Early snipe cost me money!

If your snipe was set for 5 and it went in with over 30 seconds to go, it means that AS's software was compensating for the length of time it was taking for bids to be accepted by eBay. When eBay is really busy and bids get backed up, AS's software detects this and places your bid earlier to make sure it gets placed.

Congratulations on your win!

It's hard for a human to react in 30 seconds (especially if the network is slow) so perhaps the other bids were also electronic snipes and would have happened anyway.

Ultimately you bid the maximum you wanted to spend and you won.

R2

Thanks for the responses.

I would add, however, that my human snipes have never had a problem with delayed response even on a Sunday evening. I generally go in at the 5-10 sec point.

One would assume that Auctionsniper would be better than a human (that's why we're paying for it, yes?). I will only use Auctionsniper now for those auctions where I cannot be present at the end.

And, of course you only bid the maximum that you wish to pay, but the whole point of sniping is to minimize what we pay - let's keep that in mind. We will unfortunately never know if the bids that came in after my early Auctionsnipe were human or other snipe programs. The conclusion that I can make, however, is that there are better human snipers and/or better programs out there at least on this occasion.

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Originally posted by Benny:
Thanks for the responses.

One would assume that Auctionsniper would be better than a human (that's why we're paying for it, yes?). I will only use Auctionsniper now for those auctions where I cannot be present at the end.

And, of course you only bid the maximum that you wish to pay, but the whole point of sniping is to minimize what we pay - let's keep that in mind. We will unfortunately never know if the bids that came in after my early Auctionsnipe were human or other snipe programs. The conclusion that I can make, however, is that there are better human snipers and/or better programs out there at least on this occasion.

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Be careful; it is very easy to get tied up or forget about an auction and end up missing it. AS adds seconds when its sampling of the eBay traffic indicates high volume, so that the snipe goes through and they will be paid. I, for one, like the convenience of NOT having to sit at the computer when auctions end.

As far as the other snipes that came in, it is likely that they were planned, whether they were made manually or automatically. It really does not really matter whether they were manual or automatic, because it is the HIGHEST bid that comes in, rather than the LAST, that wins. I also tend to think that if the other bid was from someone who had not already bid, then he was watching the auction during the closing minutes and planned his bid. Whether his snipe went in at 20 or 5 seconds, your larger snipe amount would STILL have been raised, since he planned that bid, be it automatically or manually. If the winning bid was from someone who had bid earlier in the auction, then you may be correct in that it was a reaction from someone who was fortunate to get the bid through at a busy time.

I would prefer my bid go in than not at all.

Benny, perhaps you can share the item #.

As far as I can tell it may have at most cost you $12. The other bids were placed before you bid.

The person who lost sniped $139 with 16 seconds left, then upped it by $12 with 3 seconds left.

This item ended at 6:30pm on a Sunday night, while many times you can get away with a 5 second snipe, sometimes you cant. You're observations are based on a limited number of snipes whereas we are placing more in 20-30 minutes than you will probably ever place. With the number of snipes we place we can much better assess the risks of snipes placed at peak times on eBay. If you dont mind missing 1-2% of your snipes then set your lead time to 1 second.

Over the past week we've lowered lead times on peak periods and we're going to continue to do that. Your snipe was placed earlier than even we'd like. We're aiming for a 5-15 second max during even peak times.

And remember these extra lead times are only for peak periods such as 6:00:00pm 6:15:00 6:30:00 etc. There are numerous posts as to why this is needed.

Hi,

Thanks for the info. I've learned a lot and gained confidence in the process.

B

benny, my only warning is that if you do decide to manually bid, make sure that you cancel AS with PLENTY of time before the auction ends, or else AS will claim a victory and charge you for the AS snipe EVEN IF the bidding and YOUR MANUAL WINNING BID is well above the AS bid . . . by that i mean if the bidding gets up to, say, $100 and you manually bid and win it at $105, but you still had not cancelled your old AS bid of $30, then AS still will claim a victory and will charge you for it . . . one of the problems with AS that no one else will tell you about!

regards, steve

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Originally posted by psalmone:
...i mean if the bidding gets up to, say, $100 and you manually bid and win it at $105, but you still had not cancelled your old AS bid of $30, then AS still will claim a victory and will charge you for it . . . one of the problems with AS that no one else will tell you about!
regards, steve

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Huh? This is in AS' FAQ, and has been mentioned in this forum hundreds of times. There is nothing secret about it.

I do not even consider it a "problem." AS needs to make a living, too, and if they line up and send the snipe, I do not mind paying them when I win, even under such circumstances. It is hardly a conspiracy, just business.

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Over the past week we've lowered lead times on peak periods and we're going to continue to do that. Your snipe was placed earlier than even we'd like. We're aiming for a 5-15 second max during even peak times.

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I had a similar experience. My lead time was 9, but my bid was placed 30 seconds early and I was then outbid. I guess I appreciate AS adding SOME time during peak periods, but please reevaluate your algorithm for determining the new lead time because it may be excessive.

Thanks, Bill, for an even-tempered and pertinent post. I wish that all newbies did as much.

Bill, I concur with Chatter! And, welcome to our forum!

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Thanks, Bill, for an even-tempered and pertinent post. I wish that all newbies did as much.

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I wish we all did as much.

If only AS had some sort of override so that people got exactly the lead time they wanted - then when they lost they could blame... themselves!

R2

R2, I can see the posts now.....why did you let me bid 5 seconds when you knew I shouldn't!!!! LOL!

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I wish we all did as much

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I concur with Rick. Why should newbies be any differnt to the *regulars* and support staff.

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If only AS had some sort of override so that people got exactly the lead time they wanted - then when they lost they could blame... themselves!

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I concur on this point as well

Maybe I'm just a spendthrift, but I occasionally bid low manually just to see the early level of interest, and then set a snipe so that I don't have to chain myself to the computer. In my price range, the cost of sniping is negligible, and when I bid at the high end, reducing the chance of an annoying loss is worth the higher premium. I'm not sure I ever benefit from early manual bids, but for me it's part of the fun of bidding/watching/winning.

My snipes have been placed at between 19 and 30 seconds prior to auction's close and I have lost at least two auctions because of this, and in several other cases, have had to pay a higher final price for the items I won. I can certainly place bids manually in less time than that, so it looks like, starting tomorrow, I am going to have to go back to placing manual bids for auctions that are important to me, and only use AuctionSnipe for auctions where I am not near a computer. Sad about this but it's utterly horrible watching my bid go in so early then seeing other people successfully snipe at six seconds before end. AuctionSnipe's motto emphasizes "at the last moment," but now even my 90-year-old grandmother can manually outbid AuctionSnipe.

Your 90 year old grandmother must have some danged fast fingers!!

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Originally posted by Serendipity:

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Love your ID!

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I am going to have to go back to placing manual bids for auctions that are important to me, and only use AuctionSnipe for auctions where I am not near a computer. Sad about this but it's utterly horrible watching my bid go in so early then seeing other people successfully snipe at six seconds before end. AuctionSnipe's motto emphasizes "at the last moment," but now even my 90-year-old grandmother can manually outbid AuctionSnipe.

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I totally understand the rational behind your manual sniping and using AS. Many will tell you that if AS couldnt get the snipe in at 6 seconds, then you wont be able to. I am guessing that you have enough experience to know whether you can or cant.

I use a similar practice myself. I will manual bid on things I *reaaallly* want, but I still AS for convenience

Good Luck

PS.. My 90yr old Grandma couldnt even turn a computer on, but I am sure if I told her when and how to push the *place bid* button - she'd give it a fair crack

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My snipes have been placed at between 19 and 30 seconds prior to auction's close

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I reviewed your last 44 snipes over the past month. Not even one was placed at 19 or more seconds. In fact here they are:

8, 7, 16, 7, 10, 7, 7, 8, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 5, 7, 8, 7, 18, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 4, 8.

That's 44 snipes going back 30 days through Sept 26th. None of the 44 cost you any money. The 3 over 10 seconds were all at peak times 6:45pm, 7pm, and 7:30pm. All 3 won, and none of the 3 cost you any money.

You're a great customer and we'd love to keep you, but your expectations might need a little tuning. You've done a ton of snipes with us and we've done a great job of getting them in safely and making sure you win.

I'm sure sometime maybe we got one in early but that's the expection and that only happens when we detect problems with eBay and adjust your snipe to ensure it gets in at all. I mean if we didnt do that and then you missed we'd be hearing about how we stink and we shoulda adjusted for you and so on and so forth. We're 100% over the past 30 days at getting your snipes in at reasonable times and not once did you get outbid because of us in that time.

I think we do a pretty good job overall, how about some kudos for us for the 44 snipes you won that we placed for you rain or shine, day or night, 24/7/365 in the last month. We were johnny on the spot for you this past month. Everybody in da house say 'Hell ya!'

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but now even my 90-year-old grandmother can manually outbid AuctionSnipe.

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Sadly not true - it seems you really are grabbing the un-clean end of the stick!

R2