I do not understand why AS placed my bid 11 seconds before the end of the bid instead of 3 as requested! so, I was outbid at the last minute by somebody who had time to bid after (4 seconds)!

Have you seen the TV program Heroes?

This guy makes time stand still and that's what happened here:

• AS saw your three second snipe and deliberately sent your bid in at 11 seconds.
  
• Our hero, seeing the bid then stopped time (no idea how, I don't watch it) and was able to enter a higher amount, click on "place bid", then "confirm" and win.

Or, what really happened:

• Without understanding that it is the highest bid that wins, not the last one, you set your lead time to 3 seconds (hint, most people with any experience set theirs to 8 seconds).
  
• AS came to place your bid on your behalf and calculated that 3 seconds was a tad too late to be sure that the snipe got placed so sent it a bit earlier.
  
• Someone else, using a similar system or manually, had set up a snipe for a higher figure and this was placed at 4 seconds.

You lost, not because someone reacted in 7 seconds but because they bid higher than you.

What to do next?

• Set your lead time to 8 seconds (or 5 if you're a bit timid)
  
• Research other bidders and completed prices in your market
  
• Add a few pence to your snipe so that you win in a tie (eg 12.03 instead of 12.00)
  
• Read up on proxy bidding
  
• Read AS's FAQs
  
• Read the forums
  

Hint: Don't bother with Rick's support link - they'll just fob you off with tales of Dragons and evil spirits!

R2

quote:

Set your lead time to 8 seconds

Better yet, set it for 11 seconds then it will be right on time.

WAY TOO FUNNY region 2!!

At last, a bigger fan than Rick!

R2

But will he be there for you during the difficult times?

Hmm - I don't recall you ever standing up for me when my wit/charm/intelligence/sacrasm has offended some one-post trouble maker or other but I'll happily click on the link(s) that you will, no doubt, post up showing you mopping my fevered brow...

R2

Tough love?

quote:

I'll happily click on the link(s) ... showing you mopping my fevered brow

OK, but please limit them to the first 1,000.

Still waiting for you to find just one!

R2

OK - need some clarification. You're looking for links of my fevered brow-mopping or where I come to rescue you from a newbee?

Either - just bring it on...

R2

ps. please create 2 headings, say "newbie rescue" and "mopping" as that'll help me decide which best to click on first.

quote:

"newbie rescue"

Never thought of you as needing to be rescued, but next time you feel outmatched, post a white flag.

quote:

"mopping"

You’re too kind.

I see no links - I guess the events never happened!

R2