In ebay motors I have placed bids on reserved auctions and won the auctions at the reserve with nobody bidding against me. I have read from ebay where I am bidding against the seller to meet the reserve and understand that. I do not agree with this. I feel that I should be bidding against other bidders and not the seller's reserve. Is there anyway around this other than not sniping? If I place bids in small increments I can watch to see who is bidding. How can I still snipe and not bid things up beyond the competing bids? Sorry if this has already been discussed but didn't see it listed. Thanks for the input. Neal

Welcome to the forum. Of course, it does not really matter how one thinks eBay's bidding system SHOULD work; one must conform to how it DOES work, if one hopes to win. Anything else is a waste of time and mental energy.

With a reserve, I simply bid the same way I do on any other auction. If my bid is not enough to meet the reserve, then I do not win; it is the same as if someone else had overbid me. If I do meet the reserve, then I win if I am the highest bidder. To me, it is a dispassionate process; even if I really want the item, I still follow this basic approach.

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Is there anyway around this other than not sniping?

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No, but as long as you are winning for the reserve amount, you are winning at the lowest possible price. You can still see who else is bidding and not place an early bid yourself.

If you must win against other bidders, you could 'nibble' your way up placing low bids and then snipe for your true max, but by doing so, you would be begging to pay a higher price. Many avoid reserve auctions because of the unknown. Once that price is known more people are willing to place a bid.

Keep sniping, and be satisfied at winning for the reserve, as long as they are below your max.

... and WELCOME to the forum.

to our A S forum!!

Thanks for the feedback. I agree, ebay makes the rules. I put my snipe in probably higher than I would like to go with the idea that I want to avoid the "I wish I would have bid a dollar more" feeling. It doesn't bother me if I win the auction when I am bidding against other bidders. It does if I am bidding "against the seller's reserve". I guess I am just venting. Thanks again. Neal

You could always 'Ask seller a question'. They may not answer, but sometimes to often, they will tell you what the reserve price is.