Not to mention that eBay makes more money if auction lengths are shorter. That's why there is a premium for 10 day auctions. Extending auction lengths is contrary to their goal: Pump as much merchandise through their system in as short a time possible.
(yes, Ina and I actually do talk in person, I just happened to see this post and couldn't resist)
As a developer of Sniping tools, we specifically asked John Dex at eBay whether eBay would enact measures to eliminate last minute bidding. His response was that part of the popularity of eBay was related to the definite end time of auctions on eBay.
BTW, throughout 1998 and 1999 when we, the earliest developers of snipe tools, were struggling to keep up with eBay's security and screen changes. We asked eBay management if we should "go away" and if they had a philosophical opposition to our creation of sniping tools. Here is a snippet from eBay's email reply:
"There has been some concern voiced that recent eBay security changes are a
veiled attempt to do away with auto bidding programs. As mentioned
previously, eBay does not have a policy to prohibit the development or sale
of software that interacts with our system.... these are internal
security changes only... A
bidder (human or automated) that follows the normal process of submitting a
bid should not be effected by these changes."
In short, he said the current management's opinion was that the way auctions end was a major characteristic of eBay and if it wasn't broke they weren't going to try to fix it.
[ This Message was edited by: bidrobot.com on 2002-08-30 07:56 ]
I think the sniping is a game some buyers enjoy. It doesn't seem to be doing any harm, and those that place a proxy bid for the amount they are willing to pay could care less.
Adding 5 minutes to the auction after the last bid would quickly be compensated for by bidders. I don't think it would make any difference on the final price in the long run.
Joined: 18 Feb 2002 Posts: 427 Location: Fell off the turnip truck
Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2002 12:56 am Post subject:
Its not in eBay's best interests to help the seller gain a better price. They're a buyer centric operation, and rightly so.
And for the buyers, many of them, myself included, enjoy the snipe. I usually win what I'm after because the other bidders are chicken, peck-peck-peck, and in the rare occassion that I do lose, I feel good in that I didn't let the other guy get it for less than what I was willing to pay...
I did lose a snipe yesterday though because the clock ran out before I could up my bid the third time around, but that's ok... I found the same thing... on another auction, that closes tomorrow. And just watch, I'll get it for half what the other guy ended up paying... so there!
==================================
While I'm here, I mentioned it once before, and I say it again, but its the last time I will... with all the recent changes, eBay just ain't what it used to be. And when it comes to getting a fair price for an item, if you "must" get a certain price for an item and don't feel comfortable with the level of risk... use a hidden reserve, but DO NOT use the buy it now in conjunction with it.
Just today I found an item with a reserve, and a buy it now of $12,500.00 and one day to go. It had a $2.00 opening bid, and that was it - I HIGHLY doubt it'll reach their reserve, for several reasons...
A. Its a pricy item - the average sale on eBay is in the neighborhood of $20.00
B. Only one bidder, there's not much competiton going on, or so it seems.
C. But more than anything else, that $12,500.00 BIN price - that doesn't go away until the reserve is met. That tells onlookers "Hey, my reserve is probably up there around $10,000.00 or more."
For something that's been lying around for quite a while as it is...
A little while longer probably isn't going to make any difference in this case though...
35 million year old dinosaur bones...
"Here you go Fido, look what Santa got you for Christmas!"
_________________
I have Flat Fingers... So what's your excuse?
Friends use the Back Door - eDale-Trading.com
[ This Message was edited by: mbright1 on 2002-08-31 00:00 ]
We took a good look at this subject and decide to go with bid sniper protection. Why:
our clients are the sellers, do anything in your power to get them as much exposure and the best price for their item, do you really think they give a dam that the auction lasted another ten minutes if they make more, I think not. Our system not only extends the auction until five minutes past the last bid but also notifies the bidders (all of them) that a higher bid has been placed. I myself have lost many a auction at the last millesecond to someone with a faster connection or better bid sniper program, and in almost every case I probably would have gone higher, and therefore kick my ass that I didn't. At least with this option it gives a person a chance to decide whether to bid or just let the item expire, that option is not available without. WE also offer auctions for from 1 up to 14 days with the option of selecting your closing time so as to close at the best times or when you want. We are just about to go online with three additional sites for higher end items that will allow you to post your item for up to 30 days again picking the optimum closing time and the ability to just have the item in preview mode for you choosen time or full auction all the time your choice. None of these options will ever be charged for and all auction posting will always be free for I uploaded image, unlimited text and HTML. for more info click on this link http://www.u1america.com/cgi-bin/u1/usa.pl?action=get_started
Last edited by toolman on Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
As a seller I do not want eBay to extend the end of auction time when sniping bids have been received. If they did this buyers would have to be online and watching the auction to rebid. As it is now they can use sniping software or place a proxy bid. Extending the auction would make winning an auction more cumbersome and therefore eBay would be less attractive to buyers. Only in socialist states are sellers in control.
Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 1972 Location: East of Rockies
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2002 12:27 pm Post subject:
The only real reason for sniping software is to 'fake' potential (inexperienced) bidders into thinking there are no other bids on a given item.
In reality, if you are bidding on an item and truly want that item, the Proxy should be set accordingly. Then, the sniped bids wouldn't matter...if your Proxy bid was high enough.
It all goes back to knowing your products, doing a bit of pricing research and setting a 'buy' price you are comfortable with. If you set a Proxy of $50.00 on an item, and it is sniped at $51.00....then you either are happy that you gave it your best shot and lost, or unhappy because you didn't set your Proxy high enough. Either way, you have complete control over the bidding proceedure.
I say, let them have their Sniping software. They may get the inexperienced bidders, but when it comes to the real guts of the matter, the experienced buyers will usually get what they came for.
All this bid sniping makes no sense to me. You all say, you know what you're willing to pay for an item, so why not place that amount as your proxy bid and let it ride? I've got better things to do than sit around and wait for an auction to end.
HI, Here is my take as a buyer and why I LOVE my sniper program:
1) I win more bids then I ever did before.
2) Since I'm in a rather selective collectible population, antique buttons, the bidding is very competitive. Not to sound paranoid, but often when knowledgeable dealers put in a bid, even using the ebay proxy bid,that alerts others very earlier on that maybe that button is desireable and then a bidding war might ensue.
3)I end up doing all the research, being lucky enough to maybe find a good deal and put in many hours surfing ebay to find the right button, only to have other bidders continually outbid me at the last moment. I finally looked at the people who always seemed to outbid me and I realized they bid on the same auctions too frequently for it to be a coincidence. So, I created another ebay account, and use that to bid on buttons and so far those bidders who used to outbid me on button auctions have disappeared.
4)A sniper program also saves me time since when I find the auction I want, I put in my snipe and forget about it, since it the highest I will pay and if someone outbids me, good for them. At least I take minor comfort in the knowledge that I wasn't outbid from someone who was trailing me around ebay or that I didn't alert others of a possible find.
5)The sniper program saves me time since no longer do I go back and forth to see how the bidding is going or if I need to put in another bid or have been outbid, since that is now a mute a point.
Just my useless 1/2 cent.
[ This Message was edited by: steffi21 on 2002-09-03 22:32 ]
Joined: 18 Aug 2001 Posts: 825 Location: South Jersey
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2002 8:08 pm Post subject:
Steffi said "Just my useless 1/2 cent."
Useless? I don't think so Steffi, you in fact have made a very succinct and valid point as to why many people would use a sniping program.
Well done Steffi,
Ray
_________________ "In the sphere of thought,absurdity and perversity remain the masters of the world,
and their dominion is suspended only for brief periods." --Schopenhauer
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