[GreenKeys] eBay

[Keith Mc]

Steve Garrison <steve.n4seg at ...> wrote: 
> I'm afraid I don't understand the concept [of sniping] here.  
> Maybe someone could explain it to me.

Sniping is where someone waits until the last 30 seconds or so
on an auction, then makes a bid.  By the time the competitor's 
screens update, the auction is over.   

Think of it like a "sniper" as in "long distance rifle assassin", 
vs a "Snipe Hunt".

There are automated tools available out there, to help you snipe.
You simply put in your max bid on the desired auction. 
The app then watches the eBay clock for you, and puts in a bid 
in the last few seconds.

The counter argument to sniping stated here is simply that 
"high bid always wins", no matter what.

When you put in a bid, you specify the highest amount you'll go.
Then, the eBay automation auto-resolves it, by going back and
forth on the minimum increment, until there is a winner.
Regardless of your max bid, the eBay software will only auto-bid 
for you at <max_previous_bid> + <minimum_increment>.

So... If YOUR max bid is still higher than the SNIPER'S max bid, 
you'll still win, regardless of timing.  Since your auto-bid was already
entered when the sniper arrives, as long as you were willing to go
higher than the sniper's max auto-bid, it will still resolve in your favor.

There is also the "intimidation factor".  If the bidding has already gone
high enough for an item such that it's already obvious that it is out 
of the interest range of a sniper, they won't even bother with 
attempting to snipe the auction.

Does this make sense?
- Keith Mc.
--
"Bother," said Pooh, as he was shot by a sniper on the grassy knoll...