7 bids- same item, same amount, same time from same bidder?

[Guest]

So I went to a few of the items on which I had a snipe scheduled. I see my bid was placed on two of the three (today- w/i the last couple of hours), and I saw that the bidder which did win was recorded in the eBay bid history as placing six of the same bids of the same amount at the same time (seconds after me), on one item, and seven times w/ the same pattern on the other item. I came in to low on my snipe, so it wasn't a matter of time, however, I'm just curious why the multiple bids of same time/amount from winning bidder?
Could it be they are using multiple snipe sites or what? Just curious. I'll email bixen admin the screen capture cause I don't have a server to host image from (unless I can link to my gmail cocuments somehow?). Thanks

[william_smith]

I'll try screen capture of above senario below:

Item number:160706652503
Item Title: LOT Art Deco Ladys Watches ~ For Repair or Parts ~ Wristwatch
Winning bid: US $19.39
Shipping: Check item description and payment instructions or contact seller for details.




Bidders:5Bids:13Time Ended:Jan-02-12 17:04:41 PSTDuration:5 days

Sorry, you were outbid. This item sold for US $19.39

Automatic bids may be placed days or hours before a listing ends. Learn more about bidding - opens in a new window or tab.
Hide automatic bids
Bidder Bid Amount Bid Time
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:41 PST
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:39 PST
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:37 PST
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:36 PST
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:34 PST
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:33 PST
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:31 PST
Member Id: a***e( 6 ) US $19.39 Jan-02-12 17:04:27 PST
Member Id: william_smith( 447) US $18.89 Jan-02-12 17:04:33 PST

[mario]

I would guess this is some kind of an ebay bug. Multiple bids can be shown (even when Gixen, when using mirror, twice), however when that's the case, the time has to be the same, otherwise subsequent bids wouldn't be accepted.

[Guest]

Thanks Mario
Great service! I'm getting it figured out. ....and it helps when I read the forum and FAQ's.
It was just too weird that the particular bidder had multiple bids w/i seconds of each other after my snipe on two different items. I had thought eBay too, but wasn't sure when it was same bidder, same senario on two different items within about an hour ending time. That's why I assumed they may be using multiple redundant snipping or something. Now I know that eBay only takes one bid from same bidder when it's for the same amount. Must be eBay. Aloha
Will

[Gixen]

[Cupid]

These bids might not be of the same amount though... eBay does not show the bid amount of each accepted bid until it is outbid, none of these were so we don't know what the amount was.

This could be software that is bidding increasing amounts up to a maximum by the end time, if so I think the algorithm being employed is flawed when applied to eBay auctions. In my opinion, it is better to bid the maximum close to the end of the auction than to do this... but I can see some logic to it in that the incremental bids may catch a late snipe at the exact amount of that snipe or at least less than one bid increment above said snipe and this save a small amount (up to one bid increment).

It could also be someone using multiple sniping software providers with different amounts and offsets.

I guess it might also be possible using eBays' 'one click bidding', this bidder had placed a bid much earlier in the auction so that would have been available to them... if that is the case again I'd question the effectiveness of the strategy... in my opinion it is better to get your maximum bid registered with minimum effort than to waste time with this sort of strategy.
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Mark