[Boatanchors] auction time linked to what timeing source?

[David C. Hallam]

Thee is nothing unfair about bid sniping.  Someone complains that they 
lost an eBay auction because a sniper placed a last second bid and won 
is really complaining that they didn't get the item for cheap.  They 
lost because someone else was willing to pay more.  An on-line auction 
with a defined ending time is quite different from a live auction where 
the bidding is continued until there are no further bids.  Psychology 
plays a big part in a live auction.  Not so for an auction like eBay.

The unfailing strategy for eBay auctions is to bid the maximum amount 
you are willing to pay for an item and then forget it.  If you win, you 
get the item for what you were willing to pay or less.  If you lose, it 
was because you weren't willing to pay that much.  Remember how an 
auctioneer works to get you to raise your bid.  "Come on you have bid 
this much, you can win it for $10 (or whatever) more.  Don't let it get 
away."  Watch the collector car auctions on the Speed Channel if you 
want to see how an auctioneer really works the bidders.

The only advantage a sniper has is that like poker, he doesn't have to 
show his hand.  I use a bid sniper all the time and lose about 50% of 
the time because the my snipe bid was lower than the winning bid.  I bid 
only what I am willing to pay.

David
KW4DH

Rob Atkinson wrote:
> Jay,
> 
> No psychology, some guys are just good at rationalizing their
> behavior.   Everyone does it at some time or other including me.
> I raised the snipe issue-why?  Because I have an opinion and I see
> nothing wrong in stating it.   I'm not bothered by its lack of
> popularity.  But, it is important to offer a solution too:  I don't
> bother with a time sync -- I simply make sure I'm around when an item
> I want is ending.  I agree that it is stupid to spend days biding up a
> price or hanging around baby sitting an auction.   While I think
> sniping is unethical, I think it is perfectly okay to put in a bid as
> long as others have at least a few seconds to respond.  If another
> bidder isn't there, well that's his problem.   So I put in my bid
> around 30 seconds before the end and I make it high enough so I'm
> fairly certain of getting the goods.   If I loose I'm relieved of
> paying too much; if I win I know I won far and square with no
> trickery.
> 
> 73
> 
> Rob
> K5UJ
> 
> 
> On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 8:10 PM,  <jcoward5452 at aol.com> wrote:
>> Well folks,
>>  Thank you one and all who responded to my question.I had no intent of bringing on the "snipe" issue.I presume that was a gut reaction by someone and that triggered a lively discussion.
>>  I had several responses that included html's to time sources that can be linked to and I will investigate as Fr. Time allows.
>>  However,no one has actually answered my question.To what time source is the auction place linked to? Maybe a Heathkit clock  some employee bought on epay? (That would just roll me over!).
>>  One comment mentioned a 5 mS delay/time zone for WWV.That seems kind of long to me.I would think uS units.
>>  And, so that you all know, I snipe too.However,lately I have been trying to put in my snipe bid after the auction is over.....A blessing in disguise,I am sure.
>>  BTW a psychologist/iatrist would have a field day with all these responses! Maybe we should all collaborate on a book about collecting and on line auctions.The proceeds could go to help Hams tossed out of the house for having too much junque.
>>  Jay KE6PPF
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: jcoward5452 at aol.com
>> To: milsurplus at qth.net; arc5 at mailman.qth.net; armyradios at yahoogroups.com; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>> Sent: Wed, Feb 10, 2010 5:51 pm
>> Subject: auction time linked to what timeing source?
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Folks,
>>  Maybe I missed something along the way but I am curious as to what time it is on the auction place.I just synched my watch to my laptop's clock and then went and checked it against "live over the air"WWV and it was 4 seconds behind WWV.
>>  Is there a link to ebay's clock so one can sync to them?
>>  Thanks or reading,
>>                            Jay
>>
>>
>>
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