I asked her that basically: 1) If someone has a sniping program, your automatic max bid means nothing, and 2) if you think the auction might be sniped, do not be the highest bidder near the end of the auction. She said yup. She also said the "snipers" tend to pay within seconds of the auction end, so the seller does not have chance to hit the second chance button.

:-X

"I cannot put in another bid, because you cannot outbid yourself."

You can put in a higher maximum bid; doing so will not increase your current bid but will raise the maximum you are willing to pay.

"I cannot put in another bid, because you cannot outbid yourself."

You can put in a higher maximum bid; doing so will not increase your current bid but will raise the maximum you are willing to pay.

Funny you should say that, because that is exactly what I did. I increased my max bid with a few minutes to go in the auction. I didn't want to take the chance of being outbid. The problem is, being "sniped" with only 1-2 seconds to go in the auction, ebay software does not have time to look at max bids.

I was slow at picking the explanation up from ebay.  I kept saying (numbers are different but you get the picture), how can a $30 bid win out against a my max bid of $50 that I had in.  It took her about 5 times to get it through my head that it is the very short time left in the auction that the bid (sniping) was made that doesn't allow the ebay software to compute for a max bid process.

"I cannot put in another bid, because you cannot outbid yourself."

You can put in a higher maximum bid; doing so will not increase your current bid but will raise the maximum you are willing to pay.

Funny you should say that, because that is exactly what I did.  I increased my max bid with a few minutes to go in the auction.  I didn't want to take the chance of being outbid.  The problem is, being "sniped" with only 1-2 seconds to go in the auction, ebay software does not have time to look at max bids.

I was slow at picking the explanation up from ebay.  I kept saying (numbers are different but you get the picture), how can a $30 bid win out against a my max bid of $50 that I had in.  It took her about 5 times to get it through my head that it is the very short time left in the auction that the bid (sniping) was made that doesn't allow the ebay software to compute for a max bid process.

I never pay attention to that.Wonder how many times i lost when i should have won. :-?

I usually just see i lose and go "oh well i lost".Never bother to check the final price won and compare it to my max bid. :-?

The problem is, being "sniped" with only 1-2 seconds to go in the auction, ebay software does not have time to look at max bids.

I think the customer service rep is putting you on.  From a programming standpoint the check to your max bid would literally take less than fractions of a second and THAT is assuming that the eBay software even accepts the bid prior to checking other max bids.  

I wonder what would happen if you called back and talked to a different customer service rep.  I'd bet you'd get a different answer.

The problem is, being "sniped" with only 1-2 seconds to go in the auction, ebay software does not have time to look at max bids.

Think about what you are saying here. Ebay's computers can somehow respond to a sniper's bid, which must be sent across the internet, faster than it can recognize a max bid number that is already stored on it's server. That just doesn't compute. The service rep doesn't have a clue.

Ronnie

The problem is, being "sniped" with only 1-2 seconds to go in the auction, ebay software does not have time to look at max bids.

Think about what you are saying here. Ebay's computers can somehow respond to a sniper's bid, which must be sent across the internet, faster than it can recognize a max bid number that is already stored on it's server. That just doesn't compute. The service rep doesn't have a clue.

Ronnie

This is what I was saying all along. I just didn't want to get in a ticking match over something so trivial. I had to be a glitch in Ebay's software. No other explanation.

I hope you guys are right, and it is just a glitch on ebay's part. Don't shoot the messenger. But I won't take a chance the next time I really want something, just in case. I'll ignore the max thing, and put in a bid more than what I think a sniper will, at the last seconds of the auction.

Honestly, it didn't make any sense to me either, that's why I contacted them, and had them track my bidding history for the auction. Maybe the rep didn't know what she was talking about, but she did confirm my max bid, and said I lost out to a lower bid (lower than my max bid) because of the sniping process.      

...I won't take a chance the next time I really want something, just in case.  I'll ignore the max thing, and put in a bid more than what I think a sniper will, at the last seconds of the auction.

Another ebay veteran is born! Go get em Zel. Ebay doesn't like snipers, and will do anything to discourage the practice, but because of the bogus way THEY have set up THEIR system to work, it's the only way to make a good deal anymore. The more you know about how the system works the better your chances are to make it work for you. You can still make a good deal on ebay, but you have to beat them at their own game. Ebay has some community message boards that will give you a lot of insight into how ebay works. Here's a good one to start with...

http://forums.ebay.com/db1/forum.jspa?forumID=124&anticache=1205528882426

Ronnie

Eh, thats why I "Buy it now"

;D

thats why I "Buy it now"

;D

EXACTLY!!!

8-)