I set up a snipe and left the lead time at 5 seconds. However, the bid was placed 10 seconds(?) before the end of the auction. There were 2 more bids after mine!
What's up?
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I would be interested to see a reply to this one.
My bid on a Monday evening in Ebay UK with a lead time of seven seconds was actually placed nine seconds before the auction end.
A six second lead time on Tuesday midday was placed eight seconds from the end.
My bid on a Monday evening in Ebay UK with a lead time of seven seconds was actually placed nine seconds before the auction end.
A six second lead time on Tuesday midday was placed eight seconds from the end.
AS automatically adjusts the snipe to meet the existing loads in eBay servers. When it observes that the eBay processing times are lagging, it adds several seconds to be sure your bid makes it in time. Otherwise it risks not being received in time by eBay. If AS did not do this, they would receive many more complaints (like the Sunday night crowds), all demanding to know why their bids were not placed.
I would be pleased that AS placed the bid, rather than getting a "not in time" message from eBay. As for the other two last-second bids, you can be sure that these were planned snipes, just like yours, and were in no way responses to your bid. There was not enough time for that.
I would be pleased that AS placed the bid, rather than getting a "not in time" message from eBay. As for the other two last-second bids, you can be sure that these were planned snipes, just like yours, and were in no way responses to your bid. There was not enough time for that.
And always remember: it's not necessarily the bidder who places that last bid, it's the one who places the highest bid who wins.
Having seen some of the coments elsewwhere about auctions ending on Sundays, and how busy that day is, what sort of lead time should I use for a Ebay UK auction ending at 17.00 UK time?
I go for 8 seconds - seems to work every time!
As to the original 'problem' - it's next to impossible for anyone to react to your 10-second-from-the-end bid manually, so the item was probably bid for electronically by other equally switched-on snipers.
Thus, it would be the highest of the 3 bids that won.
By being the first of the 3 last-second snipes, you actually had a slight advantage over someone with the same maximum bid as yours. As yours was placed first, it would have won under Ebay rules.
But, I guess you didn't win. Not AS's fault for bidding a few seconds early but yours for not bidding high enough. IMHO!
As to the original 'problem' - it's next to impossible for anyone to react to your 10-second-from-the-end bid manually, so the item was probably bid for electronically by other equally switched-on snipers.
Thus, it would be the highest of the 3 bids that won.
By being the first of the 3 last-second snipes, you actually had a slight advantage over someone with the same maximum bid as yours. As yours was placed first, it would have won under Ebay rules.
But, I guess you didn't win. Not AS's fault for bidding a few seconds early but yours for not bidding high enough. IMHO!
Kingdom writes, "what sort of lead time should I use for a Ebay UK auction ending at 17.00 UK time?"
Basrah suggested 8 seconds, but I note that the auction is ending on the even hour and so there will be a rush of bids impeding eBay's servers at that time. I'd increase that to 15 seconds if it were I.
Basrah suggested 8 seconds, but I note that the auction is ending on the even hour and so there will be a rush of bids impeding eBay's servers at that time. I'd increase that to 15 seconds if it were I.
Just checked - it ends at 16:31:04 BST on Sunday.
eight seconds OK do you think, or go for the fifteen?
eight seconds OK do you think, or go for the fifteen?
I think 8 seconds should carry the day. Good luck! 
Eight seconds it is then - thanks for the advice. Very much appreciated.