would choke on my recent purchase! Oddly enough, we have become quite good friends.
As far as the sniping goes is it good practice to enter a minimum bid early in the auction and then do a last second snipe with your maximum bid? Doesn't eBay have a tiebreaker set up that if there's two identical max bids the one with the earliest time wins?
Millertime
Complete Dime Set
<< <i>As far as the sniping goes is it good practice to enter a minimum bid early in the auction and then do a last second snipe with your maximum bid? >>
There're two reasons for doing this: one, BIN-stomping; and two, if you suspect the seller might end or change the auction if no early bids show up.
<< <i>Doesn't eBay have a tiebreaker set up that if there's two identical max bids the one with the earliest time wins? >>
Yes, which leads to a theory that the best snipe is not five seconds or less before close, but in the ten to thirteen second range. Ten seconds still will most likely prevent any human from responding, and will beat ties with any last second snipes.
<< <i>Excellent post, Relayer. This is exactly why sniping works, the nibblers will kill you.
Last time I won a piece by 11 cents (with a manual 6 second snipe), the underbidder emailed me hoping I would choke on my recent purchase! Oddly enough, we have become quite good friends.
I've collected about 20 of these nastygrams over the years. I have one that contains 67 words, of which 31 can't be posted here. It was a $200 coin that I won by 15¢.
My second scenario was to show a "what-if". If I had bid before the other sniper, even by only a second, I would have won the coin. Proving the soundness of your advice to not wait until 5 or 6 seconds to the end of auction.
The winner probably thought, "dang sniper almost got me!", when in fact he was the reason I didn't win. I mentioned not showing on the bid history to point out that nobody ever knew I was bidding on it or that I had the highest bid --- and still lost.
Judging from the number of times I've seen "Problem with bid amount; you must bid at least $XXX" there must be a whole lot of bidding that nobody ever sees. Of course I can never raise my bid, I didn't leave me (or anyone else) time to re-enter it. Which is a VERY good way to cure auction fever, BTW. Many times I've thought I would have gone the couple of dollars more that it would have taken to win it, but it is already too late. So, even snipers need to bid their absolute highest amount they would pay if they want to win something........Bruce
My Morgan 58's
Box of 20
<< <i>Ten seconds still will most likely prevent any human from responding, and will beat ties with any last second snipes. >>
Not always, though. I sniped at about 10 seconds in an auction and had high bid over Relayer, but he reacted quickly enough to lay in another snipe and win.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>I sniped at about 10 seconds in an auction and had high bid over Relayer, but he reacted quickly enough to lay in another snipe and win. >>
Impressive.
Most impressive.
Actually, I've learned a lot reading all the responses to this. The coin itself wasn't really my concern -- I was only a little enthused about it, which is why my bid wasn't an especially enthusiastic one. As I said, I was just completely dumbfounded to find you could win by such an increment. I'd never had it happen by as little before. But, now that we all understand them's the rules, it's been interesting to consider the variety of strategies everyone here has outlined. Thanks... next time I badly want something there I'll be better informed.
i've never been keen on the 'sniping software' and do not used it. my usual method is a two bid snipe, one bid 20-30 seconds before the close, up to a fair price (my mini-max), and another with about 10 seconds left at my "i must have it" price.
sometimes i win on the first bid and any other bidders/snipers fall short, while other times my 'early' bid will get taken out by the current bidder or another sniper and the 2nd bid will win it (if it's the highest bid overall). of course, it's always nicer to pay less, but there's a 'warm' feeling when you outsnipe someone under the next bid increment.
as with e-bay, win some, lose some; bid your max at the end. any auction with another sniper will cost me. when i'm the only sniper, i get a deal, and i never know till the auction is closed. fun stuff, wish they could make buying groceries that exciting, then again, no i don't.
Neither. You were simply outbid. I usually offer "Buy It Now," or "Instant Snipe" on my ebay items.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
<< <i>Not always, though. I sniped at about 10 seconds in an auction and had high bid over Relayer, but he reacted quickly enough to lay in another snipe and win. >>
Awful hard to do though if you're on dialup, especially in the afternoon or evening when the workload is high. I've had it take as long as two minutes for a bid to go through confirmation.