question about lead times.

You are assuming that someone will bid the same amount..not always so. I usually give a lead of 8 seconds...works for me!

rsmiller40

It's true that in most cases it's humanly impossible for someone to post a counter-bid in less than 10, 20, or even 30 seconds. You have grasped the basic truth that it ain't the last bid that wins, it's the highest bid. I also use an 8-second lead time (except on Sundays) and it's been good enough every time for me. And always bid the maximum you're willing to spend.

Yep, Steve is right about the busy trafic times like Sunday PM to allow a little extra snip time.

rsmiller40

Hi! I am really new to this sniper thing. I have just joined this group a moment ago and read your posts concerning how much lead time one should allow for a bid.

I don't know, but it seems to me that the last bid would always be the winning bid. So, I thought that it would be better to bid later rather than sooner, thus avoiding driving the price up by having someone outbid you and then having your own bid raised by that amount.

I have a couple of items I REALLY want to win. That is why I am here.

I set my lead time for three seconds. Is that nuts? I would appreciate and suggestions you have about this, especially those of you who are have had good success with sniping your auctions. Think I should change my lead time from 3 seconds to 5 or more?

I know that there are many people using various types of auction snipers and I just think the competition will be stiff so why not get in the last bid.

If you are at only 3 seconds, does that mean that your bid would not have time to be posted?

Any thoughts?
Joy

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Originally posted by joytothewww:
I don't know, but it seems to me that the last bid would always be the winning bid.

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I think most sellers think the highest bid should win.

quote:

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Originally posted by joytothewww:
I set my lead time for three seconds. Is that nuts?

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"Nuts" - no. "Gutsy" - yes.

5 seconds is good for non-prime time. I use 8, and 12 seconds for prime times (Sunday evenings & auctions endings exactly on the quarter hour). Not likely someone can place a manual snipe in response to a 8 - 12 second snipe.

For what it's worth joytothewww, I concur with Rick.
I too, am a recent enrollee of AS and have been taking the advice of the "pros" here on the AS Forum.
I have been very successful with the 8 second and 12 second rule of thumb so far.
I would also agree whole heartedly that it will be the highest bid placed that will ultimately win your auction.
Bid the highest you would ever conceivably pay for the item and place that bid 8-12 seconds before close.
You could be a winner!

The only times the highest bid doesn't win are when it doesn't reach eBay in time or ties with another, earlier bid. The only time the last bid in the auction wins is when it's also the highest.

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Originally posted by Steve:
The only times the highest bid doesn't win are when it doesn't reach eBay in time or ties with another

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NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF EBAY'S BID INCREMENT. MAY THE INCREMENT BE WITH YOU.

Oh, I do hope they are! I need AS and all the extra help I can get.

rsmiller40

I have wondered why people feel a need to get a 8 second or less snipe. For that matter a 10 second or less snipe. If you are bidding against inexperienced bidders, then they will not be quick enough to react to a 15 second snipe. If you are bidding against experienced bidders they will snipe, or they will use the proxy system to do their bidding for them.

So, You actually have reasons to have a 15 sec snipe instead of 8 or 5 or 3.
1. What if there is traffic, no reason to loose because of internet traffic.
2. If you snipe at 15sec with $10. And joe smith snipes at 10 seconds with $10. You will win because your bid was first.
3. Anyone that can react to a 15 second snipe will not try to, they will be experienced enough to know not to bid the increment, but their max.

Who knows, maybe as people become more sophisticated, snipe times will start increasing so you can be the first to bid.

Hmmm, I have just revealed part of my sniping secrets. Ahh, this group is worth it.

--- me

Fred, what you say is true. I use 8 seconds for my usual snipes, more -- maybe 15 or 20 -- on Sunday evening snipes or auctions that close on the even hour, half-hour, or quarter-hour. Why? Because I've never had one of my bids bounce back from eBay because it was submitted too late to be counted. At 8 seconds, I'm pretty sure the proxy bidders are all done, and all I need to "worry" about are other snipers. Like you, I always bid my maximum amount. If I win, great. If I lose to a higher bid, quel dommage as the French say.

You're right about the experienced proxy bidders, too. We snipers get fat on the proxy bidders who constantly try to get something "on the cheap" by nibbling away, one increment at a time. And there's something a little funny, in a sadistic way, to see some nibbler done in by an 8-second snipe, all because he wouldn't bid his max. Live "on the cheap," die "on the cheap" is my motto.

I , as a seller, like to watch a bidder sit on the nest for two or three days, thinking they have it bought cheap and then, in the last seconds all H breaks loose. I have sniped things in that situation and after I won had the other guy email and ask "how you do that?"..that a hoot!

rsmiller40

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Originally posted by rsmiller40:
... all H breaks loose.

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My kind of great grandmother!

Sooo funny rick. LOL!

rsmiller40