Subject: [Harp-L] E-Bay and sniper programs

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

M Erickson writes:  "I loath e-bay. I see a good deal, with an  apparent lack 
of interest by the rest of e-bay community; I make my bid, only to  be outbid 
in the last few seconds of the auction. I get out bid by "sniper  programs". 
Basically any
auction on e-bay can have a multitude of hidden  bidders. Their sniper
programs will active in the last few seconds of an  auction to place their
bids."
 
.... that isn't necessarily what's happening.  It could be someone  like me 
getting lucky, lol.  I've gotten quite a few deals on Ebay - most  recently an 
almost unused Hohner Chromonica (a gift to the owner who only plays  diatonic) 
for $31! -  I bid earlier - then came back to bid in the  last few seconds or 
so and won.  I've done that quite  frequently.  I haven't run into any of the 
"sniper" programs at all.   Of course I'm not spending $500 on a big ticket 
item either, so perhaps that  makes the difference.  My main problem is 
forgetting to check back when an  item I want is coming up.  I do check out the other 
bidders beforehand and  try to get a feel for their "high" point before I 
decide whether or not it's  worth it to continue.  I'm fairly new to E-Bay and 
have bought quite a few  Chromatics and other harmonica related items this way 
and they've been in  amazingly good condition.
 
Elizabeth