Let's not forget that eBay provides a service. Maybe not to those who don't
buy or sell there, but ... the have mechanisms in place that drive prices
up, true, but they don't force anybody to bid more than they're willing.
The fact that the prices are driven up is a SERVICE to their customers,
since their customers are the ones who ultimately get the benefit of the
higher prices. The benefit to the ultimate buyer is that he GETS what he
wants, while the others, the LOSERS, since this is a competitive market,
don't. The losers, those who didn't want to pay what was necessary, lost
because they didn't have what it took to get the goods.
eBay will continue to exist long after AMAZON and Yahoo are long forgotten
simply because they provide a legitimate service to their customers, the
sellers. Like a real-estate broker, they, eBay, get a cut. It's not 7%
like the real-estate broker gets, but it's enough that they're profitable,
and from what I've read, they have been almost since day 1, which is almost
unheard of in the internet biz.
One thing is lacking, however, and that's the guy who finds you and breaks
your legs when you bid and then don't buy. There's something in the works,
however, so they may finally plug that hole.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sellam Ismail" <foo_at_siconic.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: Snipe S/W?
> On Tue, 19 Dec 2000, Dave McGuire wrote:
>
> > - Bid odd amounts...not $150.00, but $156.56. Shift to the high side
> > of ones or cents. Often people will bid even amounts like
> > $150.00 or slightly higher like $150.01.
>
> Just bid $1 million. You'll be guaranteed to get it everytime.
>
> > - Know the "deep pockets" bidders. People like "at90210",
> > "dimethyl", and "shirotori"...these folks have more money than
> > all of us put together, and have no qualms with spending it
> > to keep you from getting what you want if you piss them off.
> > Don't snipe the big spenders, or you'll never win an auction
> > again. It's as simple as that.
>
> Wow, eBay mafioso.
>
> > - Know who your friends are. If you find yourself constantly
> > coming up against the same person on stuff, send him or her
> > some email. Get to know the other person. Try to form some
> > sort of working relationship that facilitates communication
> > on a per-auction basis. Decide amongst yourselves who wants
> > or needs the item more. Concede once in a while. It's better
> > to have friends than enemies...and sometimes those friends
> > spot things that you may have missed.
>
> Not that I plan to turn you in (as long as you send me $100 within the
> next 2 weeks, e-mail me for my address :) but this practice is actually
> illegal.
>
> > Is sniping morally wrong? I dunno, ask a priest. Is it rude?
> > Definitely. But there are SO many people who do it, screw it. If you
> > snipe someone and can't live with yourself afterwards, then don't
> > snipe anymore. But if you're sick of BEING sniped, or of simply not
> > winning the auctions that you want to win, then go for it. It's a
> > cold, cruel world out there.
>
> Unfortunately, eBay's retarded auction mechanism promotes the use of
> sniping. As I've argued before, it encourages over-bidding.
>
> Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer
Festival
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
> International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
>
>
Received on Tue Dec 19 2000 - 19:27:12 GMT