Only AS? or should I put a bid in directly first?

Some more experienced heads may disagree but even they have to admit that the system AS or E-bay sometimes have soom funny quirks. Better safe then sorry, at least if you place one bid you know its done and you had a chance if something goes wrong. I'd place an opening bid then place an as bid. If you REALLY want the item id place two bids one with AS one with another service especially if you can get "a free trial". But what ever you do dont have low bid regret. Bid wthe MOST you'll pay! Regardless of what some may tell you it may be years before the EXACT item comes up again. if its not exactly what you want then take a chance at a lower bid.

If I understand your question correctly Its only ilegeal if you are the seller or in cahots with the seller. You are still using the same screen name no matter how many services you use. Even using two accounts is done and allowed by E-BAY!

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Should I, and I'm not sure I can even do this, place a bid earlier today so that the item is not yanked and ALSO use AS closer to the end time under the same account name?

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Doing so would tip off other bidders who come upon the item. Items with bids draw more attention, and if there are other snipers and bidders they'll be alterted that you are interested and may enter a higher bid than they would have otherwise.

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Can I try to snipe manually at the same time AS is auto-sniping to increase my chances?

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Yes. If you really want the item and will be around go ahead and snipe manually yourself with about 10-15 seconds left. You can do this from the same eBay account. Dont use another account or you'll end up bidding against yourself and paying the higher of the prices you enter.

BER, there was no direct reply to your concern that the item might be pulled since it has no bids. I wouldn't let that worry me. If it hasn't been pulled yet with only two hours left in the auction, the seller will leave it there to the end. Maybe he's actually hoping some sniper will come along and help him out.

If I am worried that a seller might 'yank' an auction due to inactivity, (especially if they have a counter on the item and the number is really low) I'll just send them a little note (using the "ask seller a question" link) to inquire about some detail on the item; this way they can see there is an interest! Just a suggestion!

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"

That's a great idea, WarriorNun. But it strikes me that the only reasons to "yank" an item once it's been listed are (a) something has happened to the item and it's no longer available; or (b) you're a greedy seller who counts on bidding wars to fatten your wallet. After all, pulling an item off after you've listed it is a complete waste of listing fees, not to mention your time.

Steve, I agree with you; it doesn't make sense to me either...however, I have actually had that happen to me twice where suddenly the item was not available any longer. Now I admit that two times out of all the years I've been loitering the halls of eBay isn't much, but it has happened...and the sellers never responded to my emails :::shrug::: so, who knows what happened!

WarriorNun

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"

Actually, what I had in mind by way of an explanation is something I've done two or three times with eBay sellers: contact them privately and offer them a price if they'll take down their auctions and deal with me off-eBay. (I only do this when there have been no other bids on the item.) That may be what happened in your case as well.

Steve, you bring up an interesting point...just when (if ever) is it kosher to contact a seller directly and ask them to sell an item outright to you? I've contacted sellers when I've missed an auction deadline and the item didn't sell; most are more than happy to sell it to you for a reasonable price.

However, for example, there is an auction right now that I would almost sell my family to get...and waiting for the next couple days 'til the end of the auction is going to be killer but I just don't know if it is right for me to approach him outright.

I suppose I won't really do it because it just kinda feels wrong but I was wondering how often folks do that.

WarriorNun (who seems to have posting fever today!)

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"

I don't think there are any hard and fast benchmarks of propriety in this area. Of course, eBay takes a very dim view of such propositions and if the seller also doesn't like being approached you could be in biggie trouble with eBay. As I said, I only do it infrequently and when there have been no other bidders. Also, I wait for a couple of days to see if any bidders are forthcoming before even considering an approach to the seller.

Let your conscience be your guide on that wonderful widget you're casting a covetous eye upon. If it were I, I'd just wait the two days and put in a humongous snipe at the end. Don't ask me why -- it's just a gut feeling.

WarriorNun:

I think going outside of ebay is wrong. If you are willing to tell ebay - then you don't think it's wrong.

P.S. Do you mind me asking the meaning of "WarriorNun"?

In reality, I know that I'll let this auction play out to its legitimate end. Going outside of eBay (and contacting sellers) is something I am not really comfortable with. I generally play happily by the rules!

I had already set up a very high snipe; in fact I already went back, reconsidered, and raised my max even higher. I figure either I will win it, or somebody who really wants it even more than I do (hard to imagine!!) is going to pay quite heavily to get it. I'm just getting impatient and anxious! But I'll get over it!

Now I'll just stress over the lead time! It figures that this 'auction to end all auctions' (aren't they all?!?) has to end on a Sunday evening. :::sigh::: Right now I have it at 18 seconds, I think; however, the mega-bid should clinch it for me as long as it gets into eBay on time.

Oh, and the WarriorNun thing? Warrior Nun is a comic book character...published by Antarctic Press.

WarriorNun

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"

[This message was edited by WarriorNun on August 16, 2003 at 01:29 AM.]

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Originally posted by WarriorNun:
Warrior Nun is a comic book character...published by Antarctic Press.

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I don't get out very often.

I just used AuctionSniper for the first time (won the thing - fantastic) but one of my free snipes wasn't used because the seller did pull the item just a few hours before the end of the auction. First time I've known it, but I thought it worth saying it does happen.

Luckily he relisted it.

I, too, feel that one should not approach sellers while auctions are in progress. I would simply set my snipe and deal with it later. If I had somehow missed the end of the auction, then I would make the seller an offer.

Were there any bids on it at the time he pulled it? I'm interested in why sellers pull their auction items, if that can be determined.

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Originally posted by Mike in London:
but one of my free snipes wasn't used because the seller did pull the item

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You probably already realize this, but you still have that free snipe. They only get used if you win. I wasn't sure by your wording.

No - none. I have no idea why he pulled it, but he relisted it with Buy It Now so I bought it - it wasn't too much extra.

Yes, I've still got the free one thanks.

Well, the auction that I really, REALLY wanted to win...that I had such a high snipe on that I would have had to consider selling my child...just got cancelled.

And, I know the reason why; the seller and I have been talking a bit regarding details about the item and they decided to keep it for sentimental reasons. They were all apologetic about it, but said they just didn't feel right selling it.

Oh well! Whatcha gonna do?!? C'est la vie! Happy sniping all!

WarriorNun

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"

WarriorNun, was it a one-of-a-kind thing or is there a chance of something like it turning up on eBay someday? Really tough to get waved off like that.

Greetings all,
In response to the inquiry about contacting a seller with offer to deal outside of eBay...
My advice is - don't.

Not only do you give up what little protection up have for nonperformance by your seller, you also violate your agreement with eBay and can be suspended. (maybe even permanently)
I know it's done all the time, but is it really worth the chance.

I've had success in asking a seller to re-list with a private one day auction using "buy it now" option at our predetermined price.

AS RULES!!!


robert

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Steve posted: WarriorNun, was it a one-of-a-kind thing or is there a chance of something like it turning up on eBay someday?

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Steve, truly a one-of-a-kind item. While I can understand the reasons the seller reconsidered, I was sitting on top of the world when I thought I had a chance at it...and came crashing down when it was pulled. Oh well! I'll live, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I was disappointed.

However, the seller did share a really cool story about it...and first-hand accounts are priceless; intangible but priceless!

WarriorNun

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"

Well, if they ever change their mind about selling it, I'll wager they think of you first.

In most cases where an item is close to the end of its auction, and the seller "pulls" it, then relists it....
the seller is only allowed to make fundamental changes to their auction when there are at least 12+ hours left and no bidders.
That's what this auction seller sounds like to me, he added BUY IT NOW, and probably changed the description too.
I've been eBaying daily for 2+ years, and have seen lots of things get pulled just before the end. Some of the sellers have told me that they changed their minds about the opening bid price (that they set it too low and weren't willing to "give it away"), and couldn't change it, so they cancelled the auction, only to relist it with all their changes. It's also the only legit way of having an auction run for more than 10 days. Very frustrating for those who snipe everything they buy.
In regard to the double bidding (bidding through eBay, then Sniping with AS), I do this a lot. Some sellers refuse to sell to buyers who kite in and snap up the prize without having established a bid at least several hours in advance. My practice is to low-ball my starting bid, and then Snipe a major bid nearer the end.
Recently, I've lost several bids to AS being "NOT IN TIME" so I've had to increase my snipe time to 15 seconds (from 7 seconds).
I hope some of this info has been informative....


Tired and shagged out after a long squawk....

Quoting eBay_Addict00: "Some sellers refuse to sell to buyers who kite in and snap up the prize without having established a bid at least several hours in advance."

Those sellers are in violation of eBay rules and should be reported. The vaunted "contract" that eBay has always claimed to exist between buyer and seller cuts both ways. Even as the buyer has an obligation to pay, so does the seller have an obligation to sell to the winning bidder. The only exception is when the latter has been specifically restricted by the seller from bidding on any of the seller's auctions, in advance of the auction.

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Steve posted:
Well, if they ever change their mind about selling it, I'll wager they think of you first.

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Steve, that might be true! Actually I've found on a few occasions that striking up a rapport with the seller doesn't hurt. This potentially happens when you inquire about something before auctions' end (which I frequently do, if I have *any* questions at all!)

I had one seller who had two magazines up that I really wanted...I bid on both but only won one of them; well, the seller was so nice that he scanned the pages that I was interested in (of the magazine I lost) and sent them to me along with my win!

Frequently I am reminded that, while we certainly have our share of scoundrels in this world, there are a lot of really good, nice, decent, and helpful folks.

WarriorNun

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning"