I've bought a couple of things through ebay over the years but I've never had this situation happen, can someone please explain. When I bid on a item (2 different things today) then go to the "confirm bid" button, it immediately gives me a "you've been outbid" message. It happens everytime and immediately/similtaneously so I know it's not just a coinsidence and some one is bidding at the same time. I guess it's some kind of feature or something and I probably have little chance of winning an auction where someone is "automatically" bidding. ??

Doug C

it means that someone before you bid "higher" than what you bid....you don't know how much they bid until you beat their price

There bid increases by a dollar each time you bid it up again! So, untill you reach there maximum bid then it will continue!

Jeff

QUOTE (DougC @ Jan 10 2005, 03:23 PM)

I guess it's some kind of feature or something

you can set up a "maximum" you want to bid.

let's say the auction is at $100 right now and someone else has set his bidding to a max. of $200 he's willing to pay for the item.

if you now come in and bid $120 you'll be automatically out-bid by that other person, because he's willing to go up to $200 so his next bid will automatically be $121.00 (which is higher than your $120) ...

Andy

Say the item you are interested in is currently at $1.00. When you bid, say 10 dollars, E bay only shows as much of your bid as necessary to make you the high bidder. i.e. first bid was .95, next bid was $12.00, the current high bid will show what ever increment the seller has set as the minimum bid, over the previous high bid. So, in my example, the increment is .05, the $12.00 bid will only show as 1.00. Now, you bid $10.00. The previous high bidder has actually bid $12.00, so his bid now shows as 10.05, instantly outbidding you, because he has already comitted to more than you bid.

Clear as mud?

Here is a simple way to do it.
Look at the item.
Look up what it is worth to buy brand new. (very important, some people get carried away and pay more than they could have bought it for new)
If it's $100 new then set your highest possible price.
If all you are willing to pay for it is $60 then wait until the last 15 seconds of the auction and put in your bid of $60.
If it is sitting at $1 and no one else bids you will still get it for $1 even if your max bid was $60.
If in the last 2 seconds someone snipes it from you for $61 then you didn't want to pay that much for it anyway and just move on.
If you really want it but still don't want to pay more than $60 then you can sign up to a sniping site and they will put in your max bid in the last 3 - 5 seconds to attempt to outsnipe someone else.
Understand?

The other advantage to Auction Sniper is if the auction ends in the middle of the night (or day and you are at work) then they can bid it for you in the last seconds.

I dont know about you guys, but I have an atomic clock directly above my computer that is set to the exact time on Ebay, I wait till the last 1 second and bid. Works everytime. Unless of course someone has already outbid me. That doesnt happen very often. Most of the time, I will win it.

WEASELS! ALL YOU SNIPERS ARE WEASELS!!!!!!!!

I absolutely hate getting sniped. Seller gets hosed, and I have too much of a life sit by my computer to bid at the last second. I have seen other auction sites that have a 5 minute rule. Auction doesn't end until no bids have been placed for 5 minutes. If Ebay did that, I would be much more active.

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 10 2005, 04:02 PM)

I have an atomic clock directly above my computer

that explains .... a lot ....


Andy

QUOTE (SirAndy @ Jan 10 2005, 04:09 PM)

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 10 2005, 04:02 PM) I have an atomic clock directly above my computer that explains .... a lot .... Andy

QUOTE (aircooledboy @ Jan 10 2005, 04:07 PM)

WEASELS! ALL YOU SNIPERS ARE WEASELS!!!!!!!!  :lol: I absolutely hate getting sniped.

I don't make the rules. I only work them to my advantage.



Sincerely,
Sniper John

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 10 2005, 05:02 PM)

I dont know about you guys, but I have an atomic clock directly above my computer that is set to the exact time on Ebay,

Brain detoriation from all those loose electrons and protons flying about thru the cosmos of his garage from his clock. The neutrons just make his head heavy.

Call me whatever you like, if I want something, I am willing to do what it takes to get it. It's not my fault that the rest of the people on Ebay arent willing to go the extra mile. Good things come to those who wait. As for the seller, how can you justify that comment on the seller being hosed? He should have set a reserve on it or started the bidding higher to make his money. I play by the rules, and it works for me. If you think I am a weasel for it, then perhaps you would be the type that sues someone for your own stupidity?

QUOTE (SirAndy @ Jan 10 2005, 04:09 PM)

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 10 2005, 04:02 PM) I have an atomic clock directly above my computer that explains .... a lot .... Andy

It explains nothing, only that I know exactly what time it is. It can never be said that I am not punctual. I was always told that was a admirable trait.

The Cap'n is a sniper, and a pretty good one at that. Part of the sport of ebaying. If ya don't like it, pay retail ..................
The Cap'n

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 10 2005, 06:44 PM)

If you think I am a weasel for it, then perhaps you would be the type that sues someone for your own stupidity?

I was kidding dude. Hence the lol smiley. I don't know where the hell that came from.

I love sniping. I get an adrenaline rush when I win. However, I also do a lot of research on the item ahead of time to determine the maximum that I am willing to bid. I don't lose very often. One of the advantages of broadband.

QUOTE (aircooledboy @ Jan 10 2005, 06:56 PM)

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 10 2005, 06:44 PM) If you think I am a weasel for it, then perhaps you would be the type that sues someone for your own stupidity? I was kidding dude. Hence the lol smiley. I don't know where the hell that came from.

It appears that Scott's atomic clock has a radiation leak.......it fried his sense of humor

I have a sense of humor, you try quitting smoking after 30 some years and see how you are.

QUOTE (skline @ Jan 10 2005, 10:59 PM)

I have a sense of humor, you try quitting smoking after 30 some years and see how you are.

Done it lots of times........no luck (32+ years of tobacco abuse)

Hissy excused!

All is fair in Love, War, and online bidding.

If you don't like being sniped..... then become a sniper. Thats what I did.

If you go to AuctionStealer.com, you can set up an account for free. You get 3 or 4 snipes per week, 100% free. No catches... I've been using it for months.

It usually drops my bid around 10 seconds before the auction ends..... and never costs me a dime.

Wife and I are quitting simultaneously - makes the cuban missle crisis seem like playtime.

jbb

edit - i love to snipe!