Does anyone NOT snipe these days?

doog71

More than ever, at least on the stuff I bid on (tougher Jeter cards) you truly don't know what an auction will end at until the final second. Constantly see stuff go from 0.99 to $100+ in the last 5 seconds...

Not a profound observation I know, just curious if anyone actually uses proxy bids anymore...

Dpeck100

I do.

I don't go all in though until the last few minutes on stuff I really want to win.

All manual bids for me.

doog71

What's your reasoning on that DPeck?

digicat

Depends on my mood. Manual sniping at the last second is kinda exciting, but if I'm not going to be anywhere near a computer (or don't want to hang around the computer), I place a snipe.

jasoneggert

I used to be worried if my auctions had no bids on them, but lately, I am fine with it as long as I see I have a bunch of watchers. I have had cards go from no bids to having 5 bidders in the last seconds. Those last few seconds sure are exciting to watch!

-Jason

WalterSobchak

I snipe manually within the last 10 seconds. If I'm not going to be home when the auction ends, then I put my high bid in whenever I'm leaving for the day/night- and que sera sera.

The only reason that I have not looked into signing up for a snipe service is because I am a very, very lazy person.

ChasHawk

Sniping has saved me an unbelievable amount of money on my collection.

addicted2ebay

I do not snipe, just stick with BIN'S No joke!

Dpeck100

Everyone approaches EBAY differently.

I have discussed this a few times in the past and still stand by my beliefs.

The only reason I throw the final bid in somewhere near the end is to avoid being run up by bidders who may retract a bid.

nightcrawler

<< <i>
The only reason I throw the final bid in somewhere near the end is to avoid being run up by bidders who may retract a bid. >>



That's known as a manual snipe, which means that you do snipe. You just do it manually.

Using a snipe program allows you to do it without having to be at a computer.

Edit to add.. Bid retractions are a good argument in favor of sniping.

jeffcbay

I snipe, always manually.

TNP777

I use a sniping service for everything. I can't remember the last time I placed a manual bed - might be over five years ago.

epatmythes

I've never "sniped" as in sniping with an automated program and/or service. I'm one of those crazies that keeps everything I want in my watch list and manually put my bid in when there is 4-6 seconds left in the auction. It sucks, but it's what I do... and I've certainly missed out on a lot of cards I wanted because they either end during my sleeping hours or while I'm at work (where eBay is blocked).

CrazyMind2017

<< <i>I snipe, always manually. >>



+1

Stone193

Program sniping is the only way to keep me thinking with my head instead of my penis.

MrVintage

<< <i>I've never "sniped" as in sniping with an automated program and/or service. I'm one of those crazies that keeps everything I want in my watch list and manually put my bid in when there is 4-6 seconds left in the auction. It sucks, but it's what I do... and I've certainly missed out on a lot of cards I wanted because they either end during my sleeping hours or while I'm at work (where eBay is blocked). >>



I'm the same way buddy!!! Always have tons of stuff on my watch list and narrow it down to what I'm serious about going for.

Dpeck100

Stone that is by far the best reason to snipe.

You take all ego out of the equation and set a price you are comfortable paying.

In the card segment I am in had I not upped what I was willing to pay from time to time I would not have a lot of the rare cards in my collection.

Probstein123

bidnapper.com works for me....
most people still don't snipe though....

ThoseBackPages

pro-sniper

MBMiller25

I snipe manually.

bishop

I snipe rather than even think about Mike's penis

hhmag70

I bid really high early on to intimidate other bidders from bidding! Sniping does not work on the cards I collect. You must show your presence early to win.

WalterSobchak

<< <i>Program sniping is the only way to keep me thinking with my head instead of my penis. >>



Mike, what the hell kinds of auctions are you bidding on?

Dpeck100

HHMAG,

Very nice quote! Word for word what I have said. That was true at one point.


That is how I ended up with so many Wrestling All Stars cards at prices I am very pleased with.

fattymacs

90% I just place my max bid whenever I remember to. Occasionally I manually snipe, not much I'm after is rare so another example is just a week or two away.

otwcards

Momma always said if you snipe, you'll go blind...

thenavarro

If I do snipe, I do it manually. Sometimes I choose to bid close to my max early on and hope someone else runs it up as well early. That way with a strong early bid price, it might keep people from thinking about it all week and catching auction fever by being seduced by a low current price and deciding they "have to have it", which leads them to bid impulsively toeward the end, and perhaps more than what I perceive market value to be to me. I'd rather them see it early and say "Dang, there's no bargain there, no reason to even think about it."

Not everyone's cup of tea, but it works for me.

Stone193

<< <i>Momma always said if you snipe, you'll go blind... >>

Then...can I do it - just till I need glasses?

bigreddog

Manual sniper here as well

radman

Which sniping programs or services seem to be the best? Is there a consensus?

melvin289

I always bid what I am going to bid early on and if someone else wants it more than I do they can have it.

Ron

nightcrawler

We all just wish that Kobe wouldn't rape.... Don't be rapin Kobe.

lostdart58

It appears that there is alot less use of sniping services that one would think.

I never use the sniping servies.

KeepItWarm

I agree with the above observation - I'm very surprised that more of you are not using auto-sniping websites.

BaltimoreYankee

I use gavelsnipe almost exclusively. If something is right around what I'm willing to pay, I might nibble without sniping.

Yankees001

I've never done a snipe. I also don't plan on it.

Dave

jwgators

I don't spend a ton of money, but I still use a sniper. It lets me set it and forget it.

I am surprised at how many do not use a service for sniping here as well.

Jmhockey23

<< <i>Which sniping programs or services seem to be the best? Is there a consensus? >>



I like http://www.justsnipe.com/ 5 free snipes a week seems to be plenty for me if not I'll manually bid on a few auctions...

markj111

<< <i>

<< <i>Which sniping programs or services seem to be the best? Is there a consensus? >>



I like http://www.justsnipe.com/ 5 free snipes a week seems to be plenty for me if not I'll manually bid on a few auctions... >>



Interesting. I found justsnipe to be the devil's spawn. It quit working for me, and they did respond to any of my MANY emails. I had to go to the cc company to get the charges stopped.

halosfan

I do everything manually

jlzinck

No snipe for me. I bid what something is worth to me and go on with life!

larryallen73

I snipe on all cards and such worth much money. Small stuff I don't worry about and just bid and let it go. Also, for really large things (like cars) I don't bid since they never sell for the reserve. I just wait until after the auction and contact the seller. Have one now I am eye-balling.

CollectorAtWork

I typically always snipe using gavelsnipe, which is free. However, I have learned that sometime when valuable cards go on sale, the seller will get offers to sell the card offline, and if there are no bids, the seller is more likely to do this. So, in these cases, I put in early bids or message the seller to try to pry the card myself or at least make sure he lets the auction run to completion or let me beat other offers.

trex

I snipe automated 100% of the time. Doesn't matter if it's a $10 card or a $1000 card, not that I would bid on a $1000 card, my card budget doesn't allow for it. Two very simple reasons..1) My feeling is if you don't snipe you're artificially inflating the price of the card. Let the bidding frenzy settle down and all the consignors shills go away then if the price is your price put the snipe out and hope for the best. Or put the snipe out early on and if your snipe has been exceeded, pull it. 2) Convenience. Put the automated snipe out and go about your business. If you win great, if not, well it's not your price, or your day. A good example was a couple of nights ago I was watching a card that had a fairly high opening bid. No one had bid on the card until around 10:00 pm, the auction ended around 1:00 am. I knew what I was willing to pay, which in this case was VCP minus $20.00. At 10:00 pm the opening bid hadn't come close to that. So, I set my snipe and went to bed. Being older, I need my rest. A little attempt at humor. I wake up the next morning and I won the card. Now, let me pull out my crystal ball, and lets say I had openly bid my best price, and for simplicity sake, say the opening bidder really wanted this card. So, this person goes into a bidding frenzy, bidding up until he or she reaches my price and then goes $2.00 to $3.00 over and gets the card at still a good price. I loose out. Over simplification, yeah I know, and all the "old pros" on here already know all this, but there just might be a "newbie" out there that wasn't aware and on a limited budget, and wants to get into card collecting, without busting their card budget. My two cents worth.

bishop

Just curious, why do you bother to pull a snipe that has been exceeded ?

WinPitcher

Al

I would pull it because I only had a certain amount of free snipes.

trex

I dunno, anal I guess. Why leave it out there, then when it goes in you're outbid. Unless there's something I'm missing. I only pull it if I happen to be around and happen to notice my snipe has been exceeded, then I cancel the snipe. I know what my price is on given card or group of cards and I don't allow myself to exceed it. I win my share and I loose my share, but I don't pay an artificially inflated price.

ChasHawk

<< <i>Which sniping programs or services seem to be the best? Is there a consensus? >>



I use gixen.com and have the mirror service free until 2038...