Snippers Win item but lose

I know this topic has been exausted on trainboard but here is something I observed last night. I was bidding on a couple of items on ebay, but before I placed my maxim bid I checked with an online retailer on what the cost would be if I bought it new with shipping. I based my bid on that information. I tracked the items last night and 5 sec before the end of the auction, it was snipped twice. The winner paid $20 more (not including the shipping) if he bought from an online retailer. Same thing happened with the next item. I was curious and track the next 3 items, same two bidders snipped each other, and won the majority of the items this one seller had. (the seller still had 7 more items to sell that night. Boy, was he going to make out from these 2 snippers)
Okay here is the bottom line, of the 5 items won by the snippers they overpaid approx. $107.00 (so far) and all the items would have been NEW, instead of used, if they bought from an online retailer. I guess it's more about winning, because they sure didn't get a good deal.

 

Bernard, it may have been a good purchase from the point of view of the winner even if you disagree. Who knows?

You are correct in that these type threads only post opinions and rarely change anyone's opinion...and rightfully so. I just hope it remains civil.

 

I notice things on Ebay go for more than retail alot. For example, I have rutinely seen new release Kato engine sell for higher on Ebay than what they can be had from any number of on-line sellers. Kato track also sells for a very high price typically. Micro trains cars usually go for more than retail if you figure in shipping. I don't get it. Although it has worked to my advantage a few time when I sell stuff. I guess the saying ones mans junk is another mans treasure, might apply here.

 

Yup. Its amazine, and pretty common. You would be shocked at how many people don't do their research. I am like you, anything I am interested in on Ebay, I take the time during the auction to research to see what it's worth, and if it can be purchased retail for as much or less, and bid or not accordingly. But we really are the minority my friend. Good homework on your part. All we can do is just shake our heads. I am a seller on ebay, and have done very well because of that, and really dont feel bad about it. I am a very honest person, but of someone doesnt want to do their homework and over pay for an item, maybe it's just the game they are playing and enjoy it. But if someone wants to pay for that game, I can use the money to feed my kids. So, we just carry on...

 

Remember,
Not everyone has the ability or resources to get to a LHS. Ebay,online dealers & sites like it are the only way some people can get anything.Dealers don't always have the goods.Prime example,the MTL Pan Am car. It was sold out the day it was released.Yet eBay has them. Spending extra $$$ on something maybe the only way they can get a little happiness in there life. I know this from 1st hand experience. Thankfully now,I'm getting around without a wheelchair or walker.

 

Flash,
I agree, it is all a matter of opionion plus the point of view of the winner. Personally I rather lose an item, than to over exceed my limit, because of a bidding war. eBay is a quick and easy way to find an item you are interested in, but sometimes, not always, with a little research, you can find the same item from a retailer and possible pay less in the long run. Plus, I think, with some bidders (or snippers), it also has a lot to do more with the sensation of just winning. I too hope this thread remains civil.

 

I know what a "sniper" is, both as a military term and as related to bidding in eBay (you can even buy "sniping" software), but what is a "snipper" in connection with eBay? Since "snipping" means to cut small pieces off something, I do not see the connotation as applying to the bidding process. :cat:

 

Don't forget about foreign bidders. They shop around for pricing too. That extra $20.00 combined with reasonable shipping probably saved them money over retailers, many of whom don't ship internationally anyway.
CG

 

I buy and occasionally sell on ebay. I usually wait until the last few seconds to bid. What good does it do to be the first bidder? But I am always looking for a bargain. I never pay retail or above unless its a collectors item that is out of stock. I have a LHS that is also a discounter and I buy a good bit from him also.

 

Mea culpa. I've overpaid lots of times. :teeth: Sometimes, I've already bought all the cars at the local hobby shops. Everywhere... I went into a shop looking for UTLX tank cars. They brought out a cube, and I took them. All. What is weird was that they were annoyed. Dunno, people are strange.

Then there's the competition thing. Sometimes I'm just in a mood that "darn it, no ones going to over bid me!" Grrr Grr Grrr... :teeth:

 

Tony:

The error there is that they should not have brought out the cube. The obviously had ordered so they would have stock for their local touchy-feely customers. Now they have none for them. They should have only shown you what they were willing to part with to an unknown non-local.

I learned the hard way about this at the Las Vegas (NV not NM) shows. This actually happpened in 2003
There is an ebay seller in NV who showed up at the GATS show 11:00am Saturday and bought all the 'hot' M-TL troop sleeper cars from us only to only turn around and sell them on ebay at "$30 ea" according to him. He claimed to have a list of people that would pay that much for all of them.
The second time we went to Las Vegas I remembered this and did not tell him that we had others under the table. After he left I put the others out. That way we had some for other customers. Several indicated that they were upset at him for gouging them and also bought hundreds of $$ in other product as well. We picked up loyal customers from NV that we still do business with.

 

Sniping is legal, moral and encouraged. I would do it if I had the sense of timing or a sniping program. I have neither.

I usually make one proxy bid and it is the highest I am willing to pay. If I am outbid even by a sniper that is the nature of auctions. But don't curse the winning bidder. Curse yourself for bidding too low. Then move on, the item will most likely be offered again. Better luck next time.

Ben

 

Just two Cents more

George and Deb are very good to there customers and they also tell them when they are out of stock and due not have any more of an Item.Now Ebay is not for everyone but as My last post on this stated I have found 12 JB hunt plate wall trailers on ebay, I am a happy man . The problem with most on line stores is they really due not have what they say in stock yes even Kato new engines. You place an order and wait and wait. I have only ever been ripped of twice in 6 years on ebay. I Sell my custom work on there and some detail items so for me they serve there purpose. I have had lots of happy people. I think that retailers should be glad there is ebay some people see Items they want loose out and head to them to get there items. I am not a payed advertiser but Wig wag is the only store thats been honest about its stock and shipping.If the don't have it or can't get it they tell me I was glad I found them and guess where I did , thanks Train board.
In closing I think there is room for ebay in my N scale trainroom as well.
Dave
One more note just to get the other post started again Thanks to Intermountain for not letting PWRS steal the Sask. Green Grain car. Now we can all afford to buy a few of them.

 

Normally I used a sniping tool to set my limit and then let it run automatically. Thats good for your nerves, but not too safe (I once bid instead of sniped just because I pushed the wrong button).
Now I am using the encryption key from eBay and automatic sniping is history. But I think it is just safer.
I always set my personal limit and try to keep within it.
What is frustrating for me that some dealers ship only to addresses within the U.S.. Convenient for them, but so I had no chance to bid for some Key Imports engines....

 

The only items I will "over pay" for are brass or out of production. As far as items that are still being made patience is the key.

 

I don't disagree about sniping being legal, in some ways it's like a game of poker, you might not have the best hand but if you have the best strategy, you can still win and there is nothing wrong with that. If an item is rare, had to find or not being manufactured anymore, well, be prepared for a bidding war, and all is fair, it just comes down to who's willing to sacrifice the most.
For me, Tony sites it best, it's a competitive thing. It's like the guy at the carnival who is trying to knock down the milk bottle with a baseball to win the $10 teddy bear for his girlfriend. Yeah, he could just go to a store and pay $10 for the bear and be done with it, but no, he's got to win it even if it costs him 5 times as much as it's worth. I think for some snipers, not all, it the competition of winning that important and the item is secondary.