[Boatanchors] auction time linked to what timeing source?

[Robert Nickels]

On 2/12/2010 8:29 AM, Todd, KA1KAQ wrote
> No 'trickery' Rob? You've just described sniping to a tee
>    

When I first realized many years ago, that I was often outbid in the 
last few seconds of an auction, I always wondered how badly someone must 
wanted the item to be sitting in front of their computer at all hours, 
finger poised over the "bid" button....then someone mentioned "sniping 
software".    I can't remember the name of it, but my first attempt was 
by using an application that ran on your computer to automatically 
launch bids according to your PC's clock.  I don't think I ever won a 
bid with it, and keeping your clock accurate was almost as frustrating 
as bidding by hand.  Plus, since the program had to send the bid info to 
eBay in the precise format required, you'd have to download a new 
version every few days.  Nowadays web-based sniping services like eSnipe 
take care of all that, and it's obvious that eBay either likes or at 
least tolerates sniping, as they could easily make it impossible for 
automated sniping to work.  (For example, what if they added a Capcha 
code to human-authenticate each bid!)

So I just figure sniping is a part of the eBay experience, and either 
way "you can't win 'em all"...which is probably a good thing.

73, Bob W9RAN