[bspel55]

Assuming I understand sniping programs correctly, they will place bids at the last possible second to ensure that the winner gets the lowest possible price right? Well, that sounds good, especially when you are bidding on a high-end auto that you can't really afford if there is a run on it.

But what's it do to the hobby? If you collect a certain player, snipe several auctions, and get the cards cheap, that player's SV will go down, thus causing its BV to dip, because BV takes SV into account (I think).

I know, I know, everybody snipes and if you don't you won't get to brag about "teh ubormojo steal" on the forums, or you may not get the card at all. But think of it the other way. What if you are selling your high-end autos, and you get screwed because someone snipes it for an insanely low price. I guess you just have to put a high reserve on it and cancel if you get sniped.

I'm not advocating or condoning sniping, I just think that it could potentially hurt the hobby as a whole by potentially lowering prices all-around.

I dunno, discuss I guess? Thanks.

[aslpride]

For me, it prevent shilling bidders!

I am tired of having bids war with low positive bidders on items that I want. Sniper program prevent bids war. That is my purpose of using sniper program.

[thenext54]

It wouldnt cause BV to go down, that would have to be a lot of low sales to affect that average. And in my experience, people are willing to bid some ridiculous amounts without thinking about market value actually is.

I think shilling is the main reason people use a snipe program. I know I have put a bid out on something that I know very few people would be looking for and it almost always gets ran up somehow.

[bspel55]

That's a really good point. I completely forgot about shill bidding when I made this topic.

I was thinking about taking cards to the bay for the first time and I was just thinking of how bummed I would be if someone sniped something high-end from me.

Thats a good point though:
shill bidding - good for sellers, bad for buyers
sniping - good for buyers, bad for sellers...

So I guess it's a wash

[hvbakerman30]

If people see it they will bid. It only takes 2... I really dont care when the bids come in. Doesnt bother me if it is the first day or last 5 seconds.....Typically I believe cards sell for what their true values are......

[aslpride]

bspel55 Wrote:That's a really good point. I completely forgot about shill bidding when I made this topic.

I was thinking about taking cards to the bay for the first time and I was just thinking of how bummed I would be if someone sniped something high-end from me.

Thats a good point though:
shill bidding - good for sellers, bad for buyers
sniping - good for buyers, bad for sellers...

So I guess it's a wash

It's 50/50. We can't make everyone happy.

[mustangcobra44]

I usually hold off till the end just in case one pops up that's a better deal (BIN is cheaper than the current bid, lower shipping, have other cards I could combine shipping with, etc) shows up before the current auction ends. Too many times I've bid $10 for a card and 2 hours before it ends another one pops up with $8 BIN or something along those lines. I usually do a manual snipe simpel because I'm around and can watch it until the last possible second. If it's something I REALLY want and I feel there may be a run at the end then I'll put in a snipe if I knwo I wont' be around/awake at the end. I really use them for convience and that's about all. My max bid will pretty much be the same whether I put it in with 4 seconds left or I let a program do it for me.