Chapter 12. Sniping to Win

IN THIS CHAPTER

• What Sniping Isand How It Works

• Sniping: Pros and Cons

• Successful Sniping, Step by Step

• Using Automated Sniping Services and Software

If you have any experience with eBay auctions, you've seen the following phenomenon. On day one of the auction, there are a few initial bids. On day two, the number of new bids trails off. On days three through six, few if any bids are placed. Then, on the seventh and last day of the auction, all hell breaks loosewith the heaviest bidding taking place in the auction's final minutes.

What's happening here? It's simple: Interested bidders are employing a technique called sniping, and saving their best bids for last.