Re: More eBay insanity (was Re: Apple IIc+ on eBay)

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

In article <_2OdnUDT4pRb2uyjXTWc3Q@comcast.com>, "Bill Garber"
<willy46pa@comcast.net> writes:

>Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote in message
>20030313214144.15648.00000981@mb-md.aol.com">news:20030313214144.15648.00000981@mb-md.aol.com...
>> In article <I1udnRBSh9OGD-2jXTWc3Q@mt.net>, "Terry Olsen"
>> <tolsen64@hotmail.com> writes:
>>
>> >Why is sniping a "bad" thing?  I've participated in those "bidding wars"
>at
>> >the end of an auction...I've always lost, but there's nothing wrong with
>> >trying to get the best deal you can.
>>
>> I don't have any problem with sniping at all.  It just converts the
>> auction into a "sealed bid" auction--which generally nets the
>> bidder a better deal, free of the emotional games that can run
>> the price up above reason.
>>
>> -michael
>
>I am not against sniping, if the person him/herself is doing the
>sniping, but when you sit and refresh every 2 seconds and it's
>still you, but then after the last two second refresh another
>name comes up as the winner, that's got to be automated.
>That's not fair at all. In fact, it IS against eBay policy 100%.

Actually, it isn't hard to get a bid in in the last five seconds.
That's what digital watches (or sweep second hands) are for.  ;-)

The whole idea of sniping is to wait to bid until no other bidder
can respond to your bid.  And you bid what you are willing to
pay.  If no other bidder is willing to pay as much, then you win.
If another bidder, sniper or proxy, is willing to go above what
you are willing to pay, then they win.

If you are willing to pay $X for something, then you should
bid it, not "work up to it" by small increments.  And the later
that you expose your maximum bid, the less likely that you
will stimulate an emotional bidding war.  That's the point of
sniping.  And it's the point of sealed-bid auctions, too.  ;-)

-michael

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