On 21 Dec 2000, Iggy Drougge wrote:
> Dave McGuire skrev:
>
> > Ernest, as a frequent sniper, I sincerely apologize to you on behalf
> >of other snipers for ruining your experiences. But please try to see
> >it from the other side...it's a means to an end, it's nothing
> >personal.
>
> But do the end justify the means? I have also found it an unpleasurable
> experience to lose something which I have put a bid on in some cases several
> weeks ago, only to be outbid at the very last minute, possibly when I'm at
> school or fast asleep. In a real-life auction, there are the three rounds in
> which you may increase your bid, giving everyone a fair chance. On Ebay, the
> auctions do instead go on for weeks, and jumping in at the very end of this
> time frame is really quite dishonest. Some play with their cards on the table,
> whereas the snipers literally rip the thing out of your hands. It's really
> annoying, and and example of very bad behaviour. Perhaps the reason why
> anarchy doesn't work very well.
As I'm sure other people will or have pointed out, ebay is not the same
format as a "real life auction". Snipers are playing by Ebay's rules and
according to the auction format, and although annoying, it's certainly not
"bad behavior".
Sniping only works as long as people do not use the proxy system to bid up
to the maximum they are willing to pay. If everyone used the proxy system
and entered the maximum they were willing to pay, sniping would instantly
stop being useful.
If I can offer advise, use the proxy system. Enter the amount maximum
amount you are willing to pay. You have absolutely, irrevocably defused
ANY danger of sniping.
--
Aaron Nabil
Received on Thu Dec 21 2000 - 11:10:12 GMT