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NateEssex · Jan 7, 2006, 09:46 PM

I've been outbid now 5 times on eBay when bidding got down to the last minute

I feel MANY people are sniping, so I started looking into how to do it. It seems you either pay for an application to do it or use a web site.

Does anyone use a website where you just pay when you use them? I don't really want to pay $40 for an application as I don't really eBay that often. I found a site: http://www.ezsniper.com/compare.php3 but I'm not sure if it's credible.

Any input?
Thanks.

euchomai · Jan 7, 2006, 09:50 PM

Just look at an item and figure out what you'd pay at the most. I figure that part out, bid, and then don't look again.

That saves you the sniping worries.

Sorry, I'm not more help on the way to snipe.

rickey939 · Jan 7, 2006, 10:04 PM

http://www.esnipe.com has won me many auctions...it's very credible and has never failed me in regards to getting in the snipe bid.

euchomai · Jan 7, 2006, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

http://www.esnipe.com has won me many auctions...it's very credible and has never failed me in regards to getting in the snipe bid.

hmm, I've read their site and can see how it would be useful.

KeriVit · Jan 7, 2006, 10:26 PM

Sniping is good as a seller- my PB went up 300 in1 minute

Salty · Jan 7, 2006, 11:18 PM

Blah, I'd kind of like to start using ebay... First I guess I need to get a pay pal account and junk eh?

NateEssex · Jan 8, 2006, 12:23 AM

Okay, I just signed up with eSnipe. I'm going to give it a shot.

Thanks for the support.

volcano · Jan 8, 2006, 12:55 AM

www.auctionsniper.com has always worked well for me, and they give you 3 free snipes.

hayesk · Jan 8, 2006, 09:41 AM

I gotta go with euchomai. After having been outbid twice trying to snag the same item, one within the last 12 seconds (by fluke, I checked when there was 12 seconds left and I was still winning), I just asked myself how much I would be willing to pay for this item.

Lo and behold, I found another seller with a "Buy It Now" option for a price lower than my maximum.

rickey939 · Jan 8, 2006, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by NateEssex

Okay, I just signed up with eSnipe. I'm going to give it a shot.

Thanks for the support.

One other little hint with eSnipe is to use the free "SnipeIt!" browser shortcut, you can read more about it here (use the Internet Explorer directions if using Safari, it's the same principle):

http://www.esnipe.com/SnipeItInfo/st...intosh-ie.html

Basically, you never need to go to eSnipe.com to set-up your snipe. While viewing the eBay auction you want, simply hit the "SnipeIt!" browser bookmark, login, and then you'll enter your snipe information in the pop-up box that comes up. Very easy and fast.

Good Luck!

rickey939 · Jan 8, 2006, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Salty

Blah, I'd kind of like to start using ebay... First I guess I need to get a pay pal account and junk eh?

Yes, definitely get a PayPal account if you are going to start using eBay.

Person Man · Jan 8, 2006, 10:09 AM

I hardly ever buy on eBay any more because of all the sniping. If I do, it's usually stuff with BuyItNow.

I don't sell things very much on eBay any more either because of PayPal. I use it, but I don't trust them very much. I NEVER list PayPal as an accepted payment on my auctions, but if some idiot insists on using it, then I back down and give them my PayPal info (there goes ANOTHER 3% of my cut).

Also, I ALWAYS get someone who bids from other countries. What part of "I don't ship outside of the United States" do people NOT understand???

Seven years ago, eBay was a GREAT place to do business. Now I try to stay away from it as much as possible.

rickey939 · Jan 8, 2006, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Person Man

Also, I ALWAYS get someone who bids from other countries. What part of "I don't ship outside of the United States" do people NOT understand???

FYI, you can default your seller preferences to not allow users to bid from outside the United States if you want. Have you tried that? There are also preferences to now allow bidders to bid if they have negative feedbacks, don't have at least 5+ feedback, etc. etc.

Give it a shot the next time you try to sell something again.

Mediaman_12 · Jan 8, 2006, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

FYI, you can default your seller preferences to not allow users to bid from outside the United States if you want. Have you tried that?

Doesn't stop people though. I am in the UK and I have had winning bids from People in the USA. Even though 'NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING' is always wrote clearly in the Auction. idiots.

rickey939 · Jan 8, 2006, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

Doesn't stop people though. I am in the UK and I have had winning bids from People in the USA. Even though 'NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING' is always wrote clearly in the Auction. idiots.

Hmm, is that what you are stating in your auction, or are you saying you have selected the preference during the set-up of your auction and bids still get through internationally? It's never failed me when I select the preference.

TheMosco · Aug 5, 2007, 12:08 AM

Just checked out esnipe and saw this:

"Starting around 19:00 PDT on Monday, July 30th, eSnipe has observed an increasing number of eBay account failures. The problem continues to grow with more and more eBay accounts having their passwords reset by eBay. We continue to monitor this situation closely and will post updates as changes occur."

I am looking to sign up for one of these sites as I keep getting sniped trying to bid on a certian phone. Anyone have any more recent recommendations?

Person Man · Aug 5, 2007, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by TheMosco

Just checked out esnipe and saw this:

"Starting around 19:00 PDT on Monday, July 30th, eSnipe has observed an increasing number of eBay account failures. The problem continues to grow with more and more eBay accounts having their passwords reset by eBay. We continue to monitor this situation closely and will post updates as changes occur."

I am looking to sign up for one of these sites as I keep getting sniped trying to bid on a certian phone. Anyone have any more recent recommendations?

Hi. Thanks for resurrecting a zombie thread.

As for the monitoring thing, it sounds like all the scammers are using eSnipe to do their dirty work. Or they're falling victim to some type of phishing scam, or eBay is wising up to sites like eSnipe and disabling accounts who use them.

If you're going to snipe, do it manually, or lose. eBay should put everyone on a level playing field like that.

Aeternus · Aug 5, 2007, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by rickey939

http://www.esnipe.com has won me many auctions...it's very credible and has never failed me in regards to getting in the snipe bid.

I use that too. It's great. Plus it's not very expensive. I've been using esnipe for about 4 years now, maybe even 5. It's a very solid website.

wallinbl · Aug 5, 2007, 12:11 PM

Why would you pay some service to place eBay bids for you? It's not like it's difficult to do.

Laminar · Aug 5, 2007, 01:02 PM

I felt the same way until I read this:

eSnipe helps save money and time with bid groups. Suppose you'd like to buy a new computer, digital camera, or other commodity item. Just find all the auctions you're interested in, set a price you're willing to pay for that item, and add to a bid group. As soon as you win one of the auctions, the other listings are all canceled automatically

That actually sounds pretty interesting.

Aeternus · Aug 5, 2007, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Why would you pay some service to place eBay bids for you? It's not like it's difficult to do.

Because I don't even have to be home. I type in the auction number into esnipe, then decide the MAXIMUM amount I'm willing to pay for it, hit 3 seconds before the auction ends, and walk away. Days later, I check back and see if I won anything. It's great. Plus, bidding BEFORE the auction is almost done is just STUPID, it drives the price up for everybody. I don't understand why people bother bidding on anything unless there's 5 seconds or less left, otherwise somebody else will bid on it. Also, by deciding what you're willing to pay for it ahead of time, you don't get caught up in auction fever and end up over paying for anything. Esnipe rocks!

PS: I've been using ebay since 1998 or 1999 or so. I've had very few bad experiences. One was a woman who wouldn't pay after I shipped her item (never made that mistake again). Another was some stupid asian guy selling broken iPod hard drives, but 'guaranteed they were good', even though he also said AS IS. They were NOT good drives, and I wanted my money back, and he claims they were as-is, and I said he guaranteed they'd be good. Freaking people who don't understand English piss me off.

analogika · Aug 5, 2007, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Aeternus

Freaking people who don't understand English piss me off.

Ich würd vielleicht nochmal ein bisschen an der Formulierung arbeiten, du Vollhonk.

Aeternus · Aug 5, 2007, 03:21 PM

Correction: People who do not understand English but use it in an ebay auction and then try to argue their way out of what they really meant piss me off. I don't care if people don't speak English at all, but don't use it in an auction unless you know what the hell you are saying!

rickey939 · Aug 5, 2007, 03:30 PM

I remember this thread.