ethics

Well, first off, sniping in itself does not make you a winner..it is the one that bids the highest that wins. I am also a seller and I can tell you that many times snipers have gotten me a lot more money for my product. For one thing, they bring out any hidden proxies and, by the time they bid, everyone else is pretty much done. If you are going to say, yes but if they had bid throughout the auction, the price would have gone up..I say that most snipers are not the people that bid throughout an auction, but sit and wait til the last possible moment to place their bid anyway!

Hi Louise,
I am a seller too, a regular one and a fair bit of volume too.
I LOVE snipers!!!

I love it when I am watching my listings and I think an item is going to end for $X amount and when I get the notification from ebay its a good $10-20 higher than I thought! WOO HOO!!

I dont care who, how or even what bids on my auctions - so long as I get one bid I am happy. I always start my auctions at a price that I am happy for the item to end on....if a little bid war starts, I am estatic!! if a sniper comes along, I am estatic!!

Snipers are welcome at my auctions anytime all the time

Lexie

If you only get one bid, and it's a snipe, chances are it would have sold for the same amount even if the sniper had bid earlier.

If you get two bids, and both are snipes, then eBay's proxy system will make sure you get the best price they're willing to pay.

If you get two bids, and one is a snipe and one is not, then the sniper just drew out the max of one of the proxies, and got you more than you would have if just one of them had bid.

Yes, snipers are looking to save money by bidding at the last minute to discourage competition. But snipers are also forced to be more honest than nibblers -- they have to bid their true max because they only get one shot at it.

I've heard it said here before, and I love it, so I'll repeat it: Nibblers bid for a bargain and hope to win. Snipers bid to win and hope for a bargain.

Does that help?

louise, Hi, and Welcome.

First, thank you for coming to the forum and expressing your dislike, while leaving all the name calling and attitude behind... It's refreshing, and a different approach than most.

eBay IS a real auction, with real rules. We follow those rules. You can't fairly compare eBay to most live auctions. In live auctions you call out your bid and everyone bids as deep as their pockets are. With eBay your Max is kept secret, and a sniper only has one chance to bid. If you look at it that way, it's WE that have the disadvantage. Does that seem fair? If your items are selling for less than expected, I would suggest it's your early bidders that don't place a proper proxy bid. For some reason they would rather nibble their way up and stop as soon as they inch into the lead. Early, early bidders often get outbid. If the item gets to expensive, we pass and wait for the next. You never see our bid. That may be the other reason it seems we only get good deals.

If you check your records, you may realize snipers are among your best customers. They usually pay promptly, and are satisfied with a fair deal, even if it's fair, and not a steal.

As long as you're not a flaming idiot, we love to hear from sellers and people who don't necessarily agree with us! (at least, *I* do!) It gives us a chance to repeat all those Sniper Cliche's that we get tired of spouting at ourselves otherwise!

I only snipe on eBay, and am mostly just a buyer. I have several sellers that I buy from consistently and we've discussed sniping. They know I snipe, and they're OK with it for a couple of reasons: 1) I pay a resonable amount for items - I've found that the more knowledgeable the seller, the less problems I have and 2) I buy quite a bit of stuff. Without me they'd be getting less and without sniping they don't have me.

Another reason - but not related to sniping - I'm a quick pay and good comunicator. They know they're going to get a quick and reliable payment. I've had several come back to me after the high bidder backs out and offer the item to me.

LOL !

Mrs.M, you gotta start using shorter welcomes.

mentioned by both TOS and Puppy -- it seems to me that snipers are generally experienced eBayers who understand how the system works and are quite willing to make good on their bids. They don't get carried away by emotions while bidding and bid more than they can pay.

Does that fit your experiences (question addressed to everyone, especially sellers)?

...losing sleep?!?

Jabbergah                                                    

Lol !   If not, she has NO idea what you just meant by that.

Yes, I think that might have some weight to it, Shirley. I am a pretty careful bidder myself.

to be LosingSleep. Somehow I DOUBT LS would be that amicable of a convert.

quote:

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Originally posted by Shirley:
They don't get carried away by emotions while bidding and bid more than they can pay.

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I agree with that, assuming they don't increase their bid amount, or rarely do.

Jabber,

Did you know that Shirley and Losingsleep registered on the same day, and LS could be code for Laverine and Shirley?


I better leave a few of these:

Aww, Rick, and here I thought you LIKED me!

Well, I definitely enjoy having you around. And, I've been looking for an excuse to do the "Surely - Shirley" Leslie Neilson bit.

Now I KNOW you're trying to chase me away!

(Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have compared you to my ex...)

I can't resist:

"Woman begins by resisting a man's advances and ends by blocking his retreat." - Oscar Wilde

Some women know when to open the door and get out of the way...

...then call the locksmith.

Yes, well he was so busy writing little quips, he probably never noticed what women were doing, Rick.

"How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being." - Oscar Wilde

You better start ducking, Rick!!!!!!

"There is nothing in the world like the devotion of a married woman. It is a thing no married man knows anything about." - Oscar Wilde

I think this forum needs a bouncer!

Lol, Shirley!

He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.
Shakespeare

"One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry." O. W.

I have always thought that every woman should marry, and no man.
Benjamin Disraeli

"How marriage ruins a man! It is as demoralizing as cigarettes, and far more expensive." - O. W.

If you would marry wisely, marry your equal.
Ovid

"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction." - O. W.

Marriage is one long conversation chequered by disputes.
Robert louis Stevenson

Men marry because they are tired, women because they are curious. Both are disappointed.
Oscar Wilde

Well, this is the information age, and not the wisdom or knowledge age.

Gotta run..see you afterwhile!

quote:

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If you would marry wisely, marry your equal.

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Have they bought in same sex marriages without me knowing?

Lexie

"If you read - you will judge!"

Well, actually, in the states, yes!! LMAO!!