Sniping strategy help please?

"but should I simply wait until 5 seconds and let AS snipe my max bid at 5 seconds?" Yes, to letting AS place the snipe, maybe No to the 5 seconds. Most of us on this forum recommend 8 seconds. Usually 5 is fine, but a lot of us like to have that added protection is case ebay has a "hiccup". It's very difficult for a manual sniper to respond to an 8 second snipe. If your snipe gets sniped, it's probably an automated snipe.

"Should I be concerned that 'xxxxxsniper' may do the same?" - I would be, but you don't have any control over that. You've made the hardest decision; "how much you're willing to pay." Nothing you can do about the competition.

"Does the fact that "xxxxxsniper" made a proxy bid early allow them to be high bidder if equal high bids are received by ebay at the exact same time?" - If you tie their proxy bid, they will win. If your snipes tie, who ever's snipe is first, wins. Also, your snipe may be higher, but if you don't reach the next ebay increment, the previous bid will get it.

"Dare I cut the AS lead time to 4 seconds?" - I wouldn't, but that's a personal choice.

I second Rick's advice, particularly about allowing 8 seconds for your snipe instead of 5. I don't care if someone gets in a snipe after mine is placed; I only care that I have the high bid when the auction closes. I know that whoever puts in a snipe after mine, if it isn't enough to beat mine he won't have time to bid again. It's true that very few manual snipers can launch a counter-bid with only 8 seconds left. And I don't have much respect for that sniper you mention who put in a proxy bid 'way in advance. His nerves are failing him.

Good luck, bid your max to the hilt (you might want to tack on $3.99 in case of a tie), and please let us know how it all comes out!

>>you might want to tack on $3.99 in case of a tie

However, the current bid is $1025. Isn't the bid increment at this point $25?

I'm comfortable with my max bid price. If I'm outbid, I won't care. I know what this item's value is. If someone wants to pay more for it, whatever. The reason "sniping" is intriguing to me is that it eliminates the so-called "emotional bid" -- the inexperienced bidder who "just has to have it" at any price, and get sucked in byt the thrill of the "win". I like these people when they bid on things I'm selling. But sniping should help me avoid them when I'm buying. I hope.

As for the 6-second/8-second question - are you saying that it is unrealistic for a manual bidder/proxy bidder to re-bid with 8 seconds left? If I let AS snipe at 8 seconds, and the user is refreshing manually, couldn't someone see my snipe at 8 seconds and then potentially jack up my snipe -- costing me $50 more for this item? I would still be high bidder (if the other party bids less than me), but the last minute amateur tactic would cost me $50 or more. I'm trying to avid that...

Thanks to everyone for all your help and previous strategy posts.

cpd

"However, the current bid is $1025. Isn't the bid increment at this point $25?"

I was only suggesting that you make it an odd amount, not necessarily to raise your max by a full increment. $1028.99 is less likely to be tied by another bidder because it's more random.

"As for the 6-second/8-second question - are you saying that it is unrealistic for a manual bidder/proxy bidder to re-bid with 8 seconds left?"

I'm saying that it would be a rare manual sniper who could pick up on your bid with 8 seconds left and make a successful counter-bid. By "successful" I mean registered by eBay before the close of the auction. It would take a few seconds to bring up the bid page (which would of course be on the lower task bar waiting) and enter the re-bid amount, then click on the bid button. The bid might be submitted before the auction closed, but there's a good chance that eBay wouldn't register it in time.

"If I let AS snipe at 8 seconds, and the user is refreshing manually, couldn't someone see my snipe at 8 seconds and then potentially jack up my snipe -- costing me $50 more for this item? I would still be high bidder (if the other party bids less than me), but the last minute amateur tactic would cost me $50 or more. I'm trying to avid that..."

If he could do that at 8 seconds he could do it at 6 seconds. Or he could do it without ever seeing you making your bid. Hedge your bet by taking 2 more seconds to reduce the "eBay hiccup" factor. Sniping is not for the paranoid.

>>Sniping is not for the paranoid

Got it. See ya in a few hours with results.

thanks!

cpd

I upped my AS bid amount to $1525 because there was some heavy proxy bidding by some emotional acting bidders.

bidding history

Based on the interim bid amounts and frequency of bids, I made an assumption that one bidder matched a previous bid amount, and I assumed he bid one increment more. I was almost right... I guessed that $1500 was the magic number (I was right). At -3 minutes, I adjusted my proxy to $1525 so that I'd be one bidding increment above my guess... If I had proxy bid $1500 earlier today, I may have been able to lock in at that price, but then again, the emotional bidder may have kept going...

I am happy with the results.

BTW, AS bid at 9 seconds. I requested 7 seconds. As I watched it happen, there's no way in hell anyone could retrieve a page and make a new proxy bid in 9 seconds. AS ROCKS!

Thanks to all for your support and suggestions.

Best,

cpd

"BTW, AS bid at 9 seconds. I requested 7 seconds."

That's an anomaly I've noticed with my own snipes. I've learned to set my bid at 6 seconds so AS will submit it with 8 seconds left. Works every time.

"As I watched it happen, there's no way in hell anyone could retrieve a page and make a new proxy bid in 9 seconds."

I'm glad that you and I agree.

"AS ROCKS!"

Again, we are in agreement. Great work, cpd. Excellent snipe planning and execution.