20 Dec
2000
20 Dec
'00
1:52 a.m.
On Tue, 19 Dec 2000, Ernest wrote:
Sometimes, I was actually happy that the bid sniper
was there because
I had bid more than I could afford or feel good about -but usually, I
felt like scattering their
Thank you. Exactly--EXACTLY--my point about how eBay's auction format
encourages over-bidding.
I have a very low opinion of bid snipers. They're
like the proverbial "bad
apples" that spoil it for everyone. I believe that most new bidders on ebay
go into it with honest intentions but they (like me) learn quickly that a
last second bid sniper will likely ruin the joy for them. Bid sniping is a
rotten, and self-perpetuating way of buying things on ebay. You learn the
Hey, nobody is doing anything here that isn't within the rules of the
system. Nobody, to my knowledge, has hacked eBay in a way that enables
them to have an advantage over other bidders. Snipers are working within
in the rules of the eBay auction mechanism. Don't blame the snipers.
Blame the eBay auction mechanism. It's lame.
However, I do like the "Buy it Now" option
that a lot of sellers seem to be
including. It has it's faults too but at least it's clear about what it's
for, compared to the normal ebay auction which is designed to be abused by
sniping.
This is probably one of the best things eBay as added to their auction
mechanism. A chance to just pay what the seller really wants for it and
be done with it. No sniping, no worrying about being overbid.
eBay alternative:
http://www.vintage.org/cgi-bin/content.pl?id=001
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org