Ebay sniping software

[nicebutdim]

There is sniping software out there that people use, although I’ve never used it myself.

I also know that some sellers will continue to bid on their item to try and get the highest amount possible for it.

One of my old army mates came into work one day and he was absolutely fuming, when I asked what was up? He goes “I was selling some stuff on eBay, the mrs and her sister tried bidding it up to get maximum price and won the auction. Now I’ve got to pay fees for an item I already own and want rid of… I wouldn’t mind but it’s the 2nd time she’s done it!”

It still happens, but is quite a risky business for those involved.

They'll get away with it as an occasional occurrence, but doing so regularly means they either pay the fees or all involved risk a blanket ban of associated IP addresses.

Always look at sales history to see if the same 'one off' item has been sold repeatedly - once can be explained by a bidder not paying, but walk away if they've sold the same item time and again.

 

[nicebutdim]

I remember a local business started using ebay around 10 or 12 years ago to clear older stock. It was fairly specialist stuff, with prices running from tens to thousands of pounds.

They opted to auction everything and the majority of goods were bought by staff members and continually re-listed. At first they cancelled those sales to save paying fees, but that quickly brought them to ebay's attention and also had caused sales to dwindle (as buyers aren't all stupid). Subsequently they paid sales fees and re-listed, before eventually being banned from the site (along with several staff members and their entire families).

No idea why they didn't simply price goods on 'buy now' listings as they'd still be able to clear stock on the site today.

 

[UNG]

There have been some strange things with Ebay over the last 12 months that I struggle to understand yes I've had the please wait while work out who has won a few times, is it that a number of buyers have bid the same amount in the same second I don't think so as I never bid in round numbers and always add a few pence and have won auctions by as little as a penny as the under bidders bid maxed out at a round number and my bid a second earlier maxed out at a penny more
The one that really confused me was when it looked like my bid had landed fractions of a second after the auction closed yet I still won and I only realised some time later when I got a pay now email and when I checked I wasn't the only bidder

Will we ever understand the workings of ebay

 

[nicebutdim]

Will we ever understand the workings of ebay

No.

This, along with death and taxes, are absolute certainties.

 

[brianmoooore]

yes I've had the please wait while work out who has won a few times, is it that a number of buyers have bid the same amount in the same second I don't think so as I never bid in round numbers and always add a few pence and have won auctions by as little as a penny as the under bidders bid maxed out at a round number

I buy quite a bit via ebay, but it's the first time I've seen a message like this, and yes, I always set my max at a non round number, and only ever place a single bid in the last couple of seconds. If you've seen this message a few times, then that allays my suspicions a bit.
Sniping software for buyers definitely exists, but I don't think it's fool proof, and I'm sure I've been able to beat it manually on occasions.
I always check whether an item has been listed before. This one had, and I was watching it, but was distracted near the end of the auction and failed to get a bid in. I cheekily contacted the seller, and offered to match the winning bid outside of ebay if the buyer pulled out, which, come the following day, he had, but the seller declined my offer {which was just over a £1000 less than my winning bid now, and would have been a bargain).
I always try to build up some kind of profile of a seller as well, by checking feedback, the kinds of things they've been buying, and what they've been selling. This character doesn't raise any suspicions, and doesn't come over as someone particularly versed in things like specialised 'cheating' software, but you never now.
Anyway, thanks for all the responses. I think the general conclusion is that the software I feared doesn't exist, I am being paranoid, and in this case, I was just unlucky to come up against another idiot who really wanted to win the auction.

 

[mainline]

I buy quite a bit via ebay, but it's the first time I've seen a message like this, and yes, I always set my max at a non round number, and only ever place a single bid in the last couple of seconds. If you've seen this message a few times, then that allays my suspicions a bit.
Sniping software for buyers definitely exists, but I don't think it's fool proof, and I'm sure I've been able to beat it manually on occasions.
I always check whether an item has been listed before. This one had, and I was watching it, but was distracted near the end of the auction and failed to get a bid in. I cheekily contacted the seller, and offered to match the winning bid outside of ebay if the buyer pulled out, which, come the following day, he had, but the seller declined my offer {which was just over a £1000 less than my winning bid now, and would have been a bargain).
I always try to build up some kind of profile of a seller as well, by checking feedback, the kinds of things they've been buying, and what they've been selling. This character doesn't raise any suspicions, and doesn't come over as someone particularly versed in things like specialised 'cheating' software, but you never now.
Anyway, thanks for all the responses. I think the general conclusion is that the software I feared doesn't exist, I am being paranoid, and in this case, I was just unlucky to come up against another idiot who really wanted to win the auction.

I wrote a sidekick program for eBay years ago, I’ll have to find the time to revamp it.

 

[littlespark]

I’ve just started selling on eBay, so looking at anything that might boost what the buyer pays.

Couple of hundred quid so far on spare Lego….. with more to go.

 

[nicebutdim]

I’ve just started selling on eBay, so looking at anything that might boost what the buyer pays.

Couple of hundred quid so far on spare Lego….. with more to go.

If listing as an auction, the most basic requirement is a 2nd buyer who's prepared to pay as much as (or more than) the first.

 

[Julie.]

I use one called snip on ebay as a buyer.

I find it useful as I am an idiot!

I like to leave it towards the end of an auction to bid because often if you bid early it gives time for others to outbid you (and they often get carried away bidding 150% on something that is on buy-it-now @100%).

Unfortunately in doing this I remember just too late, and find it closed 2mins before I remembered!

Using snip (snip.pl) I can set my max bid at the time I see the item, yet bid on ebay within a few seconds of the closure. If I am outbid before time, there is no charge, I think it's around 15 pence a snip(e).

I don't think it makes sense to snipe with last minute bids as a seller , it's far better to start low, and as the bids come in early perhaps ghost bid to increase the price whilst people have time to increase their bids. Of course this could end up with you buying your own item, or getting caught and banned from ebay.

 

[mainline]

No.

This, along with death and taxes, are absolute certainties.

One of the things that they should sort out which is of real concern is allowing 0 rated accounts to list high valued items such as motor homes in the last few days I have reported 5 motor homes that have been listed by scammers who copy pictures etc from auto trader or gumtree and then list them as classified ads at well below their real worth and then collect deposits there was one not so long ago where 5 people turned up at an industrial unit to pick up their motor home each had paid a £1000 deposit.

One of the other things scammers do is say that the item is being sold because the owner has moved abroad, but they will deliver the item and PayPal will hold the money until you are satisfied with the purchase they then send you a false PayPal or other link explaining everything about how the money will be held etc, but it's all false and the money when paid is gone.


eBay now when trying to bid on high value items want proof of who you are with credit card details etc before they allow you to bid, it really doesn't make sense it should be the other way around.


This one here is a scam and still hasn't been taken down even though the real owner has reported it to the police and eBay


eBay item number: 403756789538