So many people are still unaware that they can use specialist bidding software ie 'sniping' or eBay automatic bidding sites to bid for them and perhaps more importantly, silently place their bid in the final seconds of an auction pipping other bidders to the post.. Many people on trying eBay bidding software for the first time quickly realize the benefits of a now finely-tuned technology that makes winning an auction more likely. In addition, there are many bespoke features available on sniping sites that can help the bidder budget with control, and source the right item(s) at precisely the right cost.



So what's the problem, why don't more people snipe when they're eBay bidding?

The answer is plenty of people already do, but many more would if they knew about it. Even more people who DO know about sniping but don't try it would be more likely to experiment if sniping sites looked more professional and navigated more clearly. A recent survey of 50 under and postgraduate students from Bristol University (age range 18 -26) showed that of the 80% who had used eBay only 14% had heard of the practice of last minute bidding and of that 14%, only 6% had tried it. The remaining 8% said that they might try eBay sniping at some point in the future, but had on previous attempts become confused by poor design and website navigation of sniping sites (sometimes even at the free sign-up page stage) and decided to return to their regular bidding methods via eBay.

Richard Mauger, one of the directors of www.bidburglar.com a hosted service with over 22000 members since the company's launch in January estimates that between percent and 5 and 10 percent of involve snipers. "It has become a must-use tool for anyone who values a certain item and really wants to win it" he said "some people like to gamble, and place their bids manually I've done it, and it can be exciting" he admitted, "but the excitement wears off pretty quickly once you've lost your bargain find to a sniper".

The practice is accepted by eBay, but no sniping application is particularly endorsed over another, and the auction site leaves it to the initiative of companies to check whether any changes to the servers or website will affect their sniping services. As far back as 2002 eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove is quoted as saying that sniping is "a tool that many of our users like, and it's a tool that frustrates many of our users. But it's up to our users whether or not they want to use a sniping tool."

So last-minute-bidding seems to be here to stay. Is it a new way of bidding on eBay? Its been around since 2001 and millions of auctions have been sniped in that time but yes, it is new - New in that sniping forms the basis of an emerging online industry, with new companies to be found every time you type in 'ebay sniper' into Google. Sniping an auction seems to be more and more essential if one is to give oneself every chance of winning in the eBay marketplace.

If the 10% estimation of all auctions sniped with some form of automatic bidding is correct, the pickings are very rich for all the current snipers that roam eBay's listings looking for their prey. And if you snipe the same item as another sniper at the same price? Then the battle for software supremacy really begins. Choose your service provider wisely!