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I have been reading over your boards for two or three days to get a feel for the tone and some valuable information. I have not been a big buyer by any stretch of the imagination. However if I don't win I'm generally not to happy about it. I got sniped even with my DSL cable so have decided to try the automated route.
Would Wed. afternoon be considered a slow time that a five second lead would suffice? I had decided to use the five seconds and saw info that made me get a little nervous so I adjusted to seven. Any advice is appreciated.... end time is 2:++ PDT tomorrow afternoon.
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Hi Tradertex - Welcome to the forum!

From the advice that I have received from some of the more experienced snipers here on the forum, an 8 second lead time for auctions ending on weekdays on times other than the quarter hour (Wednesday, 2:09pm for instance) is recommended.

For Sundays in general and auctions ending on the quarter hour (2:15pm, 2:30pm etc), a 15-20 second lead time is recommended due to heavier traffic on eBay.

These lead times ususally are enough time to place a bid unchallenged.
Providing you are the highest bidder and have met any reserve that may be required, you should be OK with these recommendations.

Best wishes!
Just remember that there are two factors that work in concert to win an auction: bidding right near the end of an auction, and bidding a good price. Neither one is usually sufficient by themselves to win an auction, however counterintuitive that might sound.

The two mechanisms support each other, so remember that you can snipe an auction and still lose because you haven't bid a good price.

If you really want to win an auction, then price the item accordingly!
quote:
Originally posted by autophile:
Just remember that there are two factors that work in concert to win an auction: bidding right near the end of an auction, and bidding a good price. Neither one is usually sufficient by themselves to win an auction

We're probably saying the same thing, but there's only one requirement to "win" an auction: at the close of the auction you are willing to pay more for the item then anyone else that is aware of the auction.
quote:
We're probably saying the same thing, but there's only one requirement to "win" an auction: at the close of the auction you are willing to pay more for the item then anyone else that is aware of the auction.


Yes, but since people don't usually act rational especially when it comes to money, the price you're willing to pay will change many times over the course of the auction. Sure, technically you've won the auction if you paid twice as much as you should have. But did you get a GOOD price?
quote:
Originally posted by autophile:

Yes, but since people don't usually act rational especially when it comes to money, the price you're willing to pay will change many times over the course of the auction. Sure, technically you've won the auction if you paid twice as much as you should have. But did you get a GOOD price?


I disagree. IMHO, the price you are willing to pay should, ideally, NOT change many times over the course of an auction. The best way to snipe is to decide in advance how much you are willing to pay--the "this amount and not a penny more" price--set the snipe and let AS do the rest. If one keeps changing a snipe amount based on the current auction price, then one is exhibiting signs of nibbler behavior.

A "good price" is subjective. What I consider a good price, you may not, and vice-versa. The frequency that the item appears on eBay is certainly a factor, but my sentimentality or fondness for a particular type of item may cause me to place a larger snipe than you, because your personal interest is not as intense for that item as is mine. It may remind me of my grandparents and therefore I would pay $50 for an item you would never pay more than $20 for.

Decide your max and stick with it, regardless of whether there are zero or a hundred bids! That is what I say! Big Grin

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