[GreenKeys] eBay

[Ed Tanton]

There is a simple way to counter sniping. It depends on whether you want the
item, or a bargain. Decide, think hard, what the absolutely, positively,
maximum amount you're willing to pay is-this is no matter what... add $2.99
to that and bid it. This may result in your paying more than you would have
LIKED to have paid, but if you have any sense at all of common prices for
your item, you'll win a lot more than you lose. Sniping does not work
against that method. In 20 years of collecting GDOs, I have lost perhaps 4
or 5 at the most. And, knowing the market pretty well, I'll guarantee you
those guys who outbid me paid more than it was worth (OK sure, that's IMHO)
and in every case, I am quite consoled that regardless of whether the item
was really worth that or not, it wasn't worth that to me. Really takes the
sting out of not 'winning' an item.

You can still bargain-hunt too. When I see a GDO that looks pretty nice, and
I don't have a spare, and nobody is paying it any mind, I may try for a
bargain then. Then, there's that rare occasion when nobody is paying
something any mind at all. I got an unbuilt Heathkit GD1-A tube kit for half
what I thought it was worth; and also became the proud owner of the Millen
90651 GDO SN 1 with their 90751 Tone Modulator for it SN 6 in very good
condition for about half what I had bid. I think same story: somehow no one
who was a serious collector noticed either one of these. 

Ed Tanton
 
website: http://www.n4xy.com  
 
All emails <IN> & <OUT> checked by 
Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect 

--------------------------------------------------
Wag more / Bark less
--------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of tony j. podrasky
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 3:52 PM
To: Green Keys
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] eBay

Richard wrote:
> "sniping" (as in sniper rifle, not the snipe bird) is the practice of 
> using a program or service that automatically bids on an item just a 
> few seconds before the close of the auction.  You give the 
> program/service your ebay credentials and the max bid you're willing 
> to place on the item and it places this bid just seconds before the 
> auction closes.
> 

Thanx for the explanation, Richard.

I feel that "sniping" really doesn't affect me:

If I have (or will have) the luxury of being at the computer when the end of
the auction comes, I will sit and wait until the last 2 minutes.
Then I'll place my bid.

I feel that gives me a better chance to win because some people might be
planning on doing the same thing but get caught-up in doing something else
and forget about it. Also, it can help cut down on the bidding wars.

In any case, (and as a response to the guy that asked for some ideas on how
to do eBaying), the main thing is to decide on how much you are willing to
spend for the thing - and then put in that bid. If the item goes for less
than your maximum bid, you'll save money. If it goes for more than your
maximum bid, well - you didn't want to pay more than your maximum bid so you
"break even" at that point.

One other comment (to the guy asking for ideas). Bidding wars can get out of
hand because of human nature. Two things can occur:

o sometimes [you] can run into a one-up-manship with another guy where you
keep bidding against each other and pretty soon you're no longer bidding on
something because you want it - but you're now bidding because you refuse to
be beaten by someone else. I did that once in my early-days of eBaying.

o sometimes, in the above example, the other guy loses interest in the item
but decides he's gonna make you pay more than the item is worth - and he's
willing to keep upping the bid to a certain point until he feels that you
might stop bidding and then he'll get stuck with the item.

UE,
W6ESE - tony
NNNN
ZCZC
--
Tony J. Podrasky | A HIGH TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS.
                  |
                  | Except for those with a big,
                  | gaping hole in their bottom.
______________________________________________________________
GreenKeys mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html