'Sniping' on eBay - how to do it?

[bizzylizzy]

I'm getting tired of being beaten in the last few seconds of an eBay auction by people using sniping software. So I've decided if you can't beat 'em join 'em. Does anyone know of a reliable piece of sniping software that I can download that will work on a Mac. And yes, I know it's not in the spirit of eBay, but I'm fed up with the fact that I'm always losing bids at the last minute. Thanks everyone bizzylizzy.

[Oneeyedvic]

I really don't understand this. If yo usee something, put a bid on it at the highest price you are willing to go to. If someone else doesn't bid as high surely they don't get it. The earlier you bid the better. Maybe I am just lucky. I only lose things on ebay when I don't want to pay as much as someone else!

[bizzylizzy]

You would think so wouldn't you. But sniping software sneaks in, in the last couple of seconds, so you don't have time to bid again. Even if you've set a higher bid level, the sniping software manages to get one more bid in before the eBay preset bid level can respond. It's very crafty. So you can think you've won, right up to the final couple of seconds. There's no way to respond quickly enough to people using this method. I didn't even realise that's what was happening, until someone enlightened me. bizzylizzy

[Mattk]

yes,but like the previous poster said - bid the highest you are prepared to go then if it goes higher,so what ? you didnt want it for that much anyway! personally,i always try and bid on buy-it-now auctions - saves hassle and waiting around

[Philtaz]

What do you mean sniping is not in the spirit of eBay? That's half the fun! The other half is knowing you got a bargain at a knock down price!

[stevie21]

There is a bit of software which I'm trying to think of now - I've used it before and it's java based, meaning that you need the JRE (java runtime environment) installed. OK, I've found it, it's called JBidWatcher and will do the sniping for you. If you enter �10 as your max bid manually then I can discern that this is your max bid way before the auction ends. This gives me lots of time to outbid you. With this prog, I don't know what your max bid is until after the auction ends so you may have a better chance of winning then. Lesson over ;-)

[bizzylizzy]

Thanks stevie 21, you expained far better than I did. That's exactly what I was talking about. I'm not very techy, so I've have to find out how to do this, but I'm grateful for your input. Thanks.

[j2buttonsw]

I don't understand why anyone would bid prior to about 4 seconds before the auction ends. You just seem keen and you can hoik the price up in some bidding war if you bid before. As has been said, you have your highest bid so if you lose it then so be it. I agree that buy-it-know is the best and I honestly don't think there is a true bargain on ebay. It has torn the heart out of the second-hand musical instrument market for sure.

[albertop9]

Try http://www.auctionsniper.com/ I haven't used it yet, but I sure will the next time I bid! :)

[dec765]

It's not sniping you need to do. Wait until 2 mins then put in a high bid, unlikely to lose then

[redcato9]

to the person who says they really don't understand. how would you like to bid on an item and be the high bidder, with the minimum bid being $5 and have someone with a sniper program outbid you in the last 2/10 of a second by a penny? it happens all the time and you really don't understand. that has happened to me more than once.