Re: [photo-3d] Sniping

[pd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Mike Kersenbrock writes:
> 
> > The sniping software "BidSniper Pro" is set up with an initial
> > bid, at which to enter (or try to enter) the bidding, and can be
> > instructed to raise the bidding "x" times by "y" dollars each
> > time.
> 
> Yes, I use that program.  It's the silliest feature I could imagine!
> Makes no sense whatsoever!  If one wanted to tell it to put a bid of
> $50, and then up the bid by $10 up to three times, it'd be much
> better to just bid $80 and do it a little bit later (and let ebay do
> the rebidding for you).  I can only see that it was done that way as
> a selling gimmick to sell folk who do it that way manually before
> buying the program -- and thus show something familiar, even if it
> makes no sense at all once one has the program that will bid a few
> seconds from the end with good reliability.

I can think of one possible use for this feature:  if an item has a
reserve price, and you somehow knew what it was (which happens), you
might want to place a bid such that you don't go above the reserve
price unless someone else does, since doing so would automatically
raise the bid to the reserve amount.

For example, suppose an item has a $100 reserve, but it currently at
$50.  I may be willing to pay $125, but if I bid that, the price will
immediately go to $100.  If I think the seller will let it go for
below the reserve price, then I may want to only bid $75, but let
BidSniper bid up to $125 if I don't win at the lower price.

At least, that's the only reason I can think of for using this
feature.

-pd


-- 
--------
                             Peter Davis
               Funny stuff at http://www.pfdstudio.com
                 The artwork formerly shown as prints
    List of resources for children's writers and illustrators at:
                  http://www.pfdstudio.com/cwrl.html