EBaying; howling after an auction

From: Dave McGuire <mcguire_at_neurotica.com>
Date: Mon Oct 18 01:46:10 1999

On Mon, 18 Oct 1999, Marvin wrote:
>> Ahh, the time-honored practice of "sniping". Yes, it works rather
>> well...some people scream about it, but the fact remains that it's the best way
>> to get what you want on eBay. People seem to forget that what makes it "fair"
>> is that it goes both ways. Snipers get sniped as often as non-snipers.
>>
>> If you're bidding on something that you really want, be prepared to be awake
>> and in front of your machine when the auction ends. Everyone learns this after
>> a while.
>
>Sniping is the art of ignorance on the value of something.

  Huh? No, man. Sniping is a means to an end. Nothing more, nothing less.
Not entirely "nice", not entirely what the eBay designers had in mind, but
extremely effective.

> Putting in an
>early bid is IMHO not a wise idea since there is always someone pushing just
>to see if they might get it. The wise bidder bids their maximum bid at the
>latest possible time. FWIW, sniping can be compared to a sealed bid.

  Yes, I do agree.

              -Dave McGuire
Received on Mon Oct 18 1999 - 01:46:10 BST