Any eBay Snipers here at FOH?

[Ginseng]

Been a fan of Lone Wolf and Cub since their original comic release here in the states in 1987. Now a few full sets of the Dark Horse collections are up on eBay. Since I am basically a non-user, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for successfully picking items up at a good price.

Wilkey

[nikesupremedunk]

I used to use ebay more than 5 years ago when I used to heavily collect sneakers. I used to use this program called "auctionsniper" i believe, and it should still be around. plus they give you about 3 free snipes and if you refer people you get 3 more for free. very easy to use, just put it at about 6 seconds and the computer will automatically place a bid for you pretty much 6 seconds before it ends and it works very well, assuming your bid isn't already lower than the current bid. I won many auctions this way, and you don't have to do anything, just sit back, smoke a cigar, and come back and boom, you've won.

Or you can just do it the old fashioned way and keep refreshing like in a LFTH post.

[chr0nic]

I went through a phase where I wanted to collect the entire EDA series of Doctor Who... I won around 95% of battles

Sniping came down to two reasons. The first was that you wanted the element of surprise on the other potential buyers to make sure that no one outbid you... or the seller using a second account to try puff their price up.

However the second- and more genuine reason- I would snipe EVERY book was to avoid other people sniping me lol. Even if I was the only bidder and I was almost positive I had NO competition I would always snipe to be sure.

I never trusted software (after it failed once on me) but did it like this-

* Open two tabs for the same page. One tab should be the item, bid entered, and on the screen where it says 'CLICK TO CONFIRM BID'. The other tab should stay on the listing where you watch the clock. I'm pretty sure the clock ticks down now, but if it doesn't I would spam F5 ala nikesupremedunk says about LFTH.

* When the clock gets within around 5 seconds (depending on your connection speed) click 'CONFIRM' on the other tab. Very important- if you have a SLOOOWWW connection best to snipe at 10 seconds or you may lose it.

Biggest issues here are (1) Other snipers or, most annoyingly, (2) you are stingy and put a big that is too low to buy it. I always recommend sniping with your MAXIMUM you will spend. That way you can never say later 'I probably would have gone up another $20' and kick yourself. Keep in mind that most auctions will only bid enough to make you the winner- for example if you bid $100, but the last bid was $40 the system should make you the highest bidder with $50... and the other $50 will automatically be bid on your behalf (by eBay) if someone challenges you.

As mentioned, this worked almost EVERY TIME. The two or three times it failed I was on a slow connection (phone), I was a cheapskate or I was distracted.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[Ginseng]

Very cool, gentlemen. I'll see if I can practice the window setup before the deadline.

Wilkey

[BradNC]

I don't always snipe....but when I do....I use auction stealer.

[Jnaube]

Use proxi bidding. If the item is at 2 dollars and youre willing to go to 25' wait until theres 30 seconds left and the computer will bid automatically for you. Basically, you write twenty but ebay will bid 2,25. If someone else bids 5 dollars, ebay will automatically outbid for you until you reach your limit.

The trick is to use it as late as possible. No programs needed.

[canadianbeaver]

I only bid by sniping. I use Auctionsniper. I was a powerseller for two years selling antique sterling silver with 2000+ 100% positive feedback, ID thebidwatcher .

I tell you this not to brag, but to show that my wins have been fabulous for both sides.

A couple of suggestions . If you really want something, pay $2 and let your snipe go in at 2 seconds. Lots of others are using free snipes at 6.

Set your limit a few days before and plug it in. You can always change your mind. I use snipe software for bidding discipline as much as strategy. Getting in a bidding war only helps the seller.

Lisa

[Ginseng]

Thanks for that advice, Lisa and all. Gonna give Auctionsniper a try and I'll report back on how I did.

Wilkey

[jkdooley]

Bidnapper.com I have used for many years. Just looked at the site and they offer 15 days free. They have been very effective for me

[CaptainQuintero]

Wait until 10 seconds are left (make sure you are all signed in first etc) then put your maximum bid in.

[canadianbeaver]

Wait until 10 seconds are left (make sure you are all signed in first etc) then put your maximum bid in.

See my post above CQ... problem with this is snipers are there 6-2 seconds before and you have to be there when the auction ends. If you miss it, you are SOL.

[CaptainQuintero]

It's never failed for me in over a decade

[Ginseng]

Hey Lisa,

Quick question on the status. I have set up two snipes and they are both showing as "Ready." And each one has a day or more to go. Do I have to do anything else or does that mean the snipe is locked and loaded and will go up automatically? Or do I have to do another step to actually "activate" it?

Wilkey

[brazoseagle]

Send the seller a message and make him an offer he can't refuse!

[canadianbeaver]

You do not have to do anything, Wilkey.

You can check the auction closer to the end and see if your bid is still on target or if there is a lot of action. If there is, you can adjust your snipe.

About asking the seller for a side deal, this can sometimes happen if the guy has more than one. A vendor cannot change the price or status of a deal with less than 12 hours to go. Deleting a deal with bids will get complaints to eBay.

Just as an aside, never bid on anything where the shipping price is totally out of whack, making the sale price cheap cheap. This is called "fee avoidance" and can get a seller thrown off eBay.

[canadianbeaver]

Also, as soon as a bid goes in, the buy it now disappears. In a buy it now, there is often a make an offer. If the buy it now/ make an offer is more than 14 days, it means it there all the time.

[gr8tdanz]

I like the rush of sniping, or lurking as kcheek and I call it. It used to be more involved but now eBay does the count down for you.

I decide my max bid, never a whole number. If I am willing to go 25.00, I enter 25.28 or something like that. Reason is, if someone else bids exactly 25 2 seconds before I do, their bid overrides mine. Bidding a random number reduces the likelihood of this happening.

I then sign in and have a window waiting on the confirm bid page.

Open another window so you can monitor it and just decide how late you will go in.

I like 5 secnds or less. You would be amazed at how many bids can sneak in with only 10 seconds left. 5 seconds is usually pretty safe.

I snipe on everything. It keeps me from getting caught up in the excitement and overbidding.

As always, check out shipping and any extra charges first. Sometimes you may pay less for the item but get jacked on other charges.

I also have a rule that I will not bid on or let anyone bid on my auction with fewer than a 50 feedback rating. I have been burned more often than not when I break the rule.

Lastly, use Paypal so you are protected. I know some are against it, but everytime I've been screwed over, they reimbursed me.

Just my opinion based off what has worked for me with pretty high success.

Have fun!

[Julesgf]

+1 Bidnapper

Works a treat and it's good discipline to set your max and walk away

[Ginseng]

Okay,

I'm watching two items via eBay and ASniper and although the bid is up to $61 on eBay as of three hour ago, it's still not updating on AuctionSniper. Is this normal, you former or current users?

Wilkey

[canadianbeaver]

Was it ever showing the correct amount? Are you sure the snipe is connected to the auction? Did you clear your cache?

Maybe it takes a while to catch up?

I am not at home and only on my iPhone...

[Ginseng]

Ah,

I must just be a bit nervous about my first snipe. It did update, a few minutes later.

Thanks, Lisa,

Wilkey

[Ginseng]

Thanks to everyone who gave me great suggestions...I won the item I wanted and at a price I was happy to pay. Now to plan that 24-hour Lone Wolf and Cub read-a-thon.

Wilkey

PS. In the end, AuctionSniper, free trial, 3 second lead, 2 increments did the trick, and man, what a rush watching that clock tick down.

[canadianbeaver]

That's terrific! Great news!

[frenchkiwi]

Been a fan of Lone Wolf and Cub since their original comic release here in the states in 1987. Now a few full sets of the Dark Horse collections are up on eBay. Since I am basically a non-user, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for successfully picking items up at a good price.

Wilkey

don't know too much about ebay sniping except bid last, and bid the highest! lol

but Lone Wolf and Cub, what an epic, i read through them all again recently on my little sony e-reader (e-ink is perfect for the black and white and small manga format), a great treat. much better to have the books though, so good luck!

congratulations i mean!

[chr0nic]

Congrats!

I'll have to check out Lone Wolf and Cub.

I don't read a lot of manga, but I'm absolutley addicted to Berserk. The installment remakes of the anime had made me so nostalgic and happy.

Glad to hear you had a win