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13 replies

The truth behind Auction Sniper?

P papamillerMember
I've been reading many posts from people who either don't win auctions using Auction Sniper (AS) and others who think it's the best thing since sliced bread.

When I first signed up for an account on AS, I thought the concept was that, AS would bid on an item for you at the last minute leaving eBay bidders out in the cold.

It's been my experience that trying to outbid someone at the last minute doesn't always work. In fact, you still have to be the highest bidder.

For example, an eBay bidder has submitted a MAX bid of $100.00, the current high bid of the item is $10.00 and remains that until the very end. An AS bidder bids a MAX bid of $50.00. The AS bidder assumes if the current bid remains under $50.00, he should win because AS will bid just in time leaving no time for anyone to counter that bid.

Remember the eBay bidder with a MAX bid of $100.00. I believe he's going to win every time. eBay is bidding on his behalf. He told eBay that he's willing to pay up to $100.00. Unless there's a system glitch, I don't think AS can beat eBay's system.

I'm only speculating here, but it seems to me that no matter if you bid using eBay, AS, or any other service, the bidder who's willing to pay the most for an item, wins.

Of course, the guy who's manually bidding just enough to beat the last bid, doesn't stand a chance.

So what's the scoop? Does the highest bidder win or the last bidder win? Can AS really beat eBay to a bid.


What's your thoughts?

PapaMiller
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S snipersarabAuctionSniper Support
Where we help you is against nibblers, which you mentioned. But also against the guy who bid $100 if he really was willing to pay $120 after being outbid and he reconsidered what he'd really pay. In that case if you had bid more than $100 you'd win for around $101 and he'd be out in the cold even though he was willing pay $120. And if in fact you were also willing to pay $120 then we saved you $20 as well.
region2region2Member
Hey Pap - if you'd read the forums you'd have seen this many times:
It's not the last bid that wins but the highest.

As Sara says, AS just prevents bidding wars by bidding on your behalf in the last seconds of the Auction. This means that you don't have to be there to bid. It doesn't work 100% - AS is fallible and other snipers (manual and software) can ruin your day but it does improve your chances and save you money. Fact!

R2
P papamillerMember
The number of posts in the forums are over whelming and to be honest, I don't have the time to research my theory by reading all the posts.

What I really was looking for is confirmation to my theory and to squelch any misconceptions that AS will beat any bidder at the last moment of an auction.

Certainly when I signed up for an account on AS, I thought using the service would win me an auction against someone who was willing to pay more for an item than I. I wouldn't be surprised many others had the same thought.

I agree that there are other benefits to using the service and I plan to continue using AS.

Thanks for your reply,

PapaMiller
P papamillerMember
Sara, I agree, it does help against those nibblers. The only folks nibblers benefit are the sellers.

In my scenario, the bids were really the MAX anyone was willing to pay. In real life, if there's an item that I really can't live without, I'm going to bid to buy.

Of course if a bidder has a change of heart as to what they bid, if time permits, they could up their bid.

If there's a lesson to be learned here, is to bid the most you're willing to pay. If you're looking to "steal" an auction, be prepared to lose a lot; AS can't help you with that.

The benefits listed on the the Features tab of auctionsniper.com, are all very true and most eBay can't provide.

Thanks for your comments,

PapaMiller
C chatterMember
The theory is correct, but most of us here consider it self-evident. It sounds as though you had a misconception when you started using AS, are just now realizing that your previous notion was false, but think that others still hold your misconception, and need to warn them. That is not the case; I understood how AS worked from the get-go, and have always seen it for what it is.
P papamillerMember
I really wonder if MOST are really aware of that, considering all the newbie posts I see.

You're right, I had a different idea as to how it all worked. Maybe I didn't take the time to think it all through or really read what it was all about.

Come on, could I be the only one that had or has this misconception?

I'm not writing this to warn anyone. I just want people to be aware; especially those that have a different idea as to how AS works, as I did.

I want to make it clear that I'm not suggesting people to not use AS. Even as a more educated sniper, I still use AS and will continue to.

Thanks for the reply,

-Papa Miller
S snipersarabAuctionSniper Support
There are some other nice benefits as well. We mask your interest in the item, lulling others into believe the item either is not sought after or there will be no or few bidders. It's a little harder now with eBay hiding ID's but back in the day I used to search for what other buyers were bidding on that were bidding against me to find other items I might want. I found a lot of great deals and items I'd be interested in that way.

And being able to cancel your snipe up until the last few minutes is very nice. On eBay once you've bid that's it.
cameracameraMember
quote:
And being able to cancel your snipe up until the last few minutes is very nice. On eBay once you've bid that's it.


I really do think this is the main reason that AS is so successful.

Observing the shifting sands of unpredictable auction behaviour, I have on numerous occasions thought it wise to cancel, when my speculative rash bid becomes the price I will probably have to pay!

There is also the chance of a "better" item appearing round the next corner, so a "wait & see" period is a godsend.

Paul
U utkgrad101Member
I totally agree 100% with what you are saying. A lot of people don't understand how this works.

quote:
Originally posted by Chatter:
The theory is correct, but most of us here consider it self-evident. It sounds as though you had a misconception when you started using AS, are just now realizing that your previous notion was false, but think that others still hold your misconception, and need to warn them. That is not the case; I understood how AS worked from the get-go, and have always seen it for what it is.

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