I have learned the hard way, loosing an item at the last minute. I have learned how to be an effective sniper. The remorse I feel from snatching an item from under someones' nose is quickly relieved when I have the prize in my grubby hands.
If it's win at all costs, why not put up a big bid the first day of the auction? I look at eBay not as a competitive auction, but as a sealed bid auction where you happen to know the second-highest bid. I snipe to save money because it keeps me out of bidding wars(they drive up the cost even if you're not bidding more), and reduces the possibility of a shill bidder driving up the price. I won't pay much over 75 % of retail with shipping unless it's something rare, and so don't even bid on over half of the auctions I watch because the price has gone up too high.
The last 6 items I have purchased I have been the only bidder and I have had some great bargains. I cant complain with my purchases.
Ok I admit it. I am an eBay sniper. Now I am probably going to be labeled as a public enemy, but who cares. Last week One seller had 5 or 6 Proto 1000 F3A's up for auction, I researched the best price I could find and based my bids upon the best price I could find thru an online retailer. I sniped 4 of his 6 auctions all of them within 8 minutes of each other, and I won three. Do I feel bad? nope. I Got 3 F3's for an average price of $25.81 (that includes shipping for the three togeteher) Heck, about 4 months ago I picked up a pair of Proto 2000 GP9's for 23 bucks, took them to a buddies house and found out that the Decoders were fine and reset some values and they ran like a swiss watch. Sniping isn't wrong, it isn't anything to be ashamed of, it's a neccesary tactic of eBay bidding.
