GIXEN: I'm confused...

[Khane]

All eBay snipers should be banned.

+1



lol

 

[ringo]

All eBay snipers should be banned.

Why?

In my opinion anyone who bids on anything before the end of the auction is a mug...

 

[KeepItSteel]

Its hardly in the spirit of the thing is it? eBay used to be fun.

Its a bit like joining an online chess club, then setting up an auto pilot to play for you (possibly against someone else who is keen to play an actual person), then rocking up after the game is finished and saying

''oh look, I won.''

Imagine going to Sothebys to big on something wonderful youve had your heart set on for years. Only to consistently be outbid by a machine.
Its like those pesky phone bidders stealing all the fun.

Just doesnt seem right.
Pointless whinge, because it human nature to try and do one better than your rival, but ive bought tons on eBay over the years but never felt the urge to let a programme do the deal for me.

If you want to buy something badly, put a bid on at the start of the MAXIMUM you would be willing to pay. Or put a little risk in your life and ry and wing it right at sudden death.

 

[Khane]

Its hardly in the spirit of the thing is it? eBay used to be fun.

Its a bit like joining an online chess club, then setting up an auto pilot to play for you (possibly against someone else who is keen to play an actual person), then rocking up after the game is finished and saying

''oh look, I won.''

Imagine going to Sothebys to big on something wonderful youve had your heart set on for years. Only to consistently be outbid by a machine.
Its like those pesky phone bidders stealing all the fun.

Just doesnt seem right.
Pointless whinge, because it human nature to try and do one better than your rival, but ive bought tons on eBay over the years but never felt the urge to let a programme do the deal for me.

If you want to buy something badly, put a bid on at the start of the MAXIMUM you would be willing to pay. Or put a little risk in your life and ry and wing it right at sudden death.

i share the exact same oppinion.

 

[djoptix]

Or put a little risk in your life and try and wing it right at sudden death.

I agree with this, but not the rest. It's game theory - it's worse for everyone concerned if they all bid their maximum at the start. People will change their minds about what they think they're willing to pay and keep bidding up. The best way for the good of the herd (all the buyers) is to bid your predetermined maximum right at the last minute. In fact sniper services are good for buyers in general because if you use a sniper service you have to decide on your maximum beforehand. Of course for sellers, it's better if people leap in at the start, driving prices up...

Back OT, sorry you didn't get the Heckler. Looks nice

 

[ringo]

Or put a little risk in your life and try and wing it right at sudden death.

Ah, I see - your gripe isn't with sniping per se... merely the mechanical aspect of sniping tools...

I would agree to a point. Life dictates that you can't always be in front of a computer but it still stands that last minute bidding is the most efficient way to buy an item. For example when Van Gogh's Sunflowers next comes up for auction - you won't get some guy jumping in at the beginning of the auction saying I'll give you a billion pounds for that...

Whenever we lose an auction regardless of how the bidding is conducted the root cause is always the same - we didn't bid enough!