Auction Sniping

What Does Auction Sniping Mean?

Auction sniping is a technique where a user in a timed online auction waits until the time limit is nearly expired before entering a bid. The other participants in the auction do not have enough time to enter a counterbid, allowing the sniper to win the auction. A sniper may enter the bids manually or use a software package to do so.

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Auction sniping may also be known as bid sniping.

Techopedia Explains Auction Sniping

Auction sniping is a legitimate way to get an item without engaging in a bidding war, but it does cause hard feelings among the other bidders. Online auction sites have taken some steps to minimize the prevalence of sniping, including requiring a CAPTCHA before entering a bid and adding a “buy now” button for bidders who are willing to forgo the auction process to leave with the item.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…