the random musings not worthy of new thread thread

[Diomedes]

That's what I'm doing guys.  The problem is, people run sniping programs that automatically do it for them.  I'm literally the leading bidder with 2 seconds left, then all of a sudden I lose after several last second bids occur.  This isn't all people hanging around for the auction..it's automated.

Again..it's not that I lose the auction.  It's that I have no way to guage how high something will go until the auction is over.  The point of an auction is that you can gauge the market.  eBay has effectively become a silent auction site in many respects.

Which is fine I guess.  I just don't want to run a sniper application.  Or waste my time bidding on something unusual, knowing whoever wins the auction will likely do so at the very last second, with almost no activity until that second.  It's lame.

[Geowhizzer]

That's what I'm doing guys.  The problem is, people run sniping programs that automatically do it for them.  I'm literally the leading bidder with 2 seconds left, then all of a sudden I lose after several last second bids occur.  This isn't all people hanging around for the auction..it's automated.

Again..it's not that I lose the auction.  It's that I have no way to guage how high something will go until the auction is over.  The point of an auction is that you can gauge the market.  eBay has effectively become a silent auction site in many respects.

Which is fine I guess.  I just don't want to run a sniper application.  Or waste my time bidding on something unusual, knowing whoever wins the auction will likely do so at the very last second, with almost no activity until that second.  It's lame.

Ah, now I understand your quandry.  I never really thought about sniping programs, but it makes sense.  I bid on maybe a dozen items a year.

[Sgt PSN]

That's what I'm doing guys. The problem is, people run sniping programs that automatically do it for them. I'm literally the leading bidder with 2 seconds left, then all of a sudden I lose after several last second bids occur. This isn't all people hanging around for the auction..it's automated.

Again..it's not that I lose the auction. It's that I have no way to guage how high something will go until the auction is over. The point of an auction is that you can gauge the market. eBay has effectively become a silent auction site in many respects.

Which is fine I guess. I just don't want to run a sniper application. Or waste my time bidding on something unusual, knowing whoever wins the auction will likely do so at the very last second, with almost no activity until that second. It's lame.

When I was a kid collecting baseball cards and always checking the "value" of them in price guides every month my grandfather told me that a card is only as worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.  Good advice and it pretty much holds true with anything. 

On the rare occasion I bid on ebay I always decide how much I'm willing to pay for the item before I bid then I submit that amount as my max bid.  I don't know how many times I've done that only to find out that a few seconds later the current bid has already exceeded my max bid.  When that happens, I usually just shrug my shoulders and do another search to see if I can find the same or similar item. 

Bottom line is that if you put in a max bid and still lose the auction then there's no reason to get pissed because it sold for more than you were willing to pay anyway.  And if you would have been willing to pay more for it then shame on you for lowballing your max bid. 

[Diomedes]

Thanks for the speech.

[Sgt PSN]

Anytime.  Come back on Tuesday for my class on fan etiquette in opposing team's stadiums. 

[SD_Eagle5]

Anytime.  Come back on Tuesday for my class on fan etiquette in opposing team's stadiums. 

He's eagerly awaiting your speech on religion

[methdeez]

That's what I'm doing guys.  The problem is, people run sniping programs that automatically do it for them.  I'm literally the leading bidder with 2 seconds left, then all of a sudden I lose after several last second bids occur.  This isn't all people hanging around for the auction..it's automated.

Again..it's not that I lose the auction.  It's that I have no way to guage how high something will go until the auction is over.  The point of an auction is that you can gauge the market.  eBay has effectively become a silent auction site in many respects.

Which is fine I guess.  I just don't want to run a sniper application.  Or waste my time bidding on something unusual, knowing whoever wins the auction will likely do so at the very last second, with almost no activity until that second.  It's lame.

Why not use a sniping program?
The ones I used gave a couple free to start.

[Father Demon]

Agree.  I got frustrated the same way Dio is now.  Then I started usingsniping apps, and I put my maximum in that.  That way, I don't give time to get caught in a bidding war, and I turn into the hunter instead of the huntee.  It works well, and I buy probably 12 - 18 things a year on ebay.

[General_Failure]

Scared of Santa

[Diomedes]

Do you fargers read?  The problem isn't that I lost the goddamn auction, it's how I lost it.  I've already said I'm not gonna be bothered with extra software just to snipe eBay auctions.

I'm a casual eBay user.  Mostly around Christmas.  As such, I'd rather not use sniping software; that level of involvement is too farging much.  It's one thing to shop on eBay...it's another to use some kind of application in order to shop on eBay.  What a pain in the ass.

I'll go to Craigslist, the local flea market, or a nearby town with lots of antique and junk shops instead, I guess.

[Father Demon]

Do you fargers read?  The problem isn't that I lost the goddamn auction, it's how I lost it.  I've already said I'm not gonna be bothered with extra software just to snipe eBay auctions.

I'm a casual eBay user.  Mostly around Christmas.  As such, I'd rather not use sniping software; that level of involvement is too farging much.  It's one thing to shop on eBay...it's another to use some kind of application in order to shop on eBay.  What a pain in the ass.

I'll go to Craigslist, the local flea market, or a nearby town with lots of antique and junk shops instead, I guess.

1. It's a conversation. We're allowed to stray from the point.
2. Sniping can be done by website, not just by software on your PC. It's not too involved.
3. If you want to bitch without any feedback, maybe we should start a thread called "Random Bitching Monologues"

[SD_Eagle5]

I know there's a way to get your money back but I'm not exactly sure what you gotta do.  You can also leave her lots of nasty comments under her feedback. 

I left her a negative score and bashed that bitch in the comments. She had 95% feedback. I emailed them at service@half.com and am awaiting a response. Found a message board there which was helpful.

Took a while but I was just issued a refund. They have a buyer protection policy, but I had to send 3 or 4 emails back and forth to get issued a refund.

[mussa]

 

[Diomedes]

3. If you want to bitch without any feedback, maybe we should start a thread called "Random Bitching Monologues"

Actually, that's exactly what I wanted: to bitch to some people who might understand.  I wasn't asking for advice or a goddamned lecture.

I'll make that thread for you, since apparently you can't handle a little bitching in this one.

[Rome]

Just got back from the beach.  We watched the space shuttle launch and it was amazing.  Nothing more beautiful than watching the night sky light up and following the ship as it lifts off into space.

Incredible.