Need opinions on best eBay sniper for my brother.

enlightenedone · 02-26-2011, 04:24 PM

I don't know anything about automated eBay sniping, but my brother wants a program that will do it for him.
I don't care if I have to buy it, but he wants something good and it must also work with his piece of sh*t comp... more commonly known as a Mac.
Please give me your ideas.

Kim Standerline · 02-26-2011, 04:27 PM

I use www.justsnipe.com the free version is enough for me and it works very well

Kim

bobpaulson2132 · 02-27-2011, 02:59 PM

I'd recommend a web-based service rather than a software that you install on the computer, as you then don't have to worry about leaving your computer on, power outage, etc.

Hidbid.com is another good service to use.

Just remember that all your doing when sniping is waiting until a few seconds before auction end to place your bid. You still have to have the highest bid to win. Unless, 2 bids are the same or there isn't enough difference between them to meet ebay's minimum bid increment. In that case, the 1st bid in wins.

Automated sniping is a convenience for people that want to avoid drawing early attention to an item, and 'nibbling' bidders (bidders who will bid the minimun increment over and over until they're the high bid), both of which normally result in a higher final price. If you have the time, you can do it manually.

A couple more benefits of sniping:

1. You can just cancel a snipe with up to 2 or 3 minutes before the end of an auction (I guess depending on the service or software you use), if you change your mind about bidding on an item, and your bid won't be placed. If you place a bid on ebay and then retract it (not a seller's or ebay's favorite thing), you can be blocked from bidding on other auctions after doing this a few times, not sure what that # is.

2. Sniping is actually a way of combatting shill bidding - when the seller or his buddy bids on the item until they're the high bid, and know your max, then retract their bid, and use yet another account to bid on the item, bidding just below your max. You don't give the shiller time to retract their bid in order to leave you as the high bidder, close to your max. You can't do much about a shill bidder letting their bid ride to the end of the auction, if it just raises but doesn't exceed yours.

Anyone bidding on ebay should understand ebay's proxy bidding system (accepts your whole bid amount, but raises it only until it is the high bid, or it has been exceeded), and have an idea about their bid increments.

The best plan for ebay bidding - bid once, late.

tomcam · 02-28-2011, 09:38 PM

Sorry for the late reply. The oldest and best of the web-based services is eSnipe. (Not an aff link. Those losers don't have an affiliate program.) They have the most generous free trial policy and DO NOT ask for any credit card or similar info as part of the free trial. The tech support staff have been with them for years and are all natives of the USA.

Teensy weensy disclosure: I have owned eSnipe since 2000 (bought the company on eBay... using eSnipe).

02-26-2011, 04:24 PM	#1
enlightenedone CRAIGSLIST AD MAN! Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 70 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Contact Info	Need opinions on best eBay sniper for my brother. I don't know anything about automated eBay sniping, but my brother wants a program that will do it for him. I don't care if I have to buy it, but he wants something good and it must also work with his piece of sh*t comp... more commonly known as a Mac. Please give me your ideas.

02-26-2011, 04:27 PM	#2
Kim Standerline Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom. Posts: 4,984 Thanks: 1,055 Thanked 780 Times in 358 Posts Social Networking	Re: Need opinions on best eBay sniper for my brother. I use www.justsnipe.com the free version is enough for me and it works very well Kim

02-27-2011, 02:59 PM	#3
bobpaulson2132 Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Need opinions on best eBay sniper for my brother. I'd recommend a web-based service rather than a software that you install on the computer, as you then don't have to worry about leaving your computer on, power outage, etc. Hidbid.com is another good service to use. Just remember that all your doing when sniping is waiting until a few seconds before auction end to place your bid. You still have to have the highest bid to win. Unless, 2 bids are the same or there isn't enough difference between them to meet ebay's minimum bid increment. In that case, the 1st bid in wins. Automated sniping is a convenience for people that want to avoid drawing early attention to an item, and 'nibbling' bidders (bidders who will bid the minimun increment over and over until they're the high bid), both of which normally result in a higher final price. If you have the time, you can do it manually. A couple more benefits of sniping: 1. You can just cancel a snipe with up to 2 or 3 minutes before the end of an auction (I guess depending on the service or software you use), if you change your mind about bidding on an item, and your bid won't be placed. If you place a bid on ebay and then retract it (not a seller's or ebay's favorite thing), you can be blocked from bidding on other auctions after doing this a few times, not sure what that # is. 2. Sniping is actually a way of combatting shill bidding - when the seller or his buddy bids on the item until they're the high bid, and know your max, then retract their bid, and use yet another account to bid on the item, bidding just below your max. You don't give the shiller time to retract their bid in order to leave you as the high bidder, close to your max. You can't do much about a shill bidder letting their bid ride to the end of the auction, if it just raises but doesn't exceed yours. Anyone bidding on ebay should understand ebay's proxy bidding system (accepts your whole bid amount, but raises it only until it is the high bid, or it has been exceeded), and have an idea about their bid increments. The best plan for ebay bidding - bid once, late.

02-28-2011, 09:38 PM	#4
tomcam Tom Campbell War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 396 Blog Entries: 13 Thanks: 294 Thanked 122 Times in 65 Posts Social Networking	Re: Need opinions on best eBay sniper for my brother. Sorry for the late reply. The oldest and best of the web-based services is eSnipe. (Not an aff link. Those losers don't have an affiliate program.) They have the most generous free trial policy and DO NOT ask for any credit card or similar info as part of the free trial. The tech support staff have been with them for years and are all natives of the USA. Teensy weensy disclosure: I have owned eSnipe since 2000 (bought the company on eBay... using eSnipe).