View Full Version : Sniping on ebay.
phoenixpete
30-09-2012, 15:27
Been sniped a few times on ebay lately.
I was just bidding on an Alchemist pre amp and was well inside my maximum then with 2 seconds to go I was outbid by 2 other bidders :steam:
( Wasn't any one here was it ):chainsaw: just kidding.:D
I know the highest bid will allways win, but this last second thing is getting on my tits.
Does anyone on here use any sort of snipeing programme.?
Anyone got a nice pre amp that I don't have to fight for?:cool:
Audioman
30-09-2012, 15:42
I always use Sniping prog for items I realy want - cause I kept getting outbid. :steam: Still get my snipes beat by other snipes which is even more annoying. :steam: If people see a bid on something they are more likely to bid just to see if they can beat it or how high so artificialy forcing the price up furthur. :doh:
Rare Bird
30-09-2012, 15:52
Only on odd ocassion, but whats pissing me orf latley is winning items for the seller to totally ignore my request to complete transaction 9/10 cos it ended at a price they aint prepared to let go for.. Hello 'Reserves'..
It is annoying Pete and becoming very popular, not much you can do about it except join them or look for Buy it Now sales. You can't fight technology I'm afraid - I often 'snipe' if you want to call it that, by using a stopwatch, makes it rather exciting TBH, but you cannot get upset if you lose.
If there is something I really want I use Bibnip, but no guarantee its going to work anyway if someone has a higher ceiling than you - you just have to set a maximum price and not beat yourself up if it goes. Not a good idea to rely on regular bidding tactics these days if you really want an item, unless you put a high ceiling there, which will get it for you regardless of someone sniping if they are below. I have lost many an item in the last seconds due to my internet connection timing out before I can get a bid in, so its not good practice to manually wait until the end of the auction, if its something you really want IMO.
The Vinyl Adventure
30-09-2012, 16:08
Just bid in the last 5-10 seconds the absolute most you are willing to pay ... Snipes are Pre set of course so no one will have time to adjust them up or bid against you if your highest is higher than thier snipe. If your highest isn't high enough then you won't win ... But then it sold for more than you were willing to pay so it shouldn't bother you!
People need to forget this idea that buying on eBay is about getting a bargain ... Bargains are rarely had on there any more!
Like any other auction you should bid what you are willing to pay, if it sells for more than that then so be it ...
You might not be outwitting the snipers, and half the time you might not out bid them this way... But in my opinion it's taking a higher ground than them and will save you a lot of frustration!
Bargains are rarely had on there any more!
Absolutely Hamish and I generally stay away from stuff with bidding activity before hand anyway, you need something that not many people are watching - stuff with lots of questions I always ignore, unless I don't mind what I pay for it. People have unrealistic expectations of eBay these days as buyers, unless you are willing to hunt and wait it out for the odd gem, without getting pissed off on the way when you lose stuff.
You can't fight technology I'm afraid - I often 'snipe' if you want to call it that, by using a stopwatch, makes it rather exciting TBH, but you cannot get upset if you lose.
Been there, done that, err as long ago as 2001 or there abouts.
Whole sundays wasted, staying in to bid on things, auctions finishing at the same time, dial-up stalling your bid or not giving you the correct time left on the auction so you spend time calibrating your stopwatch. Adrenaline kicks in, you get all sweaty...
Then you don't win anything ! What a complete waste of time. Used to get me annoyed / fed up.
Then a friend showed me auctionsniper.com 11 or so years ago and it was one massive relief! All the stress lifted off my shoulders and I was free to spend my time doing what I wanted AND still bid on things.
You set your maximum RATIONALLY and walk away, come back to see if you won.
Many free ones around, although auctionsniper has some interesting features e.g. one that allows you to set up multiple snipes and drop them all as soon as you win one of the set. Great for trying to buy a common thing at a good price - set up loads of snipes at a low price for the same item and hope you get one of them.
IMO you would be daft not to snipe unless you're not too bothered about not winning. Then again, the fewer who use them, the more likely I'll win..
Bargains are out there but normally involve odd spellings or wrong catagories or poor photos - mostly though they are to be found as cheap buy it nows that last 20 mins before being snapped up.
Saw Audiomaster ls3/5as once for £40 BIN listed as "speakers" (unfortunately I was looking at passed listings!) Lasted 20 mins before being snapped up, of course.
Won a 401 with SME a while ago for £14, listed as Garraro in DJ section. Just have to trawl like a fishing boat - which means being a nerd and freelance and no children etc.
Sometimes though you find that you are put off by lots of early bids only to see at the end that the price doesnt move and it goes cheap, presumably because many are put off too.. stick a speculative snipe in and see what happens.
Nat is the eBay king ;)
I pretty much follow the same practice as Hamish - bid manually at the last minute the maximum I am prepared to pay. If I still don't win - too bad.
Mainly go for BIN as there is just less pissing about and the BIN sellars seem to be more relaible and faster with shipping too. Worth paying a small premium for.
Mr Kipling
30-09-2012, 17:05
Sniping! Hardly cricket old man, is it?
Can't really do it with my mobile, which is how I access the internet. I can never be sure how long it will take for the page to load. A few times I've tried for something I really wanted and the page just wouldn't load and I've cursed when the winning bid was less than I was willing to pay. I just accept it now.
Sniping is absolutely the civilized thing. Rational, calm..
Sniping is like sealed bidding, none of the competition and outdoing each other in public, none of the fighting over stuff.
Just a labour and time saving tool.
We have all been there, It's an auction. Bid the max it's worth to you including shipping and if it doesn't happen. It's because it meant $0.1+ more to some one else or they simply had more money to pay for it.Do the best you can then just except your not always going to win.
As far as a nice pre amp go's there are a lot of choices to make before you decide that will make a world of difference to your system.
Make a list of them.
Passive or active?
S.S. or tube?
Equalized or direct?
How menny in's/outs?
Remote volume?
Phono stage MM MC?
Headphone amp?
Tape loop?
Transformer Type?
Price range?
Color? Black,silver,hot pink,construction orange?
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate your priority's.
Make a list of pre's you like based on your priority's then go after the top 10 first.
This one is the best I have heard with my own ears but it's like buying a car.
http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/audio_valve_conductor_preamplifier
If you can find a used Audio Valve Eclipse for$1,800 to $2,000 you would be very happy and would never need to upgrade.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-valve-eclipse-preamplifier-robert-j-reina-june-2008
Same company as the conductor and I have a friend who owns both and still loves the Eclipse nearly as much.
The Vinyl Adventure
30-09-2012, 20:14
Bargains are out there but normally involve odd spellings
Haha, yeah, I recently bought a 52 plate "valkswagon golf" 1.6 SE for a grand less than what parkers said I should have paid :)
That was luck and perseverance!
phoenixpete
30-09-2012, 20:16
It does look like the best option is to just snipe like everyone else and as has been said the highest bidder will allways win.
Just a bit annoying with just 2 seconds to go.
I'm not really complaining, just getting it off my chest I guess.:)
Another thing that seems to be increasing is you are watching an item then with a day or two to go it dissapears,then comes up as sold or no longer available.
Rare bird.
Yes I have had that, refuse to complete because they didn't get what they wanted for their item,:mental: morons.
Like you say that is what "reserve" is for.
I allways just start my auctions with the lowest price I would be willing to sell for, this way atleast you either don't sell if no bids or at least you get the minimum you wanted.
Shame, I really fancied the Alchemist Forsetti, it looked really cool.:stalks:
Bid the max it's worth to you including shipping and if it doesn't happen. It's because it meant $0.1+ more to some one else or they simply had more money to pay for it.
That is exactly it, in a nutshell. :) If you've bid the absolute maximum you are prepared to pay for something then job done - if you didn't win, you didn't want it enough! ;)
Pete I just added a new link above to an Eclipse by Audio Valve.I have seen them sell used for $1,800 and they are stunning. Bass is focused and tight,sound stage is hard to beat it gives up very little sonicly to it's $14,000 dollar big brother.
Tell us what you are looking to spend and what your priority's are?
Nice pictures of one here selling in Canadian dollars.
All contacts are self cleaning.
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/221211-a
Sniping! Hardly cricket old man, is it?
I would agree, but if you just rely on manual bidding, you are placing yourself in a disadvantaged position - like it or not, that's the way it is now.
walpurgis
30-09-2012, 21:07
There is no unfairness.
You are at no more disadvantage bidding manually than you are sniping, as long as you bid enough and have the sense to enter your bid within five seconds or so of the listing finishing. The five seconds pretty well rules out anybody having the chance to up their bid.
As has been said "highest bidder wins" whether sniped or manual if you do it right!
Mind you, if you're daft enough to put a big bid in early, you only have yourself to blame if you don't like the outcome.
Sonority
30-09-2012, 21:15
I do wonder how many would bother bidding manually at all if it was known a snipe was on the item though?
Twice recently I was outbid by tiny amounts on items that I had 'won' with less than 5 seconds to go - would I have bid more - no, but neither would I have wasted my time being there either.
If everyone used 'snipe' it would make a mockery of the bid process, no?
All becomes a bit pointless and a waste of good time.
I also dont get the mentality of bidding days before, all it does is force up the price. Great for Ebay & paypal fees I guess..
walpurgis
30-09-2012, 21:17
If you bid manually in the last few seconds and its the highest bid, you win, regardless of snipes.
The Vinyl Adventure
30-09-2012, 21:27
If you bid manually in the last few seconds and its the highest bid, you win, regardless of snipes.
yep yep
If you bid manually in the last few seconds and its the highest bid, you win, regardless of snipes.
Indeed, I think some people don't actually understand how sniping works :scratch:
For me I like the fact you don't have to be chained to a computer at the auction end if you set a snipe. Carefully think about your price way ahead, set it and forget it, then wait for an email if you win . . . simples.
Mind you, if you're daft enough to put a big bid in early, you only have yourself to blame if you don't like the outcome.
Hi Geoff - can you expand on this - how does bidding early make a difference? I see something I like - bid the maximum I will pay for it - how does it make a difference if I don't wait until the last seconds - especially if the maximum I will bid is no different? :scratch:
walpurgis
30-09-2012, 21:36
The number of bids is shown and generally if you bid early this seems to encourage others to enter early bids too and you end up with the bid price going up and up long before the listing ends.
Just look at what happens with the 'Classic' Tannoys listed on eBay. There are examples listed right now:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tannoy-Monitor-Gold-12-Speakers-Crossovers-/330799719312?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Vintage_Separates&hash=item4d05332390
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tannoy-15inch-Dual-Concentric-Loudspeaker-/320990532919?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudio HiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item4abc86d537
StanleyB
30-09-2012, 21:42
There is another bidding method few know about. That's bids placed with eBay through some sort of computerized process. I don't know the exact method of how you get on it, but I reckon it is through some sort of computerized bidding agent.
Basically the system takes the last highest snipe or manual bid at the end of the auction and compares it against the highest bid made by the agent. So just when you thought you were the highest bidder at the last second you get double crossed by the agent's bid.
You don't run into this bidding method in the normal course of eBay bidding. It is specialized and often found when dealing with stamps. I have been at the wrong end of this method quite a few times.
Lodgesound
30-09-2012, 22:06
The method you describe Stanley is more commonplace than you think and is the defacto method now on anything of high value or high potential value.
The method used involves a remote computer that synchronises precisely to Ebay's master clock. It then puts in the snipes in the last half second of the auction.
As has been correctly said already if a previous bid is higher than the snipe then that bidder will still win HOWEVER trying to snipe manually against this method on a normal domestic broadband connection you have around a 100:1 chance of beating such a system.
As an end user you can sync. your system to ebay's clock - almost - but you simply cannot trigger your bid attempt over a domestic broadband line fast enough to beat a snipe done in this way.
It does of course cost money but when bidding against perhaps 700 - 900 watchers or more on a piece of highly desirable equipment then it can pay off considerably.
The method is no different really to telephone bidding via a proxy agent at a real auction. If you are rich and prepared to pay top price there is no reason to needlessly bid up that price early on.......just let the punters at the auction do that for you and then come in with the killer bid at JUST the right time.
So is it unfair?? Yes of course - but so is life and as in life the toughest player invariably wins a valued prize.
This method is also the reason I believe for the increasing amount of overly-high buy it now prices from sellers trying to get around this which of course they won't because the savvy buyer will simply stay away, bide their time and wait for the right deal.
Market forces always dictate the value of any goods second hand or otherwise. Sniping is simply a way of applying those forces by people who know how a market works and who really want to own an item of value to them.
phoenixpete
30-09-2012, 22:12
We have all been there, It's an auction. Bid the max it's worth to you including shipping and if it doesn't happen. It's because it meant $0.1+ more to some one else or they simply had more money to pay for it.Do the best you can then just except your not always going to win.
As far as a nice pre amp go's there are a lot of choices to make before you decide that will make a world of difference to your system.
Make a list of them.
Passive or active?
S.S. or tube?
Equalized or direct?
How menny in's/outs?
Remote volume?
Phono stage MM MC?
Headphone amp?
Tape loop?
Transformer Type?
Price range?
Color? Black,silver,hot pink,construction orange?
On a scale of 1 to 10 rate your priority's.
Make a list of pre's you like based on your priority's then go after the top 10 first.
This one is the best I have heard with my own ears but it's like buying a car.
http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/audio_valve_conductor_preamplifier
If you can find a used Audio Valve Eclipse for$1,800 to $2,000 you would be very happy and would never need to upgrade.
http://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-valve-eclipse-preamplifier-robert-j-reina-june-2008
Same company as the conductor and I have a friend who owns both and still loves the Eclipse nearly as much.
Thanks for the links.
That Eclipse is just beautifull love the styling.
Never seen any in England before though.
I can't afford that sort of money at the moment.
Probably worth waiting for though, and as you say, should never need to upgrade.
Probably sell the Oscar Svalander Pre, now it is running properly with the new caps, then when we are all settled into our new home in Dorset look out for my "forever" pre/amp.:)
Hi Geoff - can you expand on this - how does bidding early make a difference? I see something I like - bid the maximum I will pay for it - how does it make a difference if I don't wait until the last seconds - especially if the maximum I will bid is no different? :scratch:
Just the psychology of bidders.. people see there's a bid and want to win the item so they place their maximum bid early too. If it's not high enough, their emotions will kick in and they'll bid more and more until they either see themselves at the top or push the price up until they no longer see it as being a bargain or worth it.
Had they just bid their original maximum, un-influenced by your original bid then you would have won at a lower price.
People's idea of value is often influenced by others. If someone sees a high price on an item they were a bit unsure of, that high price will give someone the confidence that it is worth that amount and so they should up their own maximum to include this 'new' information.
Happens in bubbles, like housing market bubble - people come in on mass in a bubble when the price is already high taking confidence from the rising prices! You'd think that people buy low and sell high but herd mentallity, which also plays out within the individual, actually gets people buyng at high prices and getting stung.
In any professional timed auction, bidders will keep their cards to their chests until the very last moment where there will be a massive flurry of action. Can't think of an example of one but have been given an example before..
Does anyone on here use any sort of snipeing programme.?
I use www.snip.pl it works extremely well and you have the added joy of being able to pay in Zlotys or USD if your not that adventurous.
But sniping doesn't always win - many times I have missed items because some one has placed a high bid earlier but it hasn't shown because of a lack of bidding. If you really want something I would say bid high and early on.
Lodgesound
30-09-2012, 22:24
Interesting point there Ian however it usually does'nt work as the snipers you are up against know exactly what something is worth - they have done their homework and if you do win an item that you bid high on early on then you will almost certainly be paying far too much for it.
I cite the recent BBC Bush House auction where kit went for utterly stupidly high money because bidding was pushed up by greedy folk with no knowledge whatsoever of what they were bidding on and thinking they would make a killing on resale (usually on ebay).
They overpaid massively - what they were not aware of was that the really choice equipment was donated privately before it even reached the auctioneers to industry professionals. The BBC is a public body and as such will donate redundant machinery by default to other public bodies or charitable institutions that it no longer has any need for before it goes to auction. These institutions always have first pick.
walpurgis
30-09-2012, 22:26
I use 'Goofbay', its free and an interesting website, some good eBay tools on it.
If you bid high early and somebody else also bids early higher than you, the shown bid price escalates. Not good!
StanleyB
30-09-2012, 22:32
If you really want something I would say bid high and early on.
In my experience it is quite the opposite.
The Grand Wazoo
30-09-2012, 23:30
Nope, fire a low ranging shot early on to ensure that no-one can get it on BIN, then keep your powder dry til you put in your best bid during the last 3 seconds. If, in the meantime, your best bid is exceeded, then walk away. If you like a bit of danger (like I do) put that last second bid in manually, counting down in your head!
walpurgis
30-09-2012, 23:47
Yes, well put. As an experienced eBay user I agree with all that.
Beechwoods
01-10-2012, 07:56
I snipe because it lets me set it and forget it. I don't have time to keep checking an auction and I know the value of an item to me - if I lose its because I didn't want it enough. Way better than being suckered into upping my bid repeatedly over my own notion of its true value. And better than forgetting about it because the kids are demanding bedtime stores when it's set to finish!
Dingdong
01-10-2012, 08:07
I use 'Goofbay', its free and an interesting website, some good eBay tools on it.
If you bid high early and somebody else also bids early higher than you, the shown bid price escalates. Not good!
+1
awkwardbydesign
01-10-2012, 08:22
I work out my maximum price, and then add £1.53. That is then my max, and if I am free I click "confirm" about 6 secs before the end. Amazing how my pulse rate rises for something I don't really care about!
Obviously I don't add £1.53 for something really cheap!
I just got a pair of Mordaunt Short Carnival 3s for £21.51; my max was £20, but I would have been annoyed to miss them for £1.51.
Just bid in the last 5-10 seconds the absolute most you are willing to pay ... Snipes are Pre set of course so no one will have time to adjust them up or bid against you if your highest is higher than thier snipe. If your highest isn't high enough then you won't win ... But then it sold for more than you were willing to pay so it shouldn't bother you!
Like any other auction you should bid what you are willing to pay, if it sells for more than that then so be it ...
+1. That is what I do, along with setting outrageously high bids, in the last few seconds, that only an Arab oil sheik would challenge, and thus have achieved a near 100% success rate for winning the items I want :)
Marco.
I also dont get the mentality of bidding days before, all it does is force up the price.
I guess that would happen if you really want something, but unfortunately won't be around when the auction ends (say going away on holiday or on business), so you put in your maximum bid before you go away, in the hope that it might win, which I suppose explains why high bids are put in early...
I've never done that though, as one of my pet hates (as a seller) is the winning bidder not being around to pay me IMMEDIATELY for what he or she has just won (as I always do as a buyer)! :rolleyes:
I had to wait over 10 days once (with no communication from the buyer in between) for some fucker to come back from his holidays, to be paid!! Golden rule for me is, if you're buying or selling something on eBay, then make sure you're around, or near a computer somewhere, to complete the transaction on the due date!!!
Marco.
I had to wait over 10 days once (with no communication from the buyer in between) for some fucker to come back from his holidays, to be paid!! Golden rule for me is, if you're buying or selling something on eBay, then make sure you're around, or near a computer somewhere, to complete the transaction on the due date!!!
Or as a bare minimum contact the seller first to ask if its OK and to make sure he is happy with this, if not don't bid.
I'm with you Marco, I normally see the auction end and the very next thing I do is pay. If I am ever delayed and when I say delayed I mean an hour or two, I apologise and explain why with a note on the payment. Good manners cost nothing.
walpurgis
01-10-2012, 09:46
+1. That is what I do, along with setting outrageously high bids, in the last few seconds, that only an Arab oil sheik would challenge, and thus have achieved a near 100% success rate for winning the items I want :)
Marco.
Yes, I operate along the same lines when I really want something. I've bid twice what something is worth, just to be sure of winning.
Yesterday, I bid just under £190 on a Monarchy Audio 48/96 DIP (yes, another one, the first was a disaster) and was pleasantly surprised to win it for a tad less than £110. Sorry if any of you guys were bidding.
Geoff.
Or as a bare minimum contact the seller first to ask if its OK and to make sure he is happy with this, if not don't bid.
Indeed, Tim.
Or, if you're a seller, state very clearly on the listing that you won't be around when the auction ends, to ship the goods immediately to the winning bidder, and inform people, in advance, when you will be back to do so, as I've had the same thing happen as a buyer: I pay as soon as the auction ends, and there's no fucker around for ages to send me the item I've just paid for, or even reply to messages!! :steam:
All that does is start you worrying that you've been shafted...
With me, if I buy something, I pay for it immediately, and so want what I've just won and paid for to be shipped to me ASAP, and when I'm selling something, then I want to be paid as quickly as I do when I'm on the other side of the fence. In either case, if you're honest and sufficiently organised, that shouldn't be difficult.
I'm with you Marco, I normally see the auction end and the very next thing I do is pay. If I am ever delayed and when I say delayed I mean an hour or two, I apologise and explain why with a note on the payment. Good manners cost nothing.
Too right. The problem is that quite often you're dealing with brainless, lackadaisical half-wits, who just don't give a shit.
Marco.
The problem is that quite often you're dealing with brainless, lackadaisical half-wits, who just don't give a shit.
"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that." - George Carlin
:cool:
Rare Bird
01-10-2012, 11:02
Nothing to do with sniping, But can assure you i will never ever buy another piece of equipment from online auctions after yesterdays fiasco.
I don't see this as an issue about using snipe software or not. It is only about whether you are sensible enough to bid your maximum and then if someone bids over you (snipe or not), they simply thought it was worth more than you.
If on the other hand if your one of those people who think something is worth say £500 but only put in a bid of £300, thinking you never know I might get it cheap and then lose out last second to see it sell for £400. Then in my book that just makes you one of the people I like to bid against, because it means I'll usually win and get a bargain.
There is only one way to consistently win when bidding on ebay "bid late & bid your maximum" That way you can't complain if someone values it higher than you.
StanleyB
01-10-2012, 15:44
Bidding loads of dosh on an item is what drives prices up. People use that selling price as a reference with regards to BIN prices.
I am into stamp collecting and luckily there are guide books like Stanley Gibbon and Scott with prices that many bidders follow. So it's a lot easier to stay within a set bidding range. And as buyers are very much wary of forgeries it's not often that you see the same sort of bidding prices as you see with audio gear.
phoenixpete
01-10-2012, 16:10
Nothing to do with sniping, But can assure you i will never ever buy another piece of equipment from online auctions after yesterdays fiasco.
What happened yesterday Andr'e ?
:popcorn:
chris@panteg
01-10-2012, 16:38
I don't see this as an issue about using snipe software or not. It is only about whether you are sensible enough to bid your maximum and then if someone bids over you (snipe or not), they simply thought it was worth more than you.
If on the other hand if your one of those people who think something is worth say £500 but only put in a bid of £300, thinking you never know I might get it cheap and then lose out last second to see it sell for £400. Then in my book that just makes you one of the people I like to bid against, because it means I'll usually win and get a bargain.
There is only one way to consistently win when bidding on ebay "bid late & bid your maximum" That way you can't complain if someone values it higher than you.
Spot on :)
I had a conversation with a mate of mine a few years ago about how the price of some very desirable things are out of the reach of most of us mere mortals so he said think of high prices in another way and why they have attained there status.
He knew of a chap who had a couple of very rare items (not hifi), another one of these items comes on to the market so he bids on it at the auction and takes the bidding up to just under 70 grand so we are not talking about pocket money here and won it, this being a conventional auction where it is down to you and 1 other, he set a record price for what he bought but in doing so he now has 3 of them.
Each is now worth 30 odd grand a piece more than they were before the auction so that makes it a cheap buy for him but more importantly by setting the bar this high he has pushed up the market value thus giving him a very healthy bank balance if he decides to sell any or all of them.
The price of these items won't fall because there's only a handful of them left in the world also there is always someone willing to pay over the odds for that rarity value alone.
So sometimes an auction can just be a pricing exercise to make your assets worth more.
Back to what the topic is about, yes i have used bid snipe and it has won a couple of items, i thought if you can't beet them you might as well join them, but its still ultimately down to how much you really want to pay for anything and how deep your pockets are
Pete The Cat
01-10-2012, 19:25
A recommendation for www.gixen.com
Pete
walpurgis
01-10-2012, 19:29
What happened yesterday Andr'e ?
:popcorn:
Yes, go on Andre, spill the beans. We're all curious to know.
Geoff.
Or as a bare minimum contact the seller first to ask if its OK and to make sure he is happy with this, if not don't bid.
I'm with you Marco, I normally see the auction end and the very next thing I do is pay. If I am ever delayed and when I say delayed I mean an hour or two, I apologise and explain why with a note on the payment. Good manners cost nothing.
That's ok if the item is being shipped for sure.
If you pay with PayPal on an item that you intend to collect, you've condemmed the seller to loosing all seller protection with PayPal/eBay and no seller in their right mind should accept it. Plus you've cost them 3 percent in fees when cash would have been nicer.
An eBay seller CheapAsChips (sells unchecked electrical) told me of the PayPal refund scam like 10 years ago where people pay with PayPal, collect in person and claim non-receipt. PayPal policy - STILL, after all these years of people being scammed - is that without proof of POSTAGE then they will award the refund to the claimant.
Hence, I always make contact with seller and ask them what they want to do before taking any action. Seems the decent thing to do, to ask first.
Plus I hate PayPal and find many sellers do too and so we organise to avoid using them.
I don't see this as an issue about using snipe software or not. It is only about whether you are sensible enough to bid your maximum and then if someone bids over you (snipe or not), they simply thought it was worth more than you.
If on the other hand if your one of those people who think something is worth say £500 but only put in a bid of £300, thinking you never know I might get it cheap and then lose out last second to see it sell for £400. Then in my book that just makes you one of the people I like to bid against, because it means I'll usually win and get a bargain.
There is only one way to consistently win when bidding on ebay "bid late & bid your maximum" That way you can't complain if someone values it higher than you.
Problem with that is, if your bid is £500 and someone's theoretical maximum is £400 then, when they see it's not enough, they'll think 'err, ok another £20 won't make any difference' and bid £420. That doesn't work.. they try £440, £460...£510.. 'oh shit, now I'm winning. bit more than I thought I'd pay. Still, plenty of time left, I'm sure I'll get outbid..'
Sure enough, you come back to check and see you're loosing by £10! You decide that £20 more wouldn't hurt so you bid £520. No-one else bids and you win at £520.
So, had you instead bid at the end, the other guy would have bid £300 and you'd have come in at the end and won for £310.. By bidding early you've cost yourself £210 !
Always keep your cards close to your chest as it's a contest between people both wanting to win and pay the least.
Also, the lack of bids on a poor listing or mis-described listing can make people think it's not what they think it might be and stay away. lots of early bids indicates many people are on to something so must be something good.
Problem with that is, if your bid is £500 and someone's theoretical maximum is £400 then, when they see it's not enough, they'll think 'err, ok another £20 won't make any difference' and bid £420. That doesn't work.. they try £440, £460...£510.. 'oh shit, now I'm winning. bit more than I thought I'd pay. Still, plenty of time left, I'm sure I'll get outbid..'
Sure enough, you come back to check and see you're loosing by £10! You decide that £20 more wouldn't hurt so you bid £520. No-one else bids and you win at £520.
So, had you instead bid at the end, the other guy would have bid £300 and you'd have come in at the end and won for £310.. By bidding early you've cost yourself £210 !
Always keep your cards close to your chest as it's a contest between people both wanting to win and pay the least.
Also, the lack of bids on a poor listing or mis-described listing can make people think it's not what they think it might be and stay away. lots of early bids indicates many people are on to something so must be something good.
Wrong, If you read my post and followed my suggestion that would not happen, because what my post suggested was bid LATE and bid your maximum. The problem you outline is for the fools who bid early. Great if your a seller, lousy if your a buyer.
walpurgis
02-10-2012, 09:57
Not naming names, but I find it amazing that so many people really don't seem to have a clue.
I have my bidding practises sharply honed these days and generally win out.
Not naming names, but I find it amazing that so many people really don't seem to have a clue.
Much like life Geoff - but a lot comes down to having faith in human nature and until you get screwed over, 'most people' treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. The vast majority of people go through life without a problem, whereas some get f***** constantly by people who take advantage of their good nature.
Cynicism also comes with age, some call it wisdom, others call it being a grumpy old bastard ;)
northwest
02-10-2012, 14:31
whereas some get f***** constantly by people who take advantage of their good nature.
A chap I know has "do not mistake my kindness as a sign of weakness" as his sig. I think it's something people should consider when dealing with others. What he means is that he is likely to descend from a great height if you fsk with him, and I wouldn't personally having met him!
walpurgis
02-10-2012, 20:01
I like to be decent with people and give the benefit of the doubt, but I must also admit to being an eternal pessimist and cynic. At least I never get scammed, must be that I see things the way the scumbags do!
Everyone takes a hit or two at some time in our lives. Those of us who have it together can always replenish our losses. Those who have to scrape about ripping people off and stealing to keep their heads above water really deserve our pity, not our anger.
Although if I ever get hold of the wanker who ripped me off on my first ever e-Bay transaction I will rip him a new aresehole. He's hiding out in Tenessee though the f~~k :)
southall-1998
02-10-2012, 23:01
I like to be decent with people and give the benefit of the doubt, but I must also admit to being an eternal pessimist and cynic. At least I never get scammed, must be that see things the way the scumbags do!
Bloody hell Geoff. Now everyone on AOS knows exactly what kind of person you are:lol::eyebrows:
walpurgis
03-10-2012, 10:00
No, that's not likely. Even I don't know exactly what sort of person I am.
Wrong, If you read my post and followed my suggestion that would not happen, because what my post suggested was bid LATE and bid your maximum. The problem you outline is for the fools who bid early. Great if your a seller, lousy if your a buyer.
Not "wrong" as we both agree..
But, yes, it was err.. late and I didn't read your post properly. Sorry.
Everyone takes a hit or two at some time in our lives. Those of us who have it together can always replenish our losses. Those who have to scrape about ripping people off and stealing to keep their heads above water really deserve our pity, not our anger.
Although if I ever get hold of the wanker who ripped me off on my first ever e-Bay transaction I will rip him a new aresehole. He's hiding out in Tenessee though the f~~k :)
Top sentiments there...
I had someone 'rip me off' by never sending the item.
I decided that I had nothing to loose by popping around a few months later when I happened to be in the area. I was polite and just wanted to see what had happened..
The guy was just super-disorganised, a nice chap who brewed his own scrumpy, bit of a drop-out hippy in a mid 30s way. He had the amp or whatever it was and we chatted for a bit, had a taste of his cider and that was that.
So there was no need for anger or resentment - just some understanding of others.
I have my bidding practises sharply honed these days and generally win out.
My practices are honed too... I just often don't bid enough cos I can't :(
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