ebay - why do people bid snipe?

[Zero]

Yeah, if it's a common part and this is just a rare auction with a yahoo with more cash than brains, then just get the next one. No biggie. I understand that it's frustrating, I'm just not used to comforting men when they complain about stuff - I was trying to answer the question "What the hell is the point of bid sniping?". I guess I'm used to men wanting answers when they ask for them - women usually want comfort. So yeah, if that's what you want, dude, I understand your feelings. It is a terrible thing that there are so many dumb people out there. :lol: :lol: :P

[Xobeloot]

[Dead Rabbit]

Dude, I’m confused. In one example you use a rare car part and then claim it irrational that the item went up in price. The very next post you complain about morons buying common products for way too much money that traditionally go for a standard price. In that case, who cares? Just go to one of the many other auctions of the same good. I’ve read every word of your posts because free market economics interests me. And for the life of me, I can’t see your logic.

I understand why that's confusing. What I meant was that it was rare in the sense that there's not many, but they can be had on ebay on a regular interval, albeit not particularly often, meaning you have to wait several days/a week for the auctions on the others to end. Unlike say for ipods or something hugely available where there's an auction ending every minute so it's not a big deal.

If it's just one item or extremely rare where there isn't a regular occurence of the item, bid sniping at some stupid price is understood.
If I got bid-sniped on Jenna Jameson's used bubble-gum, I wouldn't raise this issue. Yeah I would be mad that I didn't get it, but then again, somebody else has the dough, so whatever.
But that I got bid sniped on a regularly occuring item, but one that isn't super popular/available, on a used item that was already over it's actual value for a new price...just makes me wonder what the hell people are thinking.

When you look at the history of items that regularly occur and what they went for, you can see a trend of the lowest range they go for and they don't go up more than that except on rare occasions (because said highest bidder didn't look around)...there's those 'fluke' buyers who spike up in the trend and I had the luck to deal with one of those. That is the only reason those buyitnow's at the not-a-good-deal price exist at all is because of people who don't know they could get it for cheaper...but sometimes those same people come to auctions to bid-snipe for a 'deal' when it's the opposite. They should've just went for the other on a buyitnow at the same price especially when the item they sniped for isn't as good.

I see your point now (although I would argue your point changed some what from the initial post). You’re not really making economic argument as much as voicing displeasure at odd ball morons. Agreed. Odd ball morons screw a lot of stuff up.

[RealmofOpeth]

Yeah, if it's a common part and this is just a rare auction with a yahoo with more cash than brains, then just get the next one. No biggie. I understand that it's frustrating, I'm just not used to comforting men when they complain about stuff - men want solutions, women usually want comfort. So yeah, if that's what you want, dude, I understand your feelings. It is a terrible thing that there are so many dumb people out there. :lol: :lol: :P

Well at least you understand what I'm talking about it seems. However I'm not looking for comfort, I'm trying to make a point (albeit not so efficiently) and I'm looking for what is the possible reason for that particular behavior besides stupidity?
Much like my 'support the troops' uneasy thread, yeah that was complaining but I was making points for my position and looking for why people thought the other direction. good reasons, not misconstrued on accidental straw-mans of what i'm talking about.

Yes I'll just have to wait for the next one, which is rare (the type of used it was and the price it would be, not the item)...why the hell can't people just leave well enough alone? It's like if you're going to buy a used car, the car isn't rare it's the condition and price it's currently at that fits your needs that is. Yet some douchebag comes along and pays for it new when he could've just went to the damn dealer...unless i'm missing some method to this madness which is what I'm looking for and doubt exists.

[Xobeloot]

Summary of this thread:

-People who buy things at overpriced amounts are asshats.

-Xobeloot is a dick (and a self-proclaimed asshat)

Cheers!

-Xobe

[RealmofOpeth]

Funny shit Xobe!
Now if I only had a handy poster for "Misdirected Manliness"

:P

[RealmofOpeth]

Lessons from this thread:

-RealmOfOpeth needs to construct better arguments at the start not clean up later. and write simpler sentences.

-However, it also helps if people make points referencing the latest reply directly with its argument. Especially if that person agrees with you on a point yet you continue to disagree on that point simply because the other person disagrees on something else more specific. Ask questions if in doubt.

[Xobeloot]

And if all else fails, we can always go hug a cuddly polar bear!

[Starcadia]

LOL at polar bear.

I learned very early on that sniping was far too common a practice at eBay for me to choose morality when bidding on something.

[Zero]

Well at least you understand what I'm talking about it seems. However I'm not looking for comfort, I'm trying to make a point (albeit not so efficiently) and I'm looking for what is the possible reason for that particular behavior besides stupidity?

haha, yeah, I was just joshin' ya, man :wink: Do you really need a reason besides stupidity? I might add laziness to that, I guess. I consider laziness another form of greed, really - the bible went overboard with the seven sins, I think. They all reduce to greed and stupidity - the two fundamental failings of the human race. This is why I'm perpetually depressed :lol: Trapped on a rock, in the vastness of space, infested with a greedy, irrational, and mentally challeged species. Did you know that 50% of people are below average intelligence? Shocking, I tell you.

[Xobeloot]

Did you know that 50% of people are below average intelligence? Shocking, I tell you.

Hey Now! I resemb...err...resent that remark! :shock: :lol:

[RealmofOpeth]

Well at least you understand what I'm talking about it seems. However I'm not looking for comfort, I'm trying to make a point (albeit not so efficiently) and I'm looking for what is the possible reason for that particular behavior besides stupidity?

haha, yeah, I was just joshin' ya, man :wink: Do you really need a reason besides stupidity? I might add laziness to that, I guess. I consider laziness another form of greed, really - the bible went overboard with the seven sins, I think. They all reduce to greed and stupidity - the two fundamental failings of the human race. This is why I'm perpetually depressed :lol: Trapped on a rock, in the vastness of space, infested with a greedy, irrational, and mentally challeged species. Did you know that 50% of people are below average intelligence? Shocking, I tell you.

yeah, but here's the mystery....how does one know enough to bid snipe but not enough to know what to shoot for?
i mean if you know what bid sniping is, you better know what constitutes a deal. not something that screws yourself.

[Dead Rabbit]

Well at least you understand what I'm talking about it seems. However I'm not looking for comfort, I'm trying to make a point (albeit not so efficiently) and I'm looking for what is the possible reason for that particular behavior besides stupidity?

haha, yeah, I was just joshin' ya, man :wink: Do you really need a reason besides stupidity? I might add laziness to that, I guess. I consider laziness another form of greed, really - the bible went overboard with the seven sins, I think. They all reduce to greed and stupidity - the two fundamental failings of the human race. This is why I'm perpetually depressed :lol: Trapped on a rock, in the vastness of space, infested with a greedy, irrational, and mentally challeged species. Did you know that 50% of people are below average intelligence? Shocking, I tell you.

Lol….after thinking about it…that 50% stat might not be quite true. I think maybe “average intelligence” is a range on a bell curve that includes a much larger segment of the population then 50%.

I was crushed when I took one of those online tests…my Mom always told me I was smart.


However, I can remember my boot camp instructor pointing out all the guys with high test scores and then very successfully making the correlation that they are the biggest **** ups of the company. They had no spatial awareness.

[Slydel]

I use Esnipe all of the time to prevent overpaying for any item that I am willing to buy. Bidding wars are a bunch of bullshit and a lot of newbies get crazed about buying stuff so they end up bidding shit way too high. Example: a BFG video card was going for really cheap that I wanted. Many times before I tried to obtain the card through normal bidding. I never got it. When I used Esnipe I was able to put in a reasonable bid that was to be put in with 6 seconds to go. Everyone else was trying to get the video card for real cheap and I snuck in at the last few seconds in order to obtain an underpriced video card. I win, and the seller loses because I sniped. There was not a bidding war so the seller lost and I got the card for a reasonable price. If someone was using Ensipe or something like that and outbid me than good for him. He paid too much, but more often then not I win this way because the newbies are not bidding way too high for something they really want. They think that they are going to win!!! Hah, hah, hah!!!