Auction sniping software not effective anymore?

Post by **Patrick** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:11 am

Twice I have bid on ebay auctions just recently, each time trying to score a wide angle lens for my medium format camera. I used auction sniping software and yet both times I was outbid by the next bidder and bidders. I looked at the bid history of each auction. With the first auction, my sniped bid was recorded, and then there were two bids from other bidders placed after mine. That is quite impressive that two bids were able to be squeezed in right after mine in the brief time available. With the second auction, my bid was recorded and then one other bid came right after mine to win the auction.

As sniping software automatically places a bid in a matter of seconds before the auction end, I can only assume that the other bidders are using more sophisticated sniping software than me? Though this has never happened before. Usually, in the past what would happen is that either my bid would win if it was high enough or if it was not high enough, then my bid would not be recorded at all. I am wondering how many of you out there that use sniping software are being outbid lately?

Post by **super8man** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:16 am

I never use it but I have friends that do. I would not trust the sniping company players who would also have a big interest in items simply sniping one second or a half second after the paying customers...better to do it the old fashioned way...rely upon yourself, not others.

Post by **etimh** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:28 am

Auction sniping software?!

Kind of unfair, don't you think?

No, not just unfair. Dishonest and a cheat. Bad form, dude.

Tim

Post by **MovieStuff** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:37 am

etimh wrote:Auction sniping software?!

Kind of unfair, don't you think?

No, not just unfair. Dishonest and a cheat. Bad form, dude.

Tim

Unfair? You must be joking. To me it is no different than having a secret proxy bid that your competitors do not know about. Ethically, where's the distinction? Does someone have to sit by the computer and press the enter button at the last second for it to be "legit"? Besides, ebay isn't about manual dexterity. It's about who gets the highest bid in when the auction ends. I don't use the software but I have certainly considered it. Sniping keeps prices down and the software is available to everyone so how can it be dishonest or cheating, especially when ebay allows it?

Roger

Post by **Evan Kubota** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:46 am

I fail to see how sniping software is 'dishonest'. It's not doing anything that you can't do yourself with a mouse, keyboard, and internet connection. I guess some people always have to perceive inequality somewhere....

I rarely use the software except when I'm not in front of my computer when the auction ends... Like Roger said, if you are willing to pay more and enter that as your bid, you'll win the item. Sniping keeps prices down which is good for us as buyers.

Post by **etimh** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:51 am

MovieStuff wrote: To me it is no different than having a secret proxy bid that your competitors do not know about.

Well, exactly. Both are shitty, dishonest tactics. I don't care how you rationalize it, it gives certain individuals an unfair advantage over others.

What are you actually arguing anyways? I'm in no mood to hear people's lame defences of unethical "cheats" and "fixes."

Empty, morally bankrupt, bullshit.

Tim

Post by **Norseman** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:53 am

It doesn't matter how many "snipe" bids come in at the last few seconds. Whoever bid the highest amount, wins.

I use esnipe.com, and am very pleased with it.

Sniping is allowed and approved by ebay, so there is nothing "dishonest" about it.

Post by **bakanosaru** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:55 am

When I used to use a sniping programme there were options as to how many seconds before the end of the auction to enter ones bid. IIRC the default was 5 seconds. Perhaps you should look at your snipers option settings.
But really I don't see how this would effect anything. Obviously you were outbid, does it make any difference whether their bid was placed before or after yours?

Post by **etimh** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:03 am

Well, I see that I'm in the minority opinion about this. I know that eBay approves of "sniping" generally as a bidding strategy. But there is certainly no sanction or approval by eBay of software programs that surpass the ability of any human bidder monitoring the last seconds of an auction. Its simply a violation of the "spirit" of the auction process.

Tim

Post by **etimh** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:06 am

Evan Kubota wrote: I guess some people always have to perceive inequality somewhere....

Clever Evan. Such astute observations...

Tim

Post by **reflex** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:21 am

etimh wrote:Well, exactly. Both are shitty, dishonest tactics. I don't care how you rationalize it, it gives certain individuals an unfair advantage over others.

Empty, morally bankrupt, bullshit.

Tim

A "proxy bid" is where you enter the highest amount you're willing to pay into the little eBay bid box. If someone tries to bid an amount equal to or less than yours, your bid wins. It's standard eBay functionality.

I doubt anyone here would describe waiting to bid until the last moment as morally bankrupt. That's all "sniping" software does; it's not magic, and it's nothing you can't do at home with standard-issue human wetware.

Post by **etimh** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:22 am

etimh wrote:
MovieStuff wrote: To me it is no different than having a secret proxy bid that your competitors do not know about.
Well, exactly. Both are shitty, dishonest tactics.

Tim

Edit on this point: sorry, I misunderstood your point here. I thought you were referring to something else. My bad.

I still think sniping software is unethical and violates the intent and spirit of the auction process. But I agree with your specific point as stated.

Again, apologies for the hasty reaction.

Tim

Post by **etimh** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:33 am

reflex wrote:A "proxy bid" is where you enter the highest amount you're willing to pay into the little eBay bid box. If someone tries to bid an amount equal to or less than yours, your bid wins.

Right, exactly. I apologise for my confusion in reading the original post.

reflex wrote:It works *exactly* the same way it would if you were sitting there with your hand hovering over the Submit button until the last moment.

Wrong. First, its electronic and will always perform more efficiently at placing a last second bid than someone "manually" monitoring an auction attempting to place their bid "at the last second."

Second, it eliminates the demand for actual live participation in the auction. If someone uses it for simple reasons of convenience while others are forced to sit an monitor the auction live, they have recieved an unfair advantage.

This isn't a crazy notion folks. Other auction sites have prohibited the use of software-based sniping on ethical grounds and its about time eBay got on board.

Tim

Post by **reflex** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:37 am

etimh wrote:This isn't a crazy notion folks. Other auction sites have prohibited the use of software-based sniping on ethical grounds and its about time eBay got on board.

The highest bid wins, so ultimately nothing really changes by sniping apart from the fact that I don't have to get up at 4am to bid on the German eBay site. :lol:

I agree with Roger that sniping helps to keep prices from getting out of hand. People who waste the better part of a week bidding items into the stratosphere don't do themselves any favors.

Post by **etimh** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:58 am

reflex wrote:The highest bid wins, so ultimately nothing really changes by sniping...

reflex wrote:...sniping helps to keep prices from getting out of hand. People who waste the better part of a week bidding items into the stratosphere don't do themselves any favors.

Good points, of course.

Sorry, just had a bad day--I've just been watching this fuck-up "president" of ours for days now trying to explain away his lame administration's failure on Katrina and it just got to me tonight.

I shouldn't have vented on the board. And about ebay, of all things. :oops:

Humble apologies all around. I'll take it elsewhere.

Tim