I always get outbid in the last few seconds!

[memoo]

Is it just me or do people actually sit waiting to bid in the last few seconds of the auction?

I never win anything I really want cos don't have time to sit there watching the item til the last few minutes

Ebay's crap anyway. Look at all the threads. You're really not missing out

People use snipers to bid for them. They are available free on lots of sites such as goofbay.

Depends on the item, but for major purchases I really want, then yes, I only bid in the last few seconds. I do this because:
a) I'm not ushing the price up earlier on, so hopefully not encouraging others to put in new bids and push the price higher
b) It means I set my top price and stick to it - if I'm not the top bidder I can't enter another bid, so I don't get carried away in the heat of the moment.

whats a sniper?

It's probably me!

I only use ebay occasionally when I need something specific (e.g. cagoul for DD). Then I have a strategy that works pretty well:

• pick items ending at a time I can make myself available for 2 minutes (e.g. 8pm) and set to watch

• watch the last couple of minutes without bidding

• bid in last 15 seconds. I work out how much I would be happy paying for the item, tops. If I get outbid by someone else doing the same, then it was too expensive. However, I probably win around 90% of the time, and don't usually end up paying my 'maximum' because other bidders don't know you're there.

I highly recommend it

Its a gadget that does the work for you and nips in at the last minute and secures the item for you - assuming your highest offer is above the rest.

It works but I still find ebay a pain tbh!

hmm, I think i'm going to have to get a bit more sneaky!!

I used sniper just the other day on 3 of the same items (but in different colours) and won the first two items. I reckon it was the same bidder trying to compete as the last of these items didn't finish until 2 hours after the second item and there was a first bid on the last item almost immediately after the auction for the second item had finished going by the bidding history and a further 2 bids from the same bidder towards the last minutes (probably because they know that they will get outbidded by me again . There was also a bid on the second item as soon as the first item had finished.

Yes, it can be frustrating when you are waiting for the auction to end to see whether you have won especially when you think that you have put in a very high bid. Which is why I use sniper.

I concur with ST's reasons for using bid snipers as well as not being able bear the suspense or the disappointment when I haven't won.

It also means that I don't have to be chained to the computer and become obsessive about it. I have a life, I have a job etc.

I just want to stick to my maximum price and if I don't get it then it's not meant to be.

I also think that using sniper reduces shill bidding when there isn't a bid already.

Just to clarify - I haven't use a sniper before when putting in bids right at the last second. Fortunately the items I've been bidding on have ended ear;y-mid evening so not a hassle to be near the PC to place a bid. But I'm intrigued by these snipers now and may well use them in future!

sniper here www.auctionsniper.com