I've read that other people get angry that some buyers are using auction sniper. How do the other bidders know if you're using it? Can they tell?

Rosey

They have no definite way to say, "That was an AuctionSniper snipe." There are no AS "fingerprints" on a snipe bid. If you always use the same time interval in placing your bids--last 10 seconds, last 7 seconds, etc. they're going to know that you're using some kind of snipe software because no human being sniping according to a timer can always leave the same interval. In fact, if you want to disguise the fact that you're using snipe software, vary the times of your bids a little bit -- 6 seconds once, then the next bid 8 seconds, and so on.

Why go to all that trouble? If you've read some of my earlier comments you'll know that I'm all about analyzing the opposition by studying habitual characteristics in bidding patterns and intervals. I'm aware that others may be doing that with my bid record. So, I try to vary it as much as possible just to keep from falling into a pattern. It pays to be a little paranoid.

Thanks Steve.. It makes sense, I'd never have thought to change the sniping intervals. I'm new at this sniping thing. (I DO love it though!)
I've noticed that others watch my bidding patterns and it amazes me that they have the time! I barely have time to get my auctions in to AS.
RoseyShades

I make it a habit to check out my opponents when I'm sniping something. I check out their auction records and notice when and how they bid, what increments they bid in, whether they do last-second bidding, etc., etc. I have the time to do all this (although it doesn't really take all that much time) because I'm retired. Gives me something to do besides look out the window.

Hey Steve how do you check bidders records? Through the Bid History on an auction?

From the eBay main page, click on "Search" at the top of that page. The next page will have a series of tabs across the top of the search field, one of which tabs will be "By Bidder". Select that and enter the bidder's username or e-mail address in the field indicated. Be sure to put a dot in the little circle for "Yes" to make sure you see his past auctions. Click on "Search". You'll get a list of all his auctions for up to 30 days in the past, which you can study at your leisure.

If you're not sure of what you're supposed to look for when you get to this point, let me know.

Wow pretty cool, just did it then clicked on item link then bid history....This bidder is no
competition for me! And no bid war, I LOVE AS!!!
THANKS for your help!!

You're welcome, brenyngone. You can also check out sellers' records by selecting "By Seller" on the Search page. This is useful sometimes when you want to try to figure out a seller's hidden reserve price. Good luck!

Steve, I've been using your opponent research tactics today and I feel much more confident and prepared to win my auctions! Thanks again!

Hi, BarbieGirl. Glad you can use my tips. I wanted to mention that you can get a further "feel" for your opponents by checking out their feedback records. This can be done by clicking on the number of feedbacks they have, which is found in parenthesis after their usernames. I've found that the bidders with lots of positive feedback are the toughest opponents, since they usually know what it takes to win a bid.

You can also get a feel for how high an opponent may be prepared to go by looking at the value of the widgets they have bought in the past. If I see someone who can apparently spend hundreds of dollars on lots of widgets while my max is say $100 it does make me wary but doesn't stop me attempting to snipe the auction unless the up front bidding goes over my max.
Steve - I agree with your observation that experienced bidders are usually tougher opposition. They may well have put in a high proxy so that influences me in deciding on my own max. But of course, they have no way of knowing that you are going to snipe!

Sneakysniper wrote, "Steve - I agree with your observation that experienced bidders are usually tougher opposition. They may well have put in a high proxy so that influences me in deciding on my own max. But of course, they have no way of knowing that you are going to snipe!"

True enough. But if I and most of my competition only collect certain comparatively rare widgets, the competition is going to be aware that there's a sniper in their midst and set their proxies higher out of sheer paranoia. That's just another reason why I always set my snipe bid at the very max I want to spend for that particular widget. I don't win 'em all, but I do win a lot.