I don't win 1 in 50 auctions on ebay, it is more like 2 in 3. I may only BID on 1 in 50 auctions that I watch, though. Usually I figure out what I want to pay, then watch the auction and snipe it at the last minute (I am the guy you are all complaining about) If the price is over what I want to pay at that moment, I don't bid. I may watch 5 or 6 auctions before I find the one that I want. I got my kayak that way about $150 below retail. I am wearing a pair of Sas shoes, the only brand I can find that fit my extra wide feet, for about 1/3 of retail from Ebay. I usually watch auctions that are within 24 hours of being done. An auction that is 6 days out doesn't indicate much about the final selling price. I usually know the retail price before I bid. If I am prepared to pay the "buy-it-now" price and it seems like a good deal or a hard-to-find item, I just go ahead and do that and get the process over with. Ebay, for me, takes just as much effort as shopping online from anyone else. From other online outfits, I spend a lot of time comparison shopping and scratching my head over brief online descriptions or worrying that I have bought from a fly-by-night outfit. Ebay has scammers, but they also have feedback. -- Lawrence Lile Jake Anderson Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list 03/29/2004 03:45 AM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: Subject: Re: [EE:] eBay (was CNC stepper-motor controller?) ahh no not what ive seen only way to do that is to "snipe" the bid which is what the automated bidding system is designed to negate. to snipe a person waits untill a few seconds before the item closes then places a higher bid if the bidding has already reached your max then hey its reached your max if it hasnt then your automatic bid will win generally people only snipe a few dollars over the current high bid so if you dont place your max in a round number the odds of getting sniped are reduced. -----Original Message----- From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Alan B. Pearce Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 6:55 PM To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: [EE:] eBay (was CNC stepper-motor controller?) >the "automated bidding" thing is part of ebay >I think by default you put in how much your willing to pay >and the automated thing will then bid incrementally higher >up to that ammount. you have to live in a 24 hour world. >your 2:00AM is my midday you dont want >to loose something because you arent awake to bid on it. It is not just that. There is also a scheme they run where your bid is not put on until the auction is closing. This is so your bid does not affect early prices, and you may then get it at a lower price. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.