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Mr. Proxy and eBay

The "Behind the Scenes" Report on Mr. Proxy

Created by Tiptie

Let us look at a proxy as a bidder inside eBay's computer, that needs to look at the listed bid and then enter a new bid. The fact that it happens within milliseconds is immaterial. So, here is the scenario:

Opening Minimum Bid: $7.00ob enters a bid with a Proxy of $11.00. The eBay auctioneer accepts Bob's bid.

The Current Bid now shows $7.00

Along comes Carol and she is interested in this item and enters a Bid. The eBay auctioneer tells her that she must enter a bid at least ONE bid increment over the Current Bid, which is $7.00. Therefore her bid must be at least $7.50. Well, she enters a bid of $10.01; thinking that many people bid with rounded-off Proxies and her extra penny just might do the trick. The bid is accepted.

(Now, the following takes place inside the eBay computer) Bob's Proxy looks at Carols Proxy bid and sees that he must bid at least one increment over this, if he can. Bob's Proxy has enough spending authority to enter enough .50 increments to counter Carol's Proxy bid. Bob's Proxy arrives at a bid of 10.51. Carol's Proxy looks at this bid, sees that Carol has only given him the ability to bid up to $10.01 and therefore Carol is out of the picture.:-(..... However, her penny changed the nice rounded, even increments.

The Current Bid now shows $10.51

Sniper comes along and wants to bid, again the eBay auctioneer tells him that he must bid at least one increment over 10.51. Sniper decides to enter a Proxy bid of $11.01. Again, he likes the oddball pennies.

(Ok, now the computers go to work, again) Bob's Proxy can only push the bid up to $11.00 and it might be over for poor old Bob, depending on the size of Sniper's Proxy. Sniper's Proxy must now better the $11.00, if it can. Internally, the computers look at increments differently and the rules are different. If the Proxy is capable of a full increment, the computer takes it. However, if the Proxy is still higher than $11.00, it takes all it can get, even if it is only a penny. In this case Sniper's Proxy had the necessary penny more and it is taken.

The Current Bid now shows $11.01

(Auction Ends)

I hope this ends the confusion by putting a face on Mr. Proxy. Bob had originally put in a Proxy bid of $11.00 and when the auction was over, the other guy won by only 1 cent over Bob's $11.00.

If Bob had a Proxy of $11.01, then he would have won, because his Proxy was earlier that the Sniper's $11.01 Proxy.

If the Sniper had put in a Proxy of $11.32, then the computer would have taken all it could get and the auction would have ended at $11.32.

If the Sniper would have put in a Proxy of $15.00, then the computer would have taken full incremental steps over the Current Bid and the auction would have ended at $11.51.

Moral of story?

"The Proxy with the most Moxie always wins"

Want to know about the art of sniping? Check out my school

Sniper School

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