I've noticed this issue several times, but have never contacted AuctionSniper about it until now. Today it is happening again.
When I view My Snipes page to check on the status of an auction item that has not yet closed, I see two prices: Max (the amount I entered when I set up the snipe) and Currently (which I think should be the actual current high bid on eBay at this time). Here's the problem:
The Current price is not accurate. For example, it says Current = $11.49, but the current price on eBay is showing as $33. There have been 7 new bids and 4 hours of time has elapsed since the item was $11.49--the Current price per AuctionSniper's My Snipes page. Even when I reload the page the Current price does not change.
Since my Max price was between $11.49 and $33, I no longer have a chance of winning this item at my Max price. Trouble is, I wouldn't know it to look at the info on My Snipes page, and I did not receive an email alert to let me know that my Max price had been surpassed. So, if I had not happened to be double checking myself--by going back to the eBay listing to verify the current bid activity--I would have outright lost the item by relying on the AuctionSniper info.
Why is this happening? Am I doing something wrong?
I have been using AuctionSniper for years and never knew there was such a long lag. Perhaps it would be better to find a label that more accurately describes the price, something other than "Current," since it is not truly current.
I've been known to have a reply ready before someone posts. That's particularly true for one of the forum's regular users (name withheld to protect their ego).
Originally posted by purpleplume: Thanks for your reply, Rick.
I have been using AuctionSniper for years and never knew there was such a long lag. Perhaps it would be better to find a label that more accurately describes the price, something other than "Current," since it is not truly current.
Originally posted by region2: it might get 'fixed'
I don’t think it’s ‘broken’. It might not be entirely accurate all the time, but it might well be a better description than any of the alternatives. Something like “Current, if you click on the ‘Update Prices’ button every 5 minutes” might be too wordy. I suppose “Usually current” or “Typically current” would be more accurate, although that might cause a few questions. The usage of “Current” might be to make the description as user-friendly as possible, in that it’s similar to what ebay uses (it’s familiar). The “Current” is like the “Max Bid” amount entered via AS. In ebay, “Your maximum bid” is understood to include proxy bidding. The “Max Bid” in AS is sometime confused with something similar to ebay’s proxy bidding, that being users’ FAQ not covered in the FAQ of, “Does AS place multiple incremental bids?”
But, suppose I don’t know my head from my ***, what description would you, or anyone, suggest? The current “Current” text might not be perfect, but it may be less imperfect than anything else.
Glad to see this question is generating some interesting debate.
The dictionary defines current as "occurring in or existing at the present time," or "most recent." Clearly, the price displayed by AuctionSniper does not meet this definition.
If the real current price can be displayed simply by clicking Update Prices, then perhaps the question we should be asking is, "If AuctionSniper has the capability to update prices upon request, why not modify the program to continually provide updated prices?"
Lacking that ability, a more appropriate label may be "Recent or Recently" although I still do not consider a 4-hour lag to be recent.
The dictionary defines current as "occurring in or existing at the present time," or "most recent." Clearly, the price displayed by AuctionSniper does not meet this definition.
Agree.
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"If AuctionSniper has the capability to update prices upon request, why not modify the program to continually provide updated prices?"
Excellent question! Good old “processing time”. Suppose an active AS user has 100 snipes waiting to be placed. If “My Snipes” had to check the current price on each and everyone EACH time the page was brought up, there’d be some fairly upset active AS users complaining about how long the page takes to load. That’s why the “Update Prices” button - the user can decide when to take the hit.
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Lacking that ability, a more appropriate label may be "Recent or Recently" although I still do not consider a 4-hour lag to be recent.
Sounds like you’ve already talked yourself out of using “Recent”. Any other suggestions? (I’m fairly convinced this text thing falls under the “lesser of evils” category).
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Feel free to disagree.
You get what you pay for.
The best place to watch the auctions is My eBay”, OR become friends with “Update Prices”.
