# Do EBay Auction Snipers Really Work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-ebay-auction-snipers-really-work/203789>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 25, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-ebay-auction-snipers-really-work/203789 "2003-09-25T16:54:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![5cents](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/46a35a/32.png) [@5cents](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5cents)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-ebay-auction-snipers-really-work/203789/81 "2003-09-29T14:58:07Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by prisoner6655321 \*  
> \*\*Oh and one more thing. How do you know how much your max bid SHOULD BE? Research. Please don’t tell me that when you bid on a graphics card you just arbitrarily decide that this particular graphics card is worth, “oh, I suppose $357.93.” You have to know how much you can expect to pay by driving over to Best Buy, or by buying it online, and how much the thing is going for on Ebay. You need to know the minimum amount people are paying and the maximum amount people are paying. You don’t want to pay too much. Compare all of those values, then think about where along this minimum and maximum market value you want to fall. \*\*

Absolutely, research the price. Figure out what it is worth to you, then bid accordingly. If it sells for $350 at Best Buy, and $300 at [buy.com](http://buy.com), and the lowest price on [www.froogle.com](http://www.froogle.com) is $280, then you have some basis for what the item costs new, at a dealer. Then you have to take into account the risk of buying from the given seller, the apparent condition of the item, shipping costs, etc, and then come up with a maximum price that you are comfortable with. Then bid that amount.

Note that the above is all about price, and you. No internet psychology needed.

If somebody else values it more than you, they will win. That’s OK. You can’t always win (unless you are Bill Gates).

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