posted 10-23-2001 11:18            

What would happen if I did a proxy bid through Ebay compared to using a snipeware? Would the snipeware just put in my maximum bid?

posted 10-23-2001 12:17            

Have used ebay a good deal as a buyer and seller. Be it good or bad, most of the bidding 'action' occurs late (like in the last 5 minutes). If you use 'proxy' early in the auction it will just keep raising your bid until it reaches your max. In my opinion, not a good idea. If you put in a proxy late (i.e. last minute)it will ONLY bid what is needed to be the highest bid (unless you are outbid). I sold one that went from $400 to $1000 in the last minute. If you are going to 'snipe' wait until 30-40 seconds, assuming you have fast internet connection liks caable or DSL.

AVOID timeshare auctions with a reserve. Usually these folks are dreaming and you are wasting your time. You can find some good buys- I got a high float week at Tropic Shores at Daytona Beach Shores- very nice, for $650 incl. closing costs. Traded it for Bike Week 2002. Us and 500,000 other motorcycle nuts.

One other thing, look at 2 places- timeshares for sale under real estate aand under trave, then subset lodging then subset timeshare rentals. Some sell there due to lower fees.

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Steve H. Barr
Raleigh, NC

posted 10-23-2001 15:04            

It can work but it's not for the faint of heart.

Snipeware refers to programs where you can preprogram your snipe bid and the software will put it in automatically for you - the one I've used will allow you to set the time in advance you want your bid to go in.

posted 10-23-2001 15:23            

I have not found the need to use sniping software with a cable modem or high-speed line at work. I often set in a lower (than my maximum) proxy bid earlier in the auction (late the day prior to the close or a few hours before the close of the bidding) just to get a feel for the level of interest and to determine if someone else is proxy bidding and appears to really want to buy the item. If someone appears to be set on outbidding everyone else, it doesn't pay to get into a bidding war. There are always other opportunities to bid. I always decide in advance the amount that is the most I'd be willing to pay for the item and often put in a new proxy bid (which automatically resets my bid at the minimum increment over the highest previous bid) consistent with that maximum price within the last minute to half minute of the auction (or last few minutes if the level of activity or interest appears to be limited). If someone has bid more than my maximum bid, then it was more than I was willing to pay anyway and I should let it go at that. It takes some discipline to avoid getting one's ego into a bidding war. Usually, if my bid falls slightly short because of another proxy bid outstanding, ebay will tell me to rebid and I have been able to raise my bid a bit within the last half minute. Usually, I just let it go and start searching for the next bidding opportunity. Only had one occasion where I got frozen out and lost a bid using that technique.

Another thing to think about is the timing of the close of the auction. A later closing time on the US west coast on a weekday might limit the number of available and interested bidders (because many persons in the central and eastern US have gone to bed or are unwilling or unable to check out the auction late at night). Similary, auction activity can be more limited when someone has submitted an auction that closes early in the day (maybe because they entered the item on ebay before going to work one morning)

posted 10-23-2001 18:35            

The key, to me, is "a timeshare I really want." This can be dangerous, once you start chasing the bid and emotion takes over. I am not an expert but I would recommend proxy bidding in 2 phases. Several hours before the end, submit a proxy for a percentage of what you are willing to pay and see what happens. Let that ride until near the end, defined by your comfort level, and then, assuming that the highest price you are willing to pay has not been surpassed, submit that figure in another proxy bid.

If you really want the timeshare, then I would adjust my proxy price to my highest price, even if I were still winning the bid with my lower bid. There will be a large number of bids in the last several minutes and seconds especially if it has been bid on by a number of people.

One other thing. Since you want this timeshare and emotion is hard to block out, I would recommend that you plan ahead with your absolute highest price, will not go any higher, you can have it price. Perhaps that's your high price or perhaps it's 5% over your top price, in case you think you can get around that last minute bidder -- after all what's another hundred or two, since you have come so far. I am not recommending this, just saying that if you think you will be caught up in the moment have a hard figure at hand.

I have lost out on auctions by being too cute, waiting too long to snipe, or, in the early days, being unable to get in on a busy week-end night. Far better to set your price earlier, have patience and hope for the best.

Best of luck.

posted 10-24-2001 05:47            

The person who suggested proxy bidding at the last second would be the best option neglected one thing. The snipeware puts in back-up bids, so if it gets frozen out once, it will keep trying in one second increments, until the bid goes through.

I use Bidmaster the same way as a proxy bid. I put in the maximum amount I'm willing to bid, set it to fire at 30 seconds, then forget it. If I'm the high bidder, it was meant to be, if not, then someone else was willing to pay more. It isn't because I didn't get my bid in on time.

This way, I don't have to stand around waiting for JUST the right second to try to get my bid in. It's all automatic. Like Bev, I never get caught up in bidding wars. Usually I win. But if I don't, it's because someone else thought the item was more valuable than I did. Got to be philosophical about the outcome.

posted 10-24-2001 09:26            

Norm

posted 10-25-2001 09:28            

The fact is that most ebay users don't place their max bid up front. They will bid and then wait until outbid before going higher. If they aren't outbid during the course of the auction, most likely they will never increase their proxy. Putting a snipe in during the last 10 seconds of the aucion doesn't give the other bidder time to counter. Bear in mind, that you only have one chance with a snipe. If it isn't high enough to beat the current proxy bidder, you lose.

Norm

posted 10-25-2001 14:37            

I believe for most programs it depends how you enter your snipe bid. Most of the sniping software allows you to also enter a proxy (maximum) bid OR a one time bid. So if you set that maximum bid (not a one time bid) at $300 and the current high bid is $100, the snipe software will bid $110. The risk you run is that the person who has high bid of $100 has ALSO put in a proxy bid. As soon as your program snipes at $110, the proxy bid will jump again. If there's time, I THINK the snipe will retry, but I'm actually not 100 per cent sure about that. Also, by then you've usually run out of time, if you are truly sniping in the last 10 seconds or so. I hope I've made things clearer and not even more confusing.

I invite anybody with more sniping experience to comment - I've really only done it a half dozen times or so and have only been successful once - and that was without the use of a sniping program.

Bev

quote:

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Originally posted by Marina_K:
Sorry, but you've all lost me

I'm not sure how a snipe works ...

Lets say it's the last 30 seconds and the high bid is $100 and the increment is $10. I've set my snipe for $300 at 26 seconds. [b]What amount does the snipe put in?

[/B]

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posted 10-25-2001 14:51            

How this works to keep the winning bid price down is that if you bid less than your absolute top end maximum (as many say they do), and I want that item, but wait until the last possible second to bid, you are sitting there, pretty confident, that you'll get it for your less-than-maximum proxy, come what may.

If I were to bid using my proxy max long before the end, you'll inflate your bid to a little higher than you first designated. And I might come back and say, "Well, for a dollar more I might be able to take this." And so I bid accordingly.

You come along and see this, and say, "Well, that really wasn't my maximum. I'll set a proxy for $3 more." And the price goes up. The idea of for just a little more, maybe I can get it inflates the ending amount. By this time, others may have jumped into the fray, and before you know it, the price is through the roof. Good for sellers, but not so hot for bidders.

By sitting back and making you think you have it made in the shade with your lower proxy bid, I can usually outbid you at the last second, and even if you're watching, by the time that you see that I've outbid you, it's tough to judge what my top end bid was, and get it in before the close of auction.

Sniping is a proven strategy that has worked for me many, many times, and I rarely consider bidding any other way. I love Bidmaster.

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--Cat
baricat@yahoo.com