Re: [photo-3d] Sniping

[Mike Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bill Costa wrote:
> 

>       I started sniping after somebody sniped me, winning the
>       auction for just a $1 more.  In a real auction I would have

How do you know what the winning bidder had bid (meaning the maximum
bid that (s)he typed into the bidding form)?  The second highest
bidder *always* loses by "just a little" regardless of the winning
bidder's "bid".  It's the second highest bidder that sets the winning
price because the winning price is always just one minimum-increment higher
(there are special cases where it's slightly different, but only very
slightly different).  One is supposed to bid one's highest price, not
just a hair above the current winning price, so there's no telling what
the winning bidder had bid.  I've lost large numbers of auctions by
"just a dollar".  That's not why I snipe.  I do it to both increase
the number of bids I win, and to win those at lower prices.  I also
do it to provide self discipline to avoid pocketbook ego-wars over 
an item.  I decide my maximum amount, put it in the bidding program
and leave it alone (most of the time).

I've snipe-won items where my bid was *VERY* much higher than
the second-highest bidder (who's bid I do know).  Only a VERY few 
had the winning price actually exactly what I had bid.

Mike K.