Vida Winter Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Is it a legit thing to do? If so do you have a program or service to recommend? Lately I am out-bid at the last possible second :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I've done a few times when it was an item I really wanted. I can't remember who I used last time, though. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahB82 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I use esnipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabella Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I've done it when I used to buy on eBay a few years ago on something I've really wanted, but I never used a program....just hung around and entered last second bids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Isabella, on 25 Jan 2015 - 6:41 PM, said:I've done it when I used to buy on eBay a few years ago on something I've really wanted, but I never used a program....just hung around and entered last second bids. and it needs to be the absolute most you're willing to pay. If I want something really bad - I'll put in a bid in just the last few seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 before they'll let you see the pictures, you have to give them your e-mail address first?!?!?!?!?!!!!!????? forget that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann.without.an.e Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I have never heard of such a thing. If there is something I really want I just hold out and bid at the very last possible minute and make it count when I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 Does ebay allow proxy bidding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I don't get it. What is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Here's an article on sniping... I'm pasting the last paragraph below. Apparently it is legit. I've never done it before, though, and don't think I would. I usually just enter my max bid towards the end of the auction. If someone else is willing to pay more than I can or will pay for an item, I'm just not going to win it. :) At the end of the day, only you can decide whether sniping is right for you. On the one hand, sniping can put your personal data at risk to a degree that largely depends on your own personal data protection habits, and may not help you to win or even help you to lose auctions in which your competitors are eBay shopping veterans. On the other hand, major sniping sites are less risky than lesser-known services (though they’re all more risky by definition than simply not giving out your login information to begin with), and sniping can in many situations help you against bidders that don’t know how to make the most of eBay’s proxy bidding system. Finally, it remains true that eBay’s strategy going forward appears to be to tip the balance ever farther toward fixed-price listings and away from auction format listings. Sniping can’t help you there at all. Perhaps the best way to decide if sniping is right for you is to try it out as you shop on eBay and see if it improves your results. You can’t argue with success—provided you’re willing to take the associated risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 sniping annoys the heck out of me! Our local auction site auto extends the auction if there is another bid in the last two minutes, so if you bid, the auction end time is 2 min after your bid. If I then bid, the auction end time is 2 min after my bid, and so on. It leads to some awesome last minute bidding battles sometimes, lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I've used auctionsniper in the past, but not for the past few years (just don't use EBay much anymore). I never had any problems with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted January 26, 2015 Author Share Posted January 26, 2015 I wouldn't even consider it except that I've been "sniped" a few times now and it's getting old. It *is* annoying. I'll give proxy bidding a try though - maybe no one else even wants this particular item - no bidders yet. What usually happens is that there is a flurry of activity in the last minute and I lose out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatechip Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Jbidwatcher is good for Mac. The good thing about bid snipers in my opinion is a way for those who have addictive personalities to use Ebay. A family member of mine used to have a lot of trouble with getting sucked into last-minute bidding (and overspending due to the pressures of the moment) to an insane degree before using a bidwatcher restored reasonableness to the process. eta: Jbidwatcher is an app you actually install on your computer. So I think it's a better choice security-wise than online options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I use the FREE Gixen sniping service. It would be impossible for me to place bids in the last few seconds as they do for me. Note: With Gixen or any other sniping service, you must be willing to give them your eBay user name and password, so their servers can log into your account and place bids for you. Read all of the information on their home page, the fine print and some of the forum posts and I think you will find that it is quite serious and OK. They delete your bid information a day or two after the auction ends. There is no way I would bid manually. NOTE: If you use the eBay automatic bidding, you will end up paying more for the item, because it drives the prices up. Excellent for Sellers, but bad for bidders. ETA: You enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the item. If all goes well, you will be the Winner of the auction, for less than your maximum bid amount. If someone else has outbid you, you will not be the Winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I have used esnipe on occasion when it was something I really wanted. But I have not really used ebay in years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 It's why I don't use eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 If there's something I really want, I'll keep an eye on it and then manually put in my bid with less than a minute left. I've never used a service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyhwkmama Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I do it, manually, within the last 15 seconds almost every time. However, I do not buy that much on eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Sniping is reality on eBay. I'm not judging it; it is what it is. :::says the person who has listened to both crowing and moaning of a sniper::: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I usually just enter my max bid towards the end of the auction. If someone else is willing to pay more than I can or will pay for an item, I'm just not going to win it. :) I just enter my max bid - period. It might be the first day something is listed or the last. I have no desire to get involved with bidding wars. I figure out how much I'm willing to pay and put that down. If I get it for that (or less), I'm happy. If not, someone wanted it more than I did and I'm ok with that. I've never found a difference in what I actually pay based upon when I enter my max bid, and my max bid does not always get maxed out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I use esnipe and I consistently come in at 20% below my max bid. (I went back and looked at old bids to see.) These are items sometimes with heavy competition, so they assuredly would have gone higher if they had known my bid. If you're not sniping, you're paying too much. Remember, with esnipe you only pay the fee *if you win*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I didn't know there was a name for it or places that do it for you, but after being outbid at the last few seconds several times, I've started not bidding until the last few seconds myself. I put in my max bid, but rarely have to pay anywhere near it because there hasn't been a bidding war driving up the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 This morning I saw something on eBay that I want to bid on. The auction will end on Sunday morning. I can't get more $ into my PayPal account that quickly. I will use the FREE Gixen.com sniping service, because their servers will place my bid on eBay, during the last 3 (or 6?) seconds of the auction. I will not indicate my interest by adding the item to my "watch list", because that would also reduce the possibility that I can win. Keeping a very low profile is how successful winners win auction items for less. The Sellers and eBay would prefer that bidders use the eBay automatic bidding system, but that makes everything public and just increases the selling price because people get into bidding wars. Great for the sellers and for eBay, but bad for the Buyers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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