Article > Auction Sniping
What is Auction Sniping?
Sniping is the act of outbidding other bidders just before the auction is due to close. The nearer to the end the better and sniping is usually carried out minutes or even seconds before the end of the aution.
Why Snipe?
Simply put - sniping can save you money. If you place a bid a long time before an auction is due to close it gives others the opportunity to outbid you, which means you either lose the auction or else have to bid a higher amount. However, if you wait until just before the auction closes to place your bid then others will find it harder to outbid you. The closer you do it to the end of the auction the better your chances of winning the auction at the lowest possible price.
How do I snipe?
You can do it manually or automate it.
To do it manually you should bookmark the page with the item you want to buy and make a note of when the auction closes. Then, just before the closing time, you return to that page and place your higher bid. If nobody else is sniping then you should win that auction.
Automating the task can be better because you will be able to snipe nearer the closing time. Also, you don't have to remember to logon and snipe as you can set it up and leave it to it. Several sites offer facilities or software to enable you to snipe. The disadvantage, though, is that they will charge you for it.
What disadvantages are there?
If the item you want is important to you then you may decide not to snipe. This is because if you forget to place your bid at the right time, the software you're using (if you're using an automated method) failed for some reason, or if somebody else out-sniped you then you'd lose the auction.
For instance, if you were a collector and saw something very rare that would complete a set you may be willing to pay whatever it takes to get the item. It may only be worth £50, but you'd pay £100 if you had to as it was so important to you. If when you found the item the bidding was up to £30 you may decide to snipe and try and get the item for £31. But you may fail to place the bid in time or may be out-sniped and so lose the auction. If it was something you really, really didn't want to lose then you may decide it better to place a £100 bid now if you thought that would mean you'd win.
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