Question about offsets and final bids

[bidwisley]

I am wondering about offsets as they relate to final bids. I changed my mirror offset to be longer, as Cupid suggested. Since doing that, a couple of auctions have said "won by mirror". But here is what I am wondering...
Let us just suppose that there is another sniper using Gixen or even another siping service. I increased my mirror service so it should now place my bid earlier than the standard 6 second offset. However, there is now another sniper in the mix. That sniper bids high but uses the standard 6 second offset and lets just say, for sake of example, that I set my mirror to bid 8 or 12 seconds ahead. And let us also say that my highest bid is $100. and the other sniper's bid is only $75. Now, because ebay gives it to the first bidder to place any bid with the highest final bid, it is my understanding that because my bid was earlier, and also higher, that this other sniper's bid should not even be in the mix because he/she placed it/sniped several seconds after me, thereby driving me up above his/her $75. bid. But because he/she placed that too late (after me) WHY are they counting it to drive up the price? Is that correct? I don't know why his/her bid was even counted. And not only counted, but totally exhausted before mine was drawn on. Could someone please explain how the heck this works? I appreciate any help in order to understand this. I am totally confused!!!!
Thanks in advance...
bidwisely

[ronmc2]

bidwisely-Let's suppose there were no Bidders and the starting bid is $10. Your $100 would show as $10. ANY later bid over $10.50 is a Valid bid.
The ONLY occasion when "time" is a factor, is if 2 Bidders BOTH bid $99.01-$102.49. Otherwise, "time" means nothing.

[Cupid]

Yes, I agree.. to further expand the argument... the only bids, relevant to this argument, that Ebay blocks are those that are less than one bid increment above the current auction price...

The argument for bidding earlier is that by bidding later you have allowed more snipers to place their bids, and thus that auction price is more likely to be in the range where your bid might get blocked.

The argument for an early bid is not that all later bids than yours are blocked, just that under certain circumstances they are more likely to be blocked.
_________________
Mark

[Bidwisely]

Thanks for your explanations, Ronmc2 and Cupid. I appreciate the feedback. I think MAYBE I "get it" now. But will have to watch over time to fully understand.

You guys are so helpful!!!!!

[Gixen]