quote:
Originally posted by Gardengnome:
… if eBay suspended all the snipers their revenue would suffer …
That brings up the question (“begs the question” is such a worn-out phrase), does one snipe to ebay or does one ebay to snipe?
I think that almost all snipers started as proxy bidders. So, sniping didn’t “lure” those bidders in. If sniping weren’t around, I suspect they’d probably return to placing proxy bids.
A deal is a deal, whether thru sniping or proxy bidding. Sniping gives us the edge to have a “better” deal. After all, we preach that everyone should bid the max amount they are willing to pay, and if their snipe goes in early and they end up paying that, then, “that’s what they were willing to pay” – no harm no foul.
Regarding revenue – well, I have high expectations of paying less for an item if I snipe it. Cut it anyway you want, that means lower ending price which means lower revenue (for “them” – for me it means more revenue). After all, I don’t pay AS a fee and risk (grant it - a minor one) the chance of a not-in-time with the hope of the auction ending at the same or higher price. Others might, but they would probably fall into one of the following categories: 1) altruistic; 2) foolish; 3) have more money than they know what to do with; 4) ardent supporters of ebay and AS and feel the need to make donations to them; 5) the government hoping to maintain/enlarge next year’s budget; 6) an ex-spouse trying to justify a larger alimony payment.
Use what every euphemism you like, such as, “I snipe to avoid a bidding war”; it all boils down to the same incentive – greed (yes, I said the “g” word). We snipe with the belief (well founded) that the auction will end up generating “less” revenue for ebay and the seller.
And, ebay wouldn’t need to “suspend all the snipers” if they wanted to stop sniping. There’s some other ways they could accomplish it that with a lot less drama.
It is unlikely ebay will stop sniping, as it is part of the ebay culture - hard to recall the bullet after it’s been fired. But, I wonder if sniping had never been allowed. Would that have greatly impacted ebay? Would that impact be a positive one or a negative one? No way to be certain.
