So you've heard of sniping, but you can't figure out why you'd want to do it. Even more so, it sounds a little shady and some people get downright angry about it. I'm going out on a limb here to say get over it! You'll win more and pay less by using an automated sniping service. Isn't that what it's all about? Here are my top reasons for using an automated sniping service on eBay.
Note: If by chance you don't know what sniping is, be sure to check out the links provided with this feature.
1. Sniping Keeps You Out of Bidding Wars
This is the main reason I use a sniping service. Bidding during the final seconds before an auction closes, lets me keep my cards close to my chest. No one knows how much I'm willing to bid until it's too late to outbid me. I have to be sure to put in the highest price I'm willing to pay when I enter the snipe, but then I can walk away from the auction. I win some and lose some, but I never get into bidding wars and usually end up paying less than I would bidding directly through eBay.
2. Sniping Thwarts Bid Stalkers
Bid stalkers follow buyers on eBay who have similar taste to their own. They do this by looking up a bidder's ID through the auction search system, and then bidding on the same items as the person they are stalking. This might be happening to you if you notice that the same eBay user keeps outbidding you over and over again. Entering your bids into a sniping system keeps the auctions you're interested in secret so you don't have to worry about bid stalkers ever again.
3. Sniping Keeps Your Options Open
Since you can change your mind and delete a snipe entry up to five minutes before the auction closes, you're not locked into a bid. I use my snipe list sort of like a watch system and check it daily. If I decide I can live without an item or I find a better deal somewhere else, I delete the snipe bid. I can't do that when bidding directly on eBay. If I decide I'm willing to pay more, I can easily up my bid. I like that kind of flexibility.4. Sniping Helps You Win More Auctions
Statistically speaking, sniping has been proven to increase the odds of winning an auction. I know from personal experience that I win more auctions and often pay less for the items I want by using an automated sniping service compared to when I was bidding manually. Whether it's because you can enter your high bid and then forget about it, or not having to remember to log on and do a manual snipe in the last few seconds of an auction, sniping does help you win more and pay less.
