eBay Sniper Bidding: If You Can't Beat 'em...
So you've found that long-sought after item on eBay. You've done all of the research on the product, analyzed the history of the merchant, figured out a competitive price and placed your bid. You check your bid again with only a few minutes before the closing of the auction and you see that you are in the lead-the top bidder! You log off happily, excited about your new purchase.
Shortly after the auction, you check your emails. No congratulatory email from eBay...
You check the auction and realize that you've lost-someone has outbid you with only minutes left in the auction for a little more than you were willing to pay.
If something like this happens, chances are you've been the victim of what is commonly referred to as a "Sniper Bid".
"Sniper Bidding" occurs when someone waits until the last moments of an auction to place their bid on a product, usually at a price that is only slightly higher than the prevailing bid at the time. It is frustrating practice for both buyers and merchants.The reality is that eBay may not like the practice but does very little to prevent it from happening. Unfortunately for you it's an "occupational hazard" when participating in an auction.
There are a however some things you can do to help reduce the chance of getting picked off by a Sniper:
Place Your Highest Bid First. If you've done the work and are comfortable with a price you can afford, enter the bid. That way you don't have to keep checking the auction and if you lose, it won't be because you "nickel and dimed" during auction.
Pay Attention to the "Buy It Now" Offers. Take a look at your auction and see if a "Buy It Now" price is listed.If the price being offered is something you are willing to pay, you can end the auction immediately by taking advantage of this feature and eliminate a Sniper from shutting you out of something you really want.
And if you can't beat'em...
There are services available for a fee that will allow a buyer to Sniper Bid. You provide the service with you eBay information, the products you are interested in and the maximum amount you are willing to pay. These providers will then enter an auction on your behalf, usually in the closing minutes "sniper style".
There are some definite advantages to using a Sniper Bid service, provided you will be bidding often enough to make it worthwhile to pay the fee.You will avoid getting into a "bidding war" over a product, which can save you money. Additionally, these services will bid in groups for you at the same time.If you are interested in one autographed baseball card for your collection, these services will place a bid on your behalf in every auction for that product at the same time.Once you win an auction, all of the other bids are cancelled immediately. While there are no guarantees that you will win every auction, your chances for success do increase significantly by using a Sniper Bid service.
So whether you decide to be a hunter or the hunted, there are options available to you.Like everything else, make sure you research all of the terms and conditions of the service before you commit, and ask yourself whether you will be bidding enough to justify the cost of the service.
Find anything you want on eBay. Register for eBay today to get started!