Snipped Too Early; Auction LOST!

Maybe you should...

...read the FAQs and you'll see that AS adjusts the lead time depending on server load and response times (especially on Auctions that end exactly on the hour as this one did).

It's very, very unlikely that productionguy85 was reacting to your bid/snipe - take a look at this auction (5839998190) and you'll see that he bid at the last second (literally) so it seems that you were beaten by another sniper.

And remember, it's not the last bid that wins, it's the highest.

As for going elsewhere - it's your choice. Try to base your decision on facts and bear this in mind: for every person who complains here there are hundreds who are happy (I'm one!) - AS gives you three free goes - try all three before you go.

R2

Bidding history:
http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=7573748620

beefour,

I don’t share R2’s assessment that it’s unlikely productionguy was reacting to your snipe. Grant it – 7 seconds isn’t long, but I don’t believe (haven’t tried it) it couldn’t be done. And, since productionguy did place two bids in the last minute of the auction, it would lead me to think he was watching the auction.

Don’t mean to discourage you from researching other sniping services, nor even using them – BUT (there’s always a but), one of the things you may not have noticed in reading the comments from other users is the lack of complaints about snipes not being in time (too late). As R2 comments, AS adjusts the lead-time (that can’t be an easy thing to do accurately). AS’ view is that it’s better to get the snipe in early than late. I guess those that use AS long-term agree with this policy, and those that don’t seek alternatives.

Good luck

Wouldn't it have been 'smarter' to bid as her then you wouldn't have run the risk of outbidding her?

I know somebody who was thrown clear from a car crash and survived - if she was wearing her seat belt she would have died. I still wear my seat belt as, statistically, you'll live longer. Likewise, for every manual sniper who can claim to have placed their snipe within the last 9 seconds there's hundreds who were too late.

As Rick says, if you don't like AS adjusting your lead time then go elsewhere...

HNY (Happy New Year!) to all my readers!

R2

quote:

Originally posted by region2:
I still wear my seat belt as, statistically, you'll live longer.

And here I thought giving up red meat and frequent exercise is what did it.

quote:

Originally posted by region2:
Likewise, for every manual sniper who can claim to have placed their snipe within the last 9 seconds there's hundreds who were too late.

In principle I would support that statement. But on the statistical side, it has a slight touch of sensationalism.

To be as open-minded as possible (which isn’t much for me), I’ll use 200 hundred to represent “hundreds”. That would mean that a manual sniper only has a .5% chance of placing their retaliatory/reacting snipe within the last 9 seconds. I’ve not done any polling, but that sounds extremely pessimistic. And should “hundreds” represent more than 200 (which is likely as at 200 hundred one would tend to say “a couple of hundred”, or even “a few hundred”), say 400, then that would reduce the odds to .25%. Now, I don’t disagree that it’s not likely to happen, but on the other hand, “very, very unlikely” might be “a couple” of very’s too many.

quote:

Originally posted by region2:
HNY (Happy New Year!) to all my readers!

Obviously I’m one. And based on the responses on this forum, that would *definitely* include Bill, Sara, and Kevin. Although, for the rest of AS’ support staff, it may be necessary to file a support request. It would be somewhat funny if they responded by automatically awarding three free snipes and closing the case.



A little clarification might be warranted at this time. From what I’ve seen on this forum, the early snipes appear to be limited to those auctions ending during ebay’s prime time – Sunday evenings and those ending on the exact quarter hour (such as the one referred to in this thread). beefour, that might be something you want to consider in researching alternatives.

One other point – this forum provides an opportunity to be exposed to information that isn’t available in the “sales literature”. I would suggest that part of the comparison should include whether other options allow this level of free exchange.

quote:

Originally posted by region2:
Likewise, for every manual sniper who can claim to have placed their snipe within the last 9 seconds there's hundreds who were too late.

umm....How would you know?

Just asking

I just know that before I found AS, I lost a lot of bids trying to get them in at the last few seconds. Now when I lose the item, it is because I was tooooo cheeeepppp to bid more than my max.