Re: RE: Subject: [Harp-L] Sniping on Ebay

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

M. Erickson wrote:
> Please note, there is a difference between "sniping" (placing a 
> bid in the last few seconds of an auction), and a "sniping 
> program" (an automated software program that places bids in the 
> last few milliseconds of an auction). 

There may be a difference in principle, but there's no difference in 
fact.  A person can set up their final bid and watch the clock and 
bid as close to the end of the auction as any software program.  The 
point of sniping and sniping software is not to get the bid in last 
or closest to the end of the auction.  It's only to get the bid in 
without allowing enough time for someone who's watching and trying 
to raise their own bids manually from making another bid.  

No sniping program can beat ebay's proxy bidding.  If a snipe 
program bids $100 at the last second and you've previously bid $120 
that hasn't reached it's maximum, your proxy bid will still outbid 
the snipe.  Auction rules are very simple: if you're the highest 
bidder at the end of the auction, you win.

A little harp content: I've gotten lots of great values on ebay.  I 
have about 20 microphones, many of which were tremendous bargains.  
I have a matched pair of Lafayette Slim-X clones I bought for $20 
for the pair.  I have a beautiful Geloso M61 I bought for $43.  I 
have a nice Electro Voice 924 "lavalier" crystal mic I got for $11, 
still in the box with the original paperwork and warranty card.  I 
have lots of interesting harmonicas, and have over time bought an 
entire set (A, Bb, C, D, Eb, E, F, G) of pre-WWII Marine Bands.  I 
doubt I paid over $15 for any of them.  

Many times when someone sells an item on ebay they have more of 
them, and will offer you their other items off-auction rather than 
list them all.  Sometimes even when you're not the high bidder the 
sale will fall through and the seller will contact the runner-up 
about the item.  I've sometimes missed the end of an auction when an 
item didn't sell at all, and contacted the seller directly and made 
the purchase (that's how I got my "Better Days" Trumpet Call!).  

Like any auction, you have to pick through the items for what you 
really want.  

-working man tim