Manual sniping counts against me too?

If you place a manual bid, and don't cancel your AS snipe, AS will still try to place the snipe. Even if AS doesn't get the snipe in, they still have to use their resources, so AS will charge you.

Also, a snipe has to be cancel 2 minutes before closing.

I'm assuming that your manual sniped prevent AS actually placing the snipe, but it still did the work, and, I don't think AS can tell the difference between their snipe and yours.

[This message was edited by Rick on May 13, 2003 at 03:40 PM.]

The following is from AS' faq (this might provide some additional information):


36. Why do you snipe if I’m already the high bidder?

Our sniping system needs to be as efficient as possible when placing snipes. If we had to check to see if you are already the high bidder before we snipe it would add an extra step to the process. We like to be able to snipe no matter what to make sure we don't miss any snipes.

If you placed a bid on eBay for $10.00, then you sniped with us for $10.00, the user would get a "HIGH BIDDER" status message. But if they place a bid on eBay for $10.00, then snipe for $15.00, then they will be charged a snipe credit and the status will be "YOU WON!" You're not really bidding against yourself, you're just raising your max proxy bid in this case.

You may find this interesting. I have a complaint in but have not yet received a response from AS. I placed an appx. $40.00 bid on an item 36 hours ago, scheduled to close 1 hour ago. I further placed a snipe bid of approximately double that amount to be made some 5 seconds before the auction end. The auction ended without my snipe bid being placed because of the AS server malfunction today, as noted on their forum. Fortunately I was the high bidder with my manually placed bid of 36 hours ago. AS is now attempting to charge me for my winning bid during their server outage. (let alone not crediting me with 2 credits as they indicate for their server malfunction) HOW ABSURD.

File a support case. You are being billed by a computer that "thinks" it placed your snipe. If AS doesn't refund you, I will.

I've already placed a support case. I've been sniping with this server for more than a year now. I could care less about the 36 cents I was charged, as my time in complaining is obviously worth more than that. Just galls me as a matter of principle. When I went to their site referral to try and get credits for the missed snipe, the site indicates it has no record of my snipe request. I got a great price on my auction item. Usually I place manual snipes to protect myself from AS outages, but forgot to today. I'd really be pissed if I had lost the auction to an underbid of $50 less (more than 60%) of my desired snipe.

Below, for anyoner's information, is the set of querries/answers I received from 'customer service' on a billing inquiry. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive to the quality of responses I received, but I don't believe so. If anyone out there has an opinion on this issue (courtesy of customer service in this case) I would welcome your input.


victoriental@earthlink.net
Customer Posted Tuesday, May 13, 2003, 4:35:25 PM
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Re: ebay auction 3222728443

I placed a bid on this item on May 12 (almost 2 days prior to the end of the auction) which ended up being the winning bid. I placed an additional higher snipe bid lon this lot to be placed some 5 seconds prior to the end of the auction. Had this bid been placed, even though unnecessary, I would understand your .36 charge (1 percent of the winning bid). THE SNIPE BID WAS NEVER PLACED, HOWEVER, AS SUBSTANTIATED BY MY DOWNLOAD OF THE BIDDING HISTORY ON THE AUCTION, AFTER THE FACT. Accordingly, you have no entitlement to a commission on this lot, and I object to paying same. Unless you either remove that charge or indicate why I should pay for a snipe which your server failed to place, I shall contest the credit charge of that amount.

Thank you,

Arthur Johannes (victoriental)
victoriental@earthlink.net
Customer Posted Tuesday, May 13, 2003, 4:41:08 PM
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As an asside, Your auction site incompetence in not placing my snipe bid as planned, risked my losing the auction. As such, I should be seeking additional compensation or an apology from your site, let alone not be paying for your service failure.
Michael W.
Support Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2003, 4:21:04 PM
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I will credit this back. But bear in mind we DO charge for winning bids if you don‘t cancel the snipe:

If you bid directly on eBay, you need to cancel the snipe with us. There‘s not enough time to check to see if the customer is already high bidder and then snipe or not accordingly. We‘re down to seconds, and eBay can easily chew them up on the check, much less the snipe.

If we didn‘t do it this way, people would (and do try to) use us just as a safety backup to an existing bid without paying. But our margins are slim and losing snipes aren‘t charged as it is, although the cost to us is the same whether you win or lose.

You CAN use us as a safety backup, just be prepared to pay either way.

- michael
victoriental@earthlink.net
Customer Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2003, 6:21:31 PM
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Your response is absurd. It implies that I committed some error. Your support board acknowledges that YOUR site was down at the time this bid was supposed to be placed. Your site further indicates that when such a server outager occurs, thereby preventing snipes from being placed, that 2 snipe credits will be issued. If you do not intend to do this, please advise me as to why not.
victoriental@earthlink.net
Customer Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2003, 6:27:17 PM
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I frequently use auction sniper as a backup while directly placing bids myself. When I win an auction with both bids being placed (mine and auction sniper) I have in the past and have no objection to paying auction sniper fees for their bid placed, even if it was unnecessary. This is not what occurred here. No auction sniper bid was placed as it was supposed to be, because as your site acknowledges , there was an outage of your server at the time, which lasted approximatelly 25 minutes. Please don‘t obfuscate on the issue.
Michael W.
Support Posted Thursday, May 15, 2003, 2:04:54 PM
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I credited you back. Give it a rest.

That‘s our policy. Cancel the snipe if you bid directly, or expect that we‘ll charge if you win.

If you think it‘s a free ride for us to snipe, you are sadly mistaken.

- michael
victoriental@earthlink.net
Customer Posted Thursday, May 15, 2003, 2:16:21 PM
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It appears that .60 was credited (I guess). I do have some other questions, however. Please advise me if it‘s possible to talk to a customer service manager telephonically, and if so, at what time/number.

Thank you.