OUTBID by ONE second!?!!??!?!?!
Gary Loveless
Hi Gang -
Can you believe this: I put in a SNIPE bid for the following
auction:
http://offer.ebay.com/ws3/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=3919766854
and got out bid by one second?? Why sniper program does this?? I
thought VRANE was the thing, until now. apparently their is another
sniper program out there that logs in 6 seconds before auction close
to get it where as VRANE does it at seven seconds. I cant know VRANE
though, the service is free and they have won me many a late night
auction!! Just never seen an auction where you are outbid by one
second!!!
Regards,
Gary
Ian
The one I use can be programmed to 3 seconnds. It constantly outperforms
other sniping tools.
Ian
Scottishmoney
good timing and put in a manual bid and outbid someone with one second. I
know because on two occasions I have done it. More times than not I have
ended up losing auctions because I waited a second or two too long to slam
the enter key.
Dave
--
Tir nam Beann, nan Gleann, s'nan Gaisgeach - Saor Alba A-Nis!
"Gary Loveless" <torin...@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1c62f0phdqvp2cpk5...@4ax.com...
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.712 / Virus Database: 468 - Release Date: 6/27/04
Gary Loveless
Well Ian, don't keep us waiting, Please give us a program name or web
site!!!! :)
Thanks,
Gary
Ian
phil
the auction in the previous window,and won a few that way.I have to keep
refreshing the old window and rely on luck and timing.I don't use a sniping
service and am on dial up.Sometimes it works,sometimes it doesn't-but it
works often enough.
I'd love to be able to do more than a couple of auctions per month,but until
I do,I'll have to rely on my still developing skills to win a few.
phil
(tic,toc,tic,toc)
"Scottishmoney" <scotti...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:10f2aq2...@corp.supernews.com...
Phil DeMayo
It's not hard to understand....your bids got in one second apart.
But geez...there was still a whole 6 seconds left. My best manual snipe was a
one cent win with one second left. ;-)
I can remember an RCC'er pointing us to an auction he won with 0 seconds left.
that's really cutting it close.
By the way, I'm not crazy about the seller's images. The brightness and the
tilted coin makes it tough to see any bagmarks that may be there.
++++++++++
Phil DeMayo - always here for my fellow Stooge
When bidding online always sit on your helmet
Just say NO to counterfeits
Jorg Lueke
If you really need to snipe at the last second nothing beats broadband,
two browser windows and your mouse.
PCameron
"Jorg Lueke" <jluek...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:opsay7bi...@news.cis.dfn.de...
> >
> If you really need to snipe at the last second nothing beats broadband,
> two browser windows and your mouse.
>
And it is a cheap rush too :-)
Nick Knight
>If you really need to snipe at the last second nothing beats broadband,
>two browser windows and your mouse.
This is true. I'm confused by the insinuation (perception?) that winning
with 1 second to go is better than winning with 10 seconds left. With only
10 seconds left in an auction, there's hardly any time for human reaction
(I'd say NONE, but there'll be someone who claims they can refresh a screen,
notice they've been outbid, change windows and press "OK" on a previously
queued bid ... but why not just snipe at that amount in the first place?).
During the last seconds of an auction, it's about all left up to the snipers
(manual or automatic). AND, the only time a difference of a couple of
seconds, then, matters, is in the case of a tie bid (or bids that are within
an increment of each other). And in this case, the EARLIER bid wins, even
if just "by ONE second".
Nick
Jorg Lueke
wrote:
True enough. It certainly can be fun to wait as long as possible but for
all practical purposes waiting till 7, 5, 3, or 1 second shows makes
little difference. Considering that your bid is sprayed via TCP/IP
towards the Ebay servers the network time is probably more of a factor in
the last seconds than anything else save your final bid amount.
phil
"Nick Knight" <bhnc...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:40f15a99$1$avpx$mr2...@news.east.earthlink.net...
Ideally,bidding the maximum amount is the way to go,but in an auction that
has a lot of bidding activity its very easy to be outbid by a snipe in the
last few seconds.
The reason many use the sniping programs is because they've fallen victim
to late snipes that cost them the auction.
If you set yourself up right,you can snipe the sniper but you really need
to be paying attention.
I can't always sit in front of the screen and wait;for those times I bid my
max and hope for the best.If I can arrange to be at the computer when the
auction is about to end,I will always set up to snipe just in case.Also it
will depend on how badly I want the item-many times I don't get it,but often
enough it works for me to do it when I do bid on something I want really
badly and am willing to put the extra effort into.
phil
Gary Loveless
<I...@somewhereovertherainbow.com> wrote:
Thanks, gonna go check it out shortly!!
Gary
Gary Loveless
<scotti...@charter.net> wrote:
>Believe it or not you can get incredibly, yes I mean incredibly lucky with
>good timing and put in a manual bid and outbid someone with one second. I
>know because on two occasions I have done it. More times than not I have
>ended up losing auctions because I waited a second or two too long to slam
>the enter key.
>
>Dave
You know what they say, "Timing is everything!!"
Gary
Gary Loveless
wrote:
>I've opened a new window with all the new info for a bid ready to go,with
>the auction in the previous window,and won a few that way.I have to keep
>refreshing the old window and rely on luck and timing.I don't use a sniping
>service and am on dial up.Sometimes it works,sometimes it doesn't-but it
>works often enough.
>I'd love to be able to do more than a couple of auctions per month,but until
>I do,I'll have to rely on my still developing skills to win a few.
> phil
> (tic,toc,tic,toc)
>
>
Seems like I have opened a whole new topic on the different ways of
how to snipe: Manual, multiple browser windows, online snipe service,
etc.....
Gary
Gary Loveless
>It's not hard to understand....your bids got in one second apart.
>
>But geez...there was still a whole 6 seconds left. My best manual snipe was a
>one cent win with one second left. ;-)
>
>I can remember an RCC'er pointing us to an auction he won with 0 seconds left.
>that's really cutting it close.
>
>By the way, I'm not crazy about the seller's images. The brightness and the
>tilted coin makes it tough to see any bagmarks that may be there.
>
>
>++++++++++
>Phil DeMayo - always here for my fellow Stooge
>When bidding online always sit on your helmet
>Just say NO to counterfeits
Phil -
I trust this seller, I have bought a few coins from him in the
past and they have always promptly arrived and in advertised
condition.
Regards,
Gary
Nick Knight
> If you set yourself up right,you can snipe the sniper but you really need
>to be paying attention.
The point I was trying to make is that, if you're TRUELY sniping, then you
are on an equal footing with all other snipers. In general, the highest bid
wins and you've left no time for second thoughts. This is the bidders best
strategy. The only way to get "outsniped", and I really didn't realize this
scenario until today, is by bidding TOO LATE, with a bid that ties a
previous snipe.
Snipes are the great bidding equalizer. You never really get "outsniped",
you simply get outbid.
Nick
Don
> auction:
>
> http://offer.ebay.com/ws3/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=3919766854
>
> and got out bid by one second?? Why sniper program does this??
It could have been a manual snipe. Not everybody relies on sniping services.
Scot Kamins
Gary Loveless <torin...@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote:
> Can you believe this: I put in a SNIPE bid for the following
> auction:
>
> http://offer.ebay.com/ws3/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=3919766854
>
> and got out bid by one second?? Why sniper program does this??
The snipe program (if one was used) entered the bid six seconds before
the end of auction. The software that I use, eSnipe, does this.
Scot Kamins
--
"Speak your truth, even as your voice quakes."
Wayland
news:1c62f0phdqvp2cpk5...@4ax.com...
>
Sniping so near the end time is remarkable, but this person's bid coming in
a second before, or after, yours wouldn't have changed the outcome, would
it?
Pat
Is it just how you play the game,or whether you win or loose?
0
>auction:
>
>http://offer.ebay.com/ws3/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=3919766854
>
>and got out bid by one second??
Looks to me like you got out bid by one dollar, not one second although your
bid was one tick earlier. I would not have mattered if you had bid one second
later than the other guy. Fortunately, there will be more coins up for auction
later on.
WG
North Carolina -->First in Gold Dollars.
Byron L. Reed
<kam...@spamtrapdogeared.com> wrote:
>The snipe program (if one was used) entered the bid six seconds before
>the end of auction. The software that I use, eSnipe, does this.
>
>Scot Kamins
Here, too, but you can reset this default in eSnipe. I use 3 seconds,
which has not failed me since they upped their system some time ago.
BLReed
To email me click here: http://snipurl.com/7mdb
For collector coins and supplies at fair prices: http://tinyurl.com/pt9r
Cool things: http://www.byronreed.com
Talk bust coins: http://www.byronreed.com/phpBB2/index.php
Ed Hendricks
>
> You know what they say, "Timing is everything!!"
>
> Gary
And I thought it was location, location, location! :-)
--
忽帕
~
Ed Hendricks
ANA# R178621
"Life is a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can
only spend it once!"
Gary Loveless
wrote:
Yeah it makes the difference if HE wins the coin or if I win the
coin............
Gary
Gary Loveless
He put in an overall higher bid than mine I would expect, 40.55 was my
max bid, he naturally would have to bid 41.55 to win, and he did!
Gary
Doggo
"Gary Loveless" <torin...@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in message
increment higher than your max snipe when bidding. I'm assuming by looking
at the two figures that the bid increment was $1.00 at that point, yes?
Ed
'snipes and loves it'
Gary Loveless
>>
>He could have set his snipe for a million dollars, it just goes to the next
>increment higher than your max snipe when bidding. I'm assuming by looking
>at the two figures that the bid increment was $1.00 at that point, yes?
>
>Ed
>'snipes and loves it'
>
>
Yes It was at $1 increments at this point...........
Gary
"loves to snipe when he WINS!'
Phil Barnhart
You know how much you feel an item is worth to you. You place a bid
at that price. If someone is willing to pay more - oh well. In a
way, sniping is a way to try to 'beat the system' or in other words -
pay less than you think an item is really worth.
What about the seller? Do they not deserve a fair price for their
item? What about someone with less technology or connection speed?
Do you deserve a better chance because you have more money and can
afford better technology?
I have actually got several nasty emails from snipers who were
outsniped - as if it was my fault. Sniping is just a way to try to
get something for less than you believe it is worth. Do you pocket
that extra quarter a clerk accidently gives you - even if the clerk
may get fired or penalized for the error? Do you chuckle when buying
a coin worth $$$ for just $ because the seller is ignorant? I would
rather have someone who values an item I auction rather than get the
higher price.
As I liquidate my collection, I use Ebay for quite a few auctions. I
have ended auctions early by a few seconds to discourage snipers.
After one auction I actally banned a sniper (who won several auctions
- which I delivered on a timely basis but accepted no additional
business). I would rather lose a few bucks. Of course, I have
reported bidders to Ebay that offer me a price if I cancel an auction
and sell an item outside of Ebay. You agree to Ebay's terms - so live
with them. Stealing from Ebay is still stealing - theft is still
theft - and I have no desire to deal with people who don't mind
stealing. I would rather sell something for half its value to someone
who plays by the rules than reward unethical behavior.
Sniping is unethical. Bid what you think something is worth. Pay
what something is worth to you. But sniping is just another way of
ripping folks off - and there is enough of that in the coin world as
it is.
A.Gent
"Phil Barnhart" <pbar...@texas.net> wrote in message
news:3c951a96.04071...@posting.google.com...
> Okay, this may be really off-base, but:
Not off-base - 100% on topic in this group - just off-planet.
> You know how much you feel an item is worth to you. You place a bid
> at that price. If someone is willing to pay more - oh well.
"Oh well" be blowed.
I want to maximise my chances of snagging the item - without taking out a second
mortgage.
>... In a
> way, sniping is a way to try to 'beat the system' or in other words -
> pay less than you think an item is really worth.
Phooey.
A snipe won't beat a proxy bid set at what "the item is really worth".
Besides which - what's the problem with snagging a bargain?
>
> What about the seller? Do they not deserve a fair price for their
> item?
No.
Period.
Why should they?
They deserve what they get. When I'm sellng, I deserve what I get.
If it goes for less than its worth, then I should have set a higher opening price or
a reserve.
The buyer is not beholden to the seller.
Doesn't the buyer deserve a bargain?
What the heck do you think draws them (us) to eBay?
> What about someone with less technology or connection speed?
> Do you deserve a better chance because you have more money and can
> afford better technology?
In the USA? You bet. Isn't that in the Constitution?
In reality, a dialup connection can still send an unbeatable snipe. You just need to
be a little more savvy with the delay times. Been there - done that.
> I have actually got several nasty emails from snipers who were
> outsniped - as if it was my fault.
I am not my brother's keeper. I don't understand the basis of such a complaint.
(or, in other words: "I was once insulted by a Catholic - therefore all Catholics are
rude and boorish.)
>... Sniping is just a way to try to
> get something for less than you believe it is worth.
Yes.
And the problem with that is....
(please let me know)
>..Do you pocket
> that extra quarter a clerk accidently gives you - even if the clerk
> may get fired or penalized for the error?
That's dishonest.
Sniping is not -in any way shape or means- dishonest.
What does the clerk/quarter analogy have to do with sniping?
>... Do you chuckle when buying
> a coin worth $$$ for just $ because the seller is ignorant? I would
> rather have someone who values an item I auction rather than get the
> higher price.
I revel in a good buy at a good price.
Is that sinful?
US capitalism is based upon that notion.
When I sell a coin, I let it go. I don't insist on adoption papers and a trial
ownership period. If I'm emotionally attached to a coin, I don't sell it. Simple.
> As I liquidate my collection, I use Ebay for quite a few auctions. I
> have ended auctions early by a few seconds to discourage snipers.
Uh huh.
And that *isn't* bending the rules to suit the personal preferences?
What was your "legitimate" reason for ending early? Does eBay approve of this
technique?
Still...
Your choice to lose money if you want to.
The warm afterglow could be quite expensive.
> After one auction I actally banned a sniper (who won several auctions
> - which I delivered on a timely basis but accepted no additional
> business). I would rather lose a few bucks.
Your choice - however silly.
"Land of the free" and all that.
>... Of course, I have
> reported bidders to Ebay that offer me a price if I cancel an auction
> and sell an item outside of Ebay.
What's that got to do with sniping?
>...You agree to Ebay's terms - so live
> with them.
Yes, you should.
Ebay is set up to encourage sniping.
Yahoo (I believe) isn't. It allows the buyer to extend an auction if there is a bid
in the last 10 minutes. That's one reason I don't use Yahoo.
>.. Stealing from Ebay is still stealing - theft is still
> theft - and I have no desire to deal with people who don't mind
> stealing. I would rather sell something for half its value to someone
> who plays by the rules than reward unethical behavior.
Hang on.
Is that paragraph referring to sniping (in which case its daft and loony), or about
making offers to sell off eBay (in which case its quite reasonable)?
>
> Sniping is unethical.
How?
Its an offer to buy, made at a specific time.
>..Bid what you think something is worth. Pay
> what something is worth to you. But sniping is just another way of
> ripping folks off - and there is enough of that in the coin world as
> it is.
Rubbish.
Sniping is a way of discouraging -or defeating- clueless newbie bidders who don't
understand how the proxy bidding system works. Those dopes who place
bid-after-bid-after-bid, each one being just one increment, until they finally beat
the standing proxy bid.
I just love it when I see a bidding history dominated by a huge string of bids from
one buyer. That means I *know* that his bid is an increment bid, and I know exactly
how much I have to bid (snipe) to beat him.
Now if he bid *honestly* - by submitting a proxy bid for what he feels the item is
*really* worth, then I'd have no such clue.
As it is, I always make my bid (a snipe) my maximum. Never (almost never) just one
increment. No point, since there's no time to bump it up anyway.
Sniping is a way of life for eBay.
If you don't like it, I suggest you move to another venue.
Besides - sniping is a heck of a lot of fun.
--
Jeff R.
Scot Kamins
pbar...@texas.net (Phil Barnhart) wrote:
A whole lot of - er - stuff.
When I first read your article, I assumed it was troll bait - I figured
it HAD to be, it seemed so outrageous. But then I decided that you
actually might be serious. So I'm responding to it.
> You know how much you feel an item is worth to you. You place a bid
> at that price. If someone is willing to pay more - oh well. In a
> way, sniping is a way to try to 'beat the system' or in other words -
> pay less than you think an item is really worth.
Absolutely! That's the main reason I go to eBay - to pay less than I'd
have to if I went to a coin shop. I'm looking for a bargain.
>
> What about the seller? Do they not deserve a fair price for their
> item?
Sure. That's what a reserve or a minimum starting price is. Some sellers
would rather take their chances as an auction strategy and price their
items really low and let market forces take over. Sometimes they get
more than they would selling it at retail; sometimes they get less.
That's what free market forces are about! (And yes, of course I'm
oversimplifying.)
> What about someone with less technology or connection speed?
> Do you deserve a better chance because you have more money and can
> afford better technology?
Well - duh! Of COURSE! That's called "capitalism." Except that I
wouldn't call it "chance." eBay isn't roulette; it's more like poker,
where strategy counts. One strategy is called "sniping."
>
> I have actually got several nasty emails from snipers who were
> outsniped - as if it was my fault.
Well, some people are just jerks.
>Sniping is just a way to try to
> get something for less than you believe it is worth.
Yep. Getting a bargain.
>Do you pocket
> that extra quarter a clerk accidently gives you - even if the clerk
> may get fired or penalized for the error?
No, that's a form of theft. Buying something in a store is NOT an
auction. Also, I'm not cheating the seller - I won the item in the
auction and I send the seller the hammer price. If I tried to cheat the
seller out of the hammer price, THAT would be dishonest.
>Do you chuckle when buying
> a coin worth $$$ for just $ because the seller is ignorant?
I don't chuckle, but I don't feel sorry for the seller because s/he
didn't do the research to set the coin's reserve price appropriately.
And then again I go back to market forces.
>I would
> rather have someone who values an item I auction rather than get the
> higher price.
>
> As I liquidate my collection, I use Ebay for quite a few auctions. I
> have ended auctions early by a few seconds to discourage snipers.
> After one auction I actally banned a sniper (who won several auctions
> - which I delivered on a timely basis but accepted no additional
> business). I would rather lose a few bucks. Of course, I have
> reported bidders to Ebay that offer me a price if I cancel an auction
> and sell an item outside of Ebay. You agree to Ebay's terms - so live
> with them. Stealing from Ebay is still stealing - theft is still
> theft - and I have no desire to deal with people who don't mind
> stealing. I would rather sell something for half its value to someone
> who plays by the rules than reward unethical behavior.
You're collapsing different issues here. Sniping isn't against eBay
rules.
>
> Sniping is unethical.
You haven't proven that assertion in this post.
>Bid what you think something is worth. Pay what something
>is worth to you.
I do - in the snipe.
K6AZ
>
>Hi Gang -
>
> Can you believe this: I put in a SNIPE bid for the following
>auction:
>
>http://offer.ebay.com/ws3/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=3919766854
>
>and got out bid by one second?? Why sniper program does this?? I
>thought VRANE was the thing, until now. apparently their is another
>sniper program out there that logs in 6 seconds before auction close
>to get it where as VRANE does it at seven seconds. I cant know VRANE
>though, the service is free and they have won me many a late night
>auction!! Just never seen an auction where you are outbid by one
>second!!!
>
>Regards,
>
>Gary
>
That other sniper did you a favor. Email me for details.
--
K6AZ WEB PAGES
Nick Knight
>Okay, this may be really off-base, but:
>Do you pocket that extra quarter a clerk accidently gives you - even if the cler
Yup, you're right. You're way off-base. Next thing we'll hear is that
sniping is a terrorist's ploy.
If you want to buy and sell at fixed price, please do so. An auction is an
auction, despite the eBay "features" that can be applied to make it not an
auction. There's no "beating the system"; it's simply working with the
system. And things go to the highest bidder, which is very often a snipe.
Some people pay sticker prices for new cars. Some don't take the deductions
Uncle Sam allows under the law. And some can't see sniping with any clarity
at all.
Sheesh.
Nick
Byron L. Reed
wrote:
>Okay, this may be really off-base, but:
>
>You know how much you feel an item is worth to you. You place a bid
>at that price. If someone is willing to pay more - oh well. In a
>way, sniping is a way to try to 'beat the system' or in other words -
>pay less than you think an item is really worth.
Yes, that's really off-base. The nerve, trying to get something for
less than it's worth!
Byron L. Reed
wrote:
>I have actually got several nasty emails from snipers who were
>outsniped - as if it was my fault.
Did you end the auction early?
Eric Faust
"Byron L. Reed" <rccR_E_M...@byronreed.com> wrote in message
news:7ud5f0126pp3s2sca...@4ax.com...
> On 11 Jul 2004 21:26:20 -0700, pbar...@texas.net (Phil Barnhart)
> wrote:
>
> >Okay, this may be really off-base, but:
> >
> >You know how much you feel an item is worth to you. You place a bid
> >at that price. If someone is willing to pay more - oh well. In a
> >way, sniping is a way to try to 'beat the system' or in other words -
> >pay less than you think an item is really worth.
>
> Yes, that's really off-base. The nerve, trying to get something for
> less than it's worth!
You know what else ticks me off? People who buy things on sale. Totally
unethical. I always insist on paying full price at the register. ;)
Eric
Phil Barnhart
Also, I'm not cheating the seller - I won the item in the
> auction and I send the seller the hammer price. If I tried to cheat the
> seller out of the hammer price, THAT would be dishonest.
>
> >Do you chuckle when buying
> > a coin worth $$$ for just $ because the seller is ignorant?
>
> I don't chuckle, but I don't feel sorry for the seller because s/he
> didn't do the research to set the coin's reserve price appropriately.
> And then again I go back to market forces.
Mmm - the OTHER golden rule - who who has the gold (read 'capital')
makes the rules.
I do NOT agree that "market forces" alone should govern actions. On
several occasions the past few years I have notified folks that they
had coins they had greatly undervalued. I once got a coin on Ebay for
$8 that I later sold for over $400 - the low auction price a result of
a poor picture, uneducated seller selling her late son's collection to
pay bills (yes I confirmed that), and an incorrect category.
As soon as I received the coin I realized it was a much higher grade
and a rare mint mark to boot - and sent the lady an additional $200.
Ebay has prototyped automatic auction extensions for three focus
groups this year already - an auction is extended 1 minute every time
there is a bid.
Byron L. Reed
wrote:
>As soon as I received the coin I realized it was a much higher grade
>and a rare mint mark to boot - and sent the lady an additional $200.
Ah, are you a crusader or a moron?
By the way, I noticed you failed to answer my previous question.
DID YOU END YOUR AUCTIONS EARLY?
Coin Saver
>OUTBID by ONE second>
Someone "up there" is looking over your shoulder.
Not meant to be, at this time ... apparantly.
8-|
- Coin Saver
Gary Loveless
wrote:
Thats fer sure. Its ok though, I got another one lined up to snipe in
a few days (I hope!)
Gary
Phil Barnhart
didn't hear your whole message.
I have not ended EBAY auctions early.
"Nick Knight" <bhnc...@mindspring.com> wrote in message news:<40f28678$1$avpx$mr2...@news.east.earthlink.net>...
Nick Knight
came to mind ...
Uuuuuuugggghhhhhhhhh?
In <3c951a96.04071...@posting.google.com>, on 07/12/2004
Nick
Byron L. Reed
wrote:
>Sorry BYRON my screen reader has been cutting off news postings so I
>didn't hear your whole message.
>
>I have not ended EBAY auctions early.
Why not?
Aram H. Haroutunian
wrote:
>Sorry BYRON my screen reader has been cutting off news postings so I
>didn't hear your whole message.
>
>I have not ended EBAY auctions early.
"I have ended auctions early by a few seconds to discourage snipers."
=========================
Which is it, Phil? Both are quotes of your statements. Which did
you mean?
Aram.
>
>snip<
Byron L. Reed
<bust...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>Sorry BYRON my screen reader has been cutting off news postings so I
>>didn't hear your whole message.
>>
>>I have not ended EBAY auctions early.
>"I have ended auctions early by a few seconds to discourage snipers."
>=========================
>Which is it, Phil? Both are quotes of your statements. Which did
>you mean?
>Aram.
Shhh, Aram! I was trying to make him dig a deeper hole.
I think Phil B may be a figment of his own imagination, nobody is that
magnanimous unless they are a fake.
"Sniping is unethical," he says, yet actively seeking to antagonize
people by canceling auctions early must not be. I suppose that clock
on the auction page that keeps ticking down must be merely a
guideline. It's certainly not a touchstone that everyone can play by.
I feel sorry for those folks looking at the "Going, Going, Gone"
listings - seeing something of his to bid on only to find out it's too
late. Not all late bidders are snipers, after all.
Then again, maybe Phil is one of those bastards who puts in his
auctions a phrase like: "I may end this auction early, so get your
highest bid in as early as possible." This, of course, is a tactic
used by shillers so they can scam a guy for the most bucks.
Perhaps Phil is only a wolf in sheep's clothing.