Snipers

VANDOO · 3rd December 2005, 08:17 PM

I JUST FINISHED BIDDING IN A ONLINE AUCTION I BID ON 12 ITEMS AND GOT ONE BUT NO WORRIES I GOT THE ONE I WANTED MOST.
IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY HERE WERE THE ALPHA MALES TEARING AT THE CARCAS, I WAS THE JACKAL LURKING OUT SIDE I MADE SEVERAL TRYS AT GETTING A MORSEL FROM THE BIG BOYS AND WAS RAN OFF. BUT FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO SNEAK IN FAST AND ESCAPE WITH A LITTLE BITE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND ONE OF THE BIG ARMS AUCTIONS SOMEDAY I BET IT IS A REAL HOOT WATCHING THE TOP DEALERS SLUG IT OUT WITH THEIR GAME FACES ON. JUDGING FROM THE SPEED AND NUMBER OF BIDS ON SOME ITEMS ON THE NET IT WAS FAST AND FURIOUS.

Spunjer · 4th December 2005, 04:31 PM

oh, and another thing (since we're on this subject):

lol @ some of the members offering the seller to buy the item before the auction is over. tsk tsk

I. MUST. HAVE. THE. SWORD....

Rick · 4th December 2005, 08:08 PM

Life is way too short ; and we all as humans have many more important things to do before we shuffle off the stage .

punal · 5th December 2005, 10:36 PM

Let me butt in too! though I'm just a new bees compare to you guys.
Moro Kris swords interest me the most and I started collecting them 6 months ago. Not an easy gig! I found that ebay was the most convenient place to buy them, they're not cheap, but compare most antique sword dealers that had contacted, I prefer ebay. Beware though, you got'ta be willing to break your piggy bank opened because this peices cost an arm and a leg. Yes, years back, you could probably buy a museum grade sword for $100-200? but that was then.

I might be one of those guys a few are refering to, offering sellers to close their listing early! but why not! people are intittled to buy what they want as long as they can afford it! and that what's ebay's for! bid any amount
you want as long as you can sustained it! I understand that we are brothers in this field alright, but isn't it, true brothers gives way! besides, we are all in the midst of a hunt, what I'm trying to say is, I rather have one of our forum brothers get the things that I like but can not afford, and then share it us/me later on...

Ebay's world is not first come first serve basis! it will not waive because you only have this much! but it will sell to someone who wants it more. . . sorry guys if I snaged the swords you've been eyeing on, can't help it, I like it to...
but may be next time I'll yield!

Rick · 6th December 2005, 01:41 AM

In my view it is unethical to try to purchase an item listed for auction on ebay privately .
I believe eBay frowns upon it also .

By doing this you subvert the entire process .

Federico · 6th December 2005, 03:35 AM

Pretty early on in my ebay career I noticed that no matter what auction I bid on, someone else would follow my handle and snipe me. It didnt matter what the piece was (hey for sentimental reasons I often bid on junk), if my handle appeared and there was time, Id be sniped. Now, pretty early on I had enough offers from other members not to snipe me, but then the collecting world is far bigger than just this forum, and while someone who knows me here may not bid against me, to a stranger I was just someone who seemed to find interesting stuff. So since then the only time I bid is in the last few seconds. Like Robert, I put stuff that interests me in my watched list, and bid if I remember and it has not risen above the price I want to pay. Keeps me from second guessing myself or getting into a bid war and bidding far more than I want. Out of courtesy, if I notice a forumite (and since we dont all know eachothers ebay handles this list is short) that I know personally, and like, I may not bid against him. However, I have noticed that many who mark their territory early, A. get outbid very fast and B. often never return to re-bid. So, if I am conscious of a handle, and they are the top bidder in the last 10 secs, sure Ill pass on the piece, but more often than not this is not the case. Furthermore, trying to inform everyone of every odd piece that gets my attention, just does not hold to be practical to me. Most of the stuff I like to bid on is not noticed by anyone else, and my eye is like a hungry man seeing a buffet, everything looks good. At least for me, Ive been sniped by enough forum members, early on, to view the gloves are off when it comes to ebay.

ps
Ill throw in this caveat, for those wondering why theve seen my handle on auctions more than a few seconds out. If the piece is not that interesting, and cheap I may throw in a low bid to see if I get lucky. It has rarely rarely worked. Anyways, waiting on the item ensures the price doesnt get overly jacked, as it seems like the more bidders on an auction the more that auction attracts attention. Ive had many auctions end where I was the only bidder on an obviously nice piece, but there was enough question where other bidders were to afraid to bid. Ive also had many auctions end exhorbatantly high because I was a bidder, and it drew out the wolves.

Rick · 6th December 2005, 03:42 AM

There's nothing worse than the dreaded 'search by member name' gambit .

While a legitimate strategy it reinforces the idea that it may be a good thing to switch your usernames fairly frequently .

I haven't changed mine in nine years but I never bid early .

Lee · 6th December 2005, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Federico

... I noticed that no matter what auction I bid on, someone else would follow my handle and snipe me...

The late Ewart Oakeshott, of medieval sword studies fame, had the same problem and had to resort to spending equal time with everything in the preview (so as to not highlight what interested him) and having a second party 'bark' for him...

BluErf · 6th December 2005, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Federico

Pretty early on in my ebay career I noticed that no matter what auction I bid on, someone else would follow my handle and snipe me.

Our Paul (De Souza) faces the same problem.

The appearance of his ebay handle becomes a 'kiss of death' for 99% of his auction bids.

Hi John -- that is a carita. It's a beauty, but it won't be going into my collection though. I'm somebody's 'hired gun' in this case.

punal · 6th December 2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

In my view it is unethical to try to purchase an item listed for auction on ebay privately .
I believe eBay frowns upon it also .

By doing this you subvert the entire process .

Rick, I understand the unethical part alright, but sad to say, I ain't the only one doing it. Since your concern about ethics, let me give you a hypothetical scenario that most of us sword collectors are incountering.

A listed sword caught your attention, duration time, 10 days. You wanted the sword badly but your budget is way short! you then tried to sell one of your unwanted say, dagger? to come up for the difference. You knew that the dagger won't sell much, but from no where, some one emailed you and offered you good amount of money, way enought to seal the difference of your wanting sword, you're given a deadline to respond back though, say 5 hours or the deal is off. On the other hand, one of our forum brothers put a $5.00 bid on your stuff, would you then pass this good opportunity because your good brother is on the way?

My point of view here is, respect for our forum brothers has it's boundaries.
Each of us has its own measurements of desire on such things, a few may give way due to their personal reasons? others may not! both I think is acceptable, but that's just me. . .

No my friend, I'm not Charles!

Rick · 6th December 2005, 04:40 PM

Personally speaking I would .
Integrity is an important thing in today's world .
Call me old fashioned .......

6th December 2005, 01:41 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	In my view it is unethical to try to purchase an item listed for auction on ebay privately . I believe eBay frowns upon it also . By doing this you subvert the entire process . Last edited by Rick; 6th December 2005 at 03:02 AM.

3rd December 2005, 08:17 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I JUST FINISHED BIDDING IN A ONLINE AUCTION I BID ON 12 ITEMS AND GOT ONE BUT NO WORRIES I GOT THE ONE I WANTED MOST. IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY HERE WERE THE ALPHA MALES TEARING AT THE CARCAS, I WAS THE JACKAL LURKING OUT SIDE I MADE SEVERAL TRYS AT GETTING A MORSEL FROM THE BIG BOYS AND WAS RAN OFF. BUT FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO SNEAK IN FAST AND ESCAPE WITH A LITTLE BITE. I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND ONE OF THE BIG ARMS AUCTIONS SOMEDAY I BET IT IS A REAL HOOT WATCHING THE TOP DEALERS SLUG IT OUT WITH THEIR GAME FACES ON. JUDGING FROM THE SPEED AND NUMBER OF BIDS ON SOME ITEMS ON THE NET IT WAS FAST AND FURIOUS.

4th December 2005, 04:31 PM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	oh, and another thing (since we're on this subject): lol @ some of the members offering the seller to buy the item before the auction is over. tsk tsk I. MUST. HAVE. THE. SWORD....

4th December 2005, 08:08 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Life is way too short ; and we all as humans have many more important things to do before we shuffle off the stage .

5th December 2005, 10:36 PM	#4
punal Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 91	Let me butt in too! though I'm just a new bees compare to you guys. Moro Kris swords interest me the most and I started collecting them 6 months ago. Not an easy gig! I found that ebay was the most convenient place to buy them, they're not cheap, but compare most antique sword dealers that had contacted, I prefer ebay. Beware though, you got'ta be willing to break your piggy bank opened because this peices cost an arm and a leg. Yes, years back, you could probably buy a museum grade sword for $100-200? but that was then. I might be one of those guys a few are refering to, offering sellers to close their listing early! but why not! people are intittled to buy what they want as long as they can afford it! and that what's ebay's for! bid any amount you want as long as you can sustained it! I understand that we are brothers in this field alright, but isn't it, true brothers gives way! besides, we are all in the midst of a hunt, what I'm trying to say is, I rather have one of our forum brothers get the things that I like but can not afford, and then share it us/me later on... Ebay's world is not first come first serve basis! it will not waive because you only have this much! but it will sell to someone who wants it more. . . sorry guys if I snaged the swords you've been eyeing on, can't help it, I like it to... but may be next time I'll yield!

6th December 2005, 03:35 AM	#6
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Pretty early on in my ebay career I noticed that no matter what auction I bid on, someone else would follow my handle and snipe me. It didnt matter what the piece was (hey for sentimental reasons I often bid on junk), if my handle appeared and there was time, Id be sniped. Now, pretty early on I had enough offers from other members not to snipe me, but then the collecting world is far bigger than just this forum, and while someone who knows me here may not bid against me, to a stranger I was just someone who seemed to find interesting stuff. So since then the only time I bid is in the last few seconds. Like Robert, I put stuff that interests me in my watched list, and bid if I remember and it has not risen above the price I want to pay. Keeps me from second guessing myself or getting into a bid war and bidding far more than I want. Out of courtesy, if I notice a forumite (and since we dont all know eachothers ebay handles this list is short) that I know personally, and like, I may not bid against him. However, I have noticed that many who mark their territory early, A. get outbid very fast and B. often never return to re-bid. So, if I am conscious of a handle, and they are the top bidder in the last 10 secs, sure Ill pass on the piece, but more often than not this is not the case. Furthermore, trying to inform everyone of every odd piece that gets my attention, just does not hold to be practical to me. Most of the stuff I like to bid on is not noticed by anyone else, and my eye is like a hungry man seeing a buffet, everything looks good. At least for me, Ive been sniped by enough forum members, early on, to view the gloves are off when it comes to ebay. ps Ill throw in this caveat, for those wondering why theve seen my handle on auctions more than a few seconds out. If the piece is not that interesting, and cheap I may throw in a low bid to see if I get lucky. It has rarely rarely worked. Anyways, waiting on the item ensures the price doesnt get overly jacked, as it seems like the more bidders on an auction the more that auction attracts attention. Ive had many auctions end where I was the only bidder on an obviously nice piece, but there was enough question where other bidders were to afraid to bid. Ive also had many auctions end exhorbatantly high because I was a bidder, and it drew out the wolves.

6th December 2005, 03:42 AM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	There's nothing worse than the dreaded 'search by member name' gambit . While a legitimate strategy it reinforces the idea that it may be a good thing to switch your usernames fairly frequently . I haven't changed mine in nine years but I never bid early .

6th December 2005, 04:40 PM	#11
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Personally speaking I would . Integrity is an important thing in today's world . Call me old fashioned .......