Auto-sniping when someone else bids...

[ferret552]

Hi,

I'm new here, but I have a dilemma that I'm wondering if someone here could help me solve.

I'm looking at several items on eBay that I am interested in. (They're auction-style) I've already contacted the seller, who has agreed to consider offers should his auctions go without bidders.

The catch is this... these are items that I would really like, and I wouldn't mind paying for, it's just that I'd prefer to pay less (human nature I guess.)

I'm going to be on a flight when these auctions end, so here's what I'd like to do:

Set snipes for all four items.
However, I would like the snipe to be cancelled should there be no bids.
If there IS a bid, then for the program to go ahead and snipe.

In short, I'd like to set a snipe that only snipes if there is a bid made. I fly about four hours before the auction, so I wouldn't be able to monitor these auctions past that time.

Is this even possible? Or are there any other suggestions?

Thanks for any help.

[Cupid]

No it isn't possible, some of this could be automated and has been suggested before, however the amount of work involved in it and the amount that it would potentially be used probably makes it not worth while for any developer to implement.

In any case it would never ne possible to monitor for a final second snipe and a reactive snipe if one were placed, network latency would prevent monitoring below about 5 seconds.

If I were you, to avoid possible dissapointment, I would place snipes for the maximum that you are willing to pay for each item.
_________________
Mark

[ferret552]

Ah, figured. Worth a shot to ask I guess.

Thanks for your help again.