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sniping ebay - good or bad - and how?

Hi all,

I'm curious on people's opinion of "sniping sites" for ebay? I've been outbid more than a few times by last second snipe bids. They seem to work within the rules of ebay so it may be time to join 'em rather than fight em. I know outside of ebay most auction houses use something like the "30 minute rule" to extend bidding and avoid sniping but since ebay does not why not do it (right?).

So, if you think sniping is the way to go ... any recommendations on sites to use and or tips and tricks?

And if not, any ways to beat out a snipe without a sniping site and not lose out?

Cheers!

August

Tags: ebay, snipe

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Permalink Reply by Sports n Stuff on February 16, 2015 at 8:24pm

eBay and the sellers with 10 accounts...those are definitely "unsportsmanlike"! I had a seller tell me he had 3 separate accounts. What does any seller need that many? Usually cause their blocked by a seller or shilling their items

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Permalink Reply by michelle on January 26, 2015 at 11:30am

I have just discovered sniping; and I've won a few and lost a few and regretted not putting higher bids on; - but it is brilliant for bidding on something on a different continent because of the time difference but as Pete and Ira wisely remark if you are going to snipe something on ebay so is someone else. Also items on ebay.com end often at around 2 am my time and I can't think any longer by that time

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Permalink Reply by August on January 26, 2015 at 11:35am

Yeah. So i imagine you really have to get that high bid right in your mind and let it ride. I figure some snipers set bids crazy high and then "can't lose" but if two people do that the item could go for way to much $$. I think i'll have to pick a high amount and walk away! :-)

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Permalink Reply by Ira Rosen on January 26, 2015 at 11:36am

When there is a good, authentic autographed piece on eBay - and there are some - quite often there is someone who has more money, or simply wants it more. Personally, I set a number in mind after I've done my research, and try very hard not to go over that number. Autographs are like trains - there's always another one coming along.

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Permalink Reply by Randy on January 26, 2015 at 4:01pm

A good example went off last night. It was an autographed Lou Gehrig photo with "Best Wishes" inscription and no personalization.

I thought it might get overlooked and it hovered around $2900 until the last few seconds and was obviously sniped by someone who really wanted it for $5500 or so. Who knows what their actual highest bid was if pushed by another bidder?

I think the winning bidder paid pretty much full retail for it but I bet it was a collector and it won't be for sale again.

Like you said, I set a max of $3K and I thought I had a chance until the last seconds but it went for nearly double that.

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Permalink Reply by August on January 26, 2015 at 10:22pm

Yeah - that's what i imagine will happen to me. But I'll have to keep my head and remember my max is my max for a reason (ie the mortgage! :) ).

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Permalink Reply by michelle on January 27, 2015 at 12:17am

..but it still rankles when one is the underbidder and you think if only.....

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on January 26, 2015 at 1:32pm

The best part about Auctionsniper is that if you do not win the auction, there are no fees.

I am not sure how other sites handle their business, but if you have a $500 snipe on something, and you lose the auction.....you walk away without the item yes, but there are no charges for the attempt. In my book that is still a winner.

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Permalink Reply by James on January 26, 2015 at 2:21pm

Personally I'm not a fan of auctioning sites since I don't trust them with my eBay password. I have been using a sniping tool called JBidwatcher http://www.jbidwatcher.com. It's pretty easy to setup and you just give your max bid and say when you want it to bid (seconds left). I've missed a few because of lag or time delays, but I love it.

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Permalink Reply by Pete Bendu on January 26, 2015 at 3:34pm

I wasn't thrilled with the idea of leaving my ebay user name and password with the sniper site either, but I have used their service now for 4 or 5 years without a hitch.

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Permalink Reply by J.Seah on January 27, 2015 at 6:34am

BTW Ebay owns Esnipes.

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Permalink Reply by Paul on January 27, 2015 at 5:38pm

Ebay s**** me to tears. I won this auction recently and paid for the item, were talking over to 2k us and the seller goes to post my item and comes to fill out the customs declaration. She tells me I need another 400 hundred for tax which is the first time I heard about this because most people just say an items worth 100 dollars to avoid paying tax. Anyway I tried to work something out with seller so I could have the item I won but she return the cash. Ebays painful and a waste of bloody time. Over it.

Someone need SWITZERLAND worldwide auctions. Honestly how long before this big cash cow dies ebay and someone designs something else. What is it now 180 return policy 7.9 percent commission.