"Morgans" wrote in message
...

wrote

Reportedly, some less popular auction sites simply extend the auction
for another five minutes after a bid is made. That seems to be a
perfect solution to me...

That sounds like a good solution to prevent sniping but is not necessary to
ensure fair auctions.



Indeed. That is the way a real auction works, only it is not 5 minutes,
but a few seconds, but everyone gets a chance to raise their bid, until
nobody wants to go over the standing bid.

eBay does that by bidding for you up to your maximum.


The 5 minutes is necessary because people have lives to lead, and can not
stand at their computer, full time. The result is the same; that a chance
is given for anyone to raise the bid, until nobody wants to outbid the
winner.

Under no circumstances is it necessary to stand at your computer. If you put
in your maximum bid, eBay handles the rest and snipers will have no impact
on you. If you find yourself upping your bid over the course of the auction
and wishing you had put in more because someone sniped you at the last
second, then you are not putting in your maximum bid and are just making it
harder on yourself.


The result for the seller should be the maximum price. The result for the
buyer is the ability to get an item that you want, and are willing to pay
enough to win the item, fair and squarely, outbidding all come-ers.

If people put in their maximum, the result is the same. The problem is that
many put in something less than their maximum until compelled to move up
because of the spirit of competition. Sniping takes advantage of these
initially conservative bidders by eliminating that sense of competition. It
also cheats the seller out of the maximum bid. If people just put in their
maximum bid in the first place, sniping would die away and sellers would get
their fair price.


Sniping (to me) seems like timing is the winner; instead of desire, and
money-on-the-stump, winning the auction.

Sniping is about timing but the motivation is to avoid revealing a higher
bid until it is too late to counter. The only reason this is successful is
because, given time to respond, people give in to competition and raise
their bid.


What is this other auction site, with the 5 minute extensions? I might be
interested in using it. I wish everyone would go their, instead of Ebay.
--
Jim in NC

I put in my maximum bid and never look back. I have never won or lost an
auction with regret.

--
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Travis
Lake N3094P
PWK