So, what sniping software does everyone use? I lost a nice Kyme tetradrachm today I really wanted. Sniper got there the last few seconds. Kudos to them, but I just dont have the time to watch all the auctions to the last moments.
JustSnipe. https://justsnipe.com/ I've been using it for years and never had a problem. Plus, it's free! The paid version allows you more snipes a month and a closer snipe time.
Ah, now that would be a great app. Unfortunately I don't know of any. If ever one was to be designed for CNG's auctions it should be called 'Clio'.
I just set an alarm for when the lots I'm interested in are coming up and place my bids in the last minute or so. I still lost most of what I bid on this past week but I did snipe one today(unfortunately against a forum member here, sorry Doug ) and another yesterday. It'd be nice if there was one that worked for CNG but I haven't ever seen one.
I used to use PowerSnipe but it stopped working. Got no replies from the "support". Now just use trigger finger.
I have no problem with coins going to someone who wants to bid more than I do but am not fond of the concept that any lot someone has bid on must be worth one rise just to see if they were serious.
Loaded question. Not everyone uses sniping software. You can blame it on someone else sniping it at the last moment, or you can just place a reasonable bid with plenty of time to spare. On traditional auctions, if it ends at a time when I can be online, I'll usually bid 15-30 seconds or so before the end. Someone can always bid higher if they want to, but at least they don't have a lot of time to ponder whether or not they are willing to pay more. That's all I'm trying to prevent.
I believe many ancient-coin collectors do not know what coins they want are worth (in spite of being able to look them up in many places on the web). They use the bids of other bidders to make up their mind. Other collectors who bid early give them information about what the coin is worth and how high they need to go. eBay reduces your "bid" (really a maximum, not a bid) to an increment above the second highest bidder at the time. So, theoretically, you could bid your maximum and sit back to see what happens. However, we all know that bids are often exceeded in the last few seconds. There are at least two different possible explanations for that. Most often the sniper had a higher max all along and you were simply outbid. However, there is a complication. Suppose a late bidder is sitting at his computer. If other bidders submit their bids a bit early the late bidder gets information about the minimum the coin will sell for ("is worth"). He may well decide, with that information, that the coin is worth more than his previously intended maximum and submit a higher late bid if he has a few seconds to do so. I know I have intended to bid X and watched an auction near closing exceed X, prompting me to submit a bid higher than I originally intended. Then bidders who bid 30 seconds early may lose out, or have the bid pushed up even if their max was high enough to win it. Therefore, you don't want to bid early. I recommend eSnipe. It is very easy to use, allows you to set how much before closing you want it to bid for you (seven seconds?), allows bids to be changed up to five minutes before closing, keeps clear track of your maxima and wins and losses, and costs 1% of wins (only), which you pay for by using previously-acquired "bidpoints" (with PayPal), although they often have a free introductory period.
For feebay at I use Mybidder on IOS. It's very reasonably priced and reliable. You import your watch list and go from there. I use a sniper program to protect me from myself.
Myibidder - I have the app for my iPad. Use it on occasion when an auction ends after bedtime or when I am unavailable to snipe in person.
Perhaps ebay should just go with sealed bid auctions. Maybe a hybrid of the traditional sealed bid where the highest bidder pays what they bid and their current system where the highest bidder pays an increment over the second highest bid. Somewhat how sniping programs work, but everything happns internally at ebay at auction close. No more need to give your account credentials to third party bidding programs.
