A truly free sniper

[jmk89]

I recently stumbled across a sniper facility for eBay that is free.

It is called Gixen.

I have used it and it seems good - the bids go on in the last few seconds. I reckon I have won a few things I would have otherwise missed and maybe got them a few dollars cheaper. More importantly, I also think that it may have stopped me getting into a bidding war on some items (which probably also saves me dosh!!!).

There are the usual disclaimers and if you win something, he wants you to put a link to him on your website (I don't have a website, so it's just an irritation to go past that screen).

Worth a look if you want to snipe but don't want to pay for it!!!!!

Cheers

Jeremy

[Stuart]

Personally, I think using a program to snipe when bidding on eBay is pretty low.

(snip)

Actually, been thinking about this after posting. Guess I really don't / shouldn't care - you should bet the max you are prepared to pay. If you get outbid, by whatever means, then tough.

[Toolin Around]

I wonder what else it installs and monitors... No thnx.

Still haven't figured out how "sniping" is an advantage when there are sooooo many people doing it. Lots testify to saying their saving heaps. But no one can in any way quantify it because they have no idea if they really are. The only thing it's done is put most of the bidding in the last three seconds. What do you do, you put in the price you're willing to pay and you walk away; some you win most you lose. Just like you would be doing anyways. You'd just have done it a few day earlier. And low and behold some you win most you lose . Happy bidding!

If you're smart (I don't epay so I don't apply) you'd be looking for the software that searches the buy it now listings every 30 seconds for key words and a price your willing to go to. Anything under that, it alerts you and or buys it for you.

When I was trolling epay years ago I used to see some really low prices in the buy it now category. Saw a set of Lie Nielsen HSS chisels for the buy it now price of $150. Thought they may be fakes cause Lie Nielsen didn't have a set on their website with Coco Bolo handles. Went to a wood guild meeting that night and low and hold the Lie Nielsen rep was there with a set with Coco Bolo handled bevel edged chisels. He said they were probably stolen. I said who cares . He didn't look impressed . Missed that one - bugga.

Since no one is trying to sell any applications like that yet (key word being yet) means it's still more advantageous for the user and programmers to keep it out of the publics eye. But that's like trying to find sniping software years ago when it was a real advantage. Now everyone and there dogs peddling some version. Wouldn't surprise me if yo could buy sniping software on epay . And if it's now gone free, that should tell ya heaps.

[jmk89]

Personally, I think using a program to snipe when bidding on eBay is pretty low.

(snip)

Actually, been thinking about this after posting. Guess I really don't / shouldn't care - you should bet the max you are prepared to pay. If you get outbid, by whatever means, then tough.

Stuart

I know what you mean, but I convinced myself that it wasn't reprehensible to snipe becos:

1. In effect you can snipe in a real auction, if you know what you are doing (and I have done enough bidding in real estate, antique and art auctions over the last 20 years to have seen how it can be managed); and
2. the eBay max bid facility is too seller friendly - the bid comes on whenever the bid is hit, there is none of the "foxing" you can do in a real auction (esp if you do a strategy involving a bidder physically present and "another" who is phone bidding). Even a standing bid in a real auction is better handled than an eBay max bid.

Not high morality, but commerce isn't. If eBay and sellers want to stop sniping, I am sure that it is not beyond the wit of the programmers to adjust the protocols to have that effect. For as long as it isn't done, then people who don't want to snipe will lose out. It ends up as personal choice. And why you want to bid on eBay....

[echnidna]

I snipe and I don't regard it as low morality.
Ebay permits it.
After you lose a few things to people who snipe you have to apply the old adage - "when in Rome do as Romans do"

btw you try putting in a late bid on an erratic dialup connection - you got no hope at all.

[Stuart]

Yeah, look I have to agree with you. My issue was with electronic sniping (using a program), as sniping (in person) is the way all experienced buyers go. I do it too, but after my initial post, I decided that I wasn't right, and there really isn't any difference - if you bid what you are prepared to pay, so be it. If someone is prepared to pay more, no matter how they get their bid in, then they win.

No different to the electronic stockmarket (which causes real problems during a crash, as we have seen in the past!!)

[jmk89]

I also thought that sniping was rough when you paid for it... now it's free, I feel less antagonistic towards it, because it means that there is a level playing field and you aren't being beaten because someone is prepare to pay for a snipe.

Now I have thought about it some more, I reckon that the problem is caused because the auction has a fixed end time. I reckon that eBay shoud adjust its programming so that an auction is only over if, after the fixed end time, the highest bid (and any subsequest high bid) remains untopped for, say, 60 seconds - that is a more realistic representation of a real auction and would kill current sniping programs immediately because anyone would have 60 seconds (or whatever time eBay selects) to beat the sniper (or a later sniper). So an eBay auction would have a way of mimicking the "going, going...." of a good 'real' auctioneer.

[Stuart]

Yeah - like that. Pity it won't happen, but its another of the world's problems solved by the BB, if only 'they' would listen!!

[rodm]

I have no problem with sniping. Auctions are promoted as winner takes all so they take advantage of the competitive spirit of bidders.

I see items selling for far more than they are worth because of competition between bidders. Usually you can pick it as the inexperienced bidder places multpile bids to get ahead of the highest bid.

Just recently I won an item for $12.00 while two bidders had already pushed up the price of the exact item from the same seller to $25.00 and their item ended one day after the one I bid on. The item could have been purchased from a retailer for about $20 so figure that out.

Sniping is just as fair as encouraging bidders to engage in a bidding competition and pay more than the item can be purchased through retail outlets.

Sellers have a huge advantage over buyers because they set the starting price therefore guarantee a minimum sale price, they can withdraw an item from sale (bidders don't have the same flexability), they can set the terms of the sale, they can profit from shipping and handling charges and the seller only has a photo and sellers description to assess their purchase. To top it all off the buyer then carries the greatest risk because once payment is made they are at the goodwill of the seller - the seller is at no risk while they have the money and the goods.

Feedback is supposed to sort all this out but I think in some ways it is self defeating becasue people are not entirely honest about transactions for fear of getting negative feedback themselves.

Fortunately it does work if you are sensible about bidding and buyers are honest and sniping is just a tool to even the playing field.

[Rossluck]

I've had my doubts about it, but I'm willing to change my mind. I'd be good if Ebay made it available to everyone so that the playing field was even, and people with low computer skills had the same chance.

[Big Shed]

I don't have a problem with sniping, but I do have a problem with giving my Ebay password to some stranger on the other side of the world for him/her to do with as they please

Reading the information on Gixen, I came across a link for some software that you can install on your own computer to snipe:

http://www.jbidwatcher.com/

This seems to me a better option and I intend to download this free software and have a go.

I currently snipe manually, a lot easier to do since I got access to broadband in January, let me tell you. Manual sniping is almost impossible on dial-up.

[meerkat]

Yep I use JBidWatcher too

[Daddles]

I've won a couple of tight, well fought battles recently by sniping manually. Mind you, there were items that were freely available so I wasn't overly fussed if I lost and, as has been noted, you need reliable broadband. In one case, I went up to my max and in the second, I got in a few bids under my max (I reckon there was another real live bidder fighting me that day, not a program). It's fun - beats using a program unless the sole point of the exercise is to get the item (make life a game where possible grasshopper).

A tactic I've found useful is to place your max at an obscure figure. eg, instead of $25, make it $26.50 - that gives you a chance to sneak in ahead of the person thinking like we normally do (in round figures). I reckon that tactic one me one fight and on others, has seen a sudden, silly increase in the other side's max bid.

Richard