Kurt,
One of the problems is auction ending time. A number of auctions started by European sellers or West Coast sellers tend to end at times that I'm in bed here in the Eastern time zone, particularly now that the World Series is over and no longer keeping me up to the wee hours. The software can be set to place that last-minute bid for me. Some packages will bid only enough to put me in the lead, and then incrementally in the last seconds to keep me there (unless my max is exceeded).
I also believe the argument that sniping tends to keep the prices down. I've made the mistake too many times of finding an item I want, entering my maximum with days left in the auction, and then watching the bidding start climbing toward that max. Even if I win, it seems that my winning bid is at or near my max. Because I'm willing to pay that doesn't mean I always want to.
Phil Sieg Knoxville, Tennessee
Kurt Sperry wrote:
>Here's an idea: End the auction when the auction is scheduled to end, set
>your automated bid at the maximum price you will pay and may the highest bi
>d
>win. What are "a few minutes" exactly? And if you define "a few minutes"
>then nothing has really been changed but the end of the auction by "a few
>minutes." Either I'm missing something here or the idea makes no sense
>whatever.
> Kurt Sperry
>Bellingham WA
>
>
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>>My idea for 'improving' eBay was to extend an auction by a few minutes
>>after the last bid - so
>>others can respond to snipes with some time in hand, if they choose to, b
>>
>>
>y
>
>
>>watching 'live' at the
>>end of the auction ...
>>
>>Alan Lloyd
>>Schaumburg, Illinois
>>(Chicagoland, NW 'burbs)
>>
>>
>>
>>
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