snipe tool

worried_jim

Can someone recommend an ebay snipe tool that I can use.

Many thanks, Jim.

jcb208

I use www.goofbay.com seems to be ok

mikemaple

gixen.com - free for the standard version and very good

AirCooledHeaven

https://www.auctionsniper.com

I've used it for years, very reliable.

thumperrabbit

another vote for gixen.com it has never let me down.

A.Penny.Saved

AirCooledHeaven wrote: »

www.auctionsniper.com

I've used it for years, very reliable.

I 2nd this, I have used it successfully on a number of occasions. There are a few free snipes to try it out.

It's not PC software so your PC doesn't have to be on.

eneville

What's wrong with just placing your maximum bid at the start?

VoucherMan

eneville wrote: »

What's wrong with just placing your maximum bid at the start?

I'd say that from a buyers point of view there's often someone sat at their computer waiting to press the button.

If I bid £20 at the start of an aution there's plenty of time for someone to outbid me. £20 in the last five seconds, then there's not enough time to put in a higher bid.

Fair? Possibly not. Better for my pocket? Definitely.

I decided long ago that if you can't beat them join them. Mind you I've never used a snipe tool. If something is still in my price range when it's near the end time then I'll enter a bid manually in the dying seconds.

If I can't get to a computer at that time then I'll enter my maximum bid earlier. A bonus for the seller as they may get a better price, but I don't think I've ever won an auction like that.

rdr

Gixen and if there are multiple items available I run a group snipe at the 10th percentile price.

paddyrg

I hate ebay snipers - or more accurately, I hate how ebay favours buyers that use sniping tools. A 'real' auction waits until all bids are in (going once, going twice....sold), not a hammerfall at a fixed time. So ebay has none of the advantages of a sealed bid auction combined with none of the advantages of a 'proper' auction. It only benefits snipers, so the only way to level the field is to become another sniper and try to stiff the other snipers by bidding at 2 seconds to hammerfall instead of 3, etc. It works against the seller (again, unlike a real auction, where they want to make better money for their sellers!).

How would I remedy this - very simple. If a bid is received in the last 2 minutes of the auction, the clock resets for another 2 minutes. Sniper bid comes in at 2 seconds to hammerfall - then the time gets extended by 118 seconds and everyone gets a chance to reconsider whether to place another bid or not. Seller makes more, 'honest' buyers get a fairer experience, sniper companies don't get a fee and commission from every sale, so fees can be reduced.

AirCooledHeaven

paddyrg wrote: »

I hate ebay snipers - or more accurately, I hate how ebay favours buyers that use sniping tools. A 'real' auction waits until all bids are in (going once, going twice....sold), not a hammerfall at a fixed time. So ebay has none of the advantages of a sealed bid auction combined with none of the advantages of a 'proper' auction. It only benefits snipers, so the only way to level the field is to become another sniper and try to stiff the other snipers by bidding at 2 seconds to hammerfall instead of 3, etc. It works against the seller (again, unlike a real auction, where they want to make better money for their sellers!).

How would I remedy this - very simple. If a bid is received in the last 2 minutes of the auction, the clock resets for another 2 minutes. Sniper bid comes in at 2 seconds to hammerfall - then the time gets extended by 118 seconds and everyone gets a chance to reconsider whether to place another bid or not. Seller makes more, 'honest' buyers get a fairer experience, sniper companies don't get a fee and commission from every sale, so fees can be reduced.

It's a common misconception that the last bid wins, it's always the highest bid that wins, whether it's made 1 minute after the listing begins or 2 seconds before it ends. It's down to the buyer, whether sniping or otherwise to decide on their maximum bid and then place it. If an 'honest' buyer is outbid at the last moment by a 'dishonest?' sniper then it is their fault for not placing a high enough bid in the first place. In fact snipers offer 'honest' buyers a better chance of success because snipers don't fuel the bidding wars that sometimes ensue in the last 5 minutes of an auction.