I really get a kick out of Sniping I laugh when I win and it makes my day. Who cares if anyone thinks it’s not fair. This is how it works for me.
The first thing I do after locking in on an auction item is to be sure the seller has a high positive feedback percentage. I make sure to read all or most of their negative feedback to see if any of the circumstances may relate to me when I win. I also check the other bidders ID to see if I have been up against them before. The bid list tells a lot. For instance, is the bidder experienced or how many times have they had to bid on the item to stay on top. I actually enjoy an auction with lots of bidders as it makes it all the more challenging and satisfying when I win.
Another thing is to check the other bidder’s feedback to see what kind of items they have won in the past and who they were up against. Who knows, they may be some sort of expert.
After that or at some point before placing my first bid I check completed auctions on the same type of item. This gives me a starting point to help decide my opening bid. Then I check the bid list to see who I'm up against.
When I’ve completed all of the above that’s when the fun begins. At this point hopefully it’s early on, I start. First I jump in with a ridiculously low bid. If there is a reserve I may bid a few times to get my name in there. When the bidding reaches a point somewhere around forty or fifty percent less than I am willing to pay I stop bidding through Ebay. That’s when I make my decision about what I will actually pay and then I Snipe it.
I’d bet this all sounds like a lot of trouble to some. And it is definitely a sign of someone with too much time on there hands. That’s OK, for me it’s tons of fun and I get to buy things I want at a good price.
I would appreciate any comments or suggestions from those of you out there to improve on my strategy. Just maybe my way can help you get more fun out of Ebay.
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