EvilBay, sniping, and feelings…

[Jodi]

I agree with Purplecat. I watch things I may be interested in, figure out how much I’d pay for it. If it goes over that amount before the end, I don’t bid. If it’s still within range at the end, I try to snipe it (or I talk myself out of spending money).

I got lucky with the Jade Scratching Dragon because it ended on Thanksgiving Day, and Windstone had put out a lot of special items. I thought people might be busy or decide they wanted one of the special items, so I tried for it. I did put a bid in before the end because I thought that I might miss the ending too, but it didn’t go up anywhere near my high bid.

Most of the time I get things because other people didn’t see them, or missed the ending of the auction. It’s just pure luck. But if I’d gotten sniped for the Jade Scratcher, I would have said, “Oh, well. I saved X amount of money. There will be another one.” There usually is, I’ve noticed. I was patient with my Male Kirin, and now I have one of them too. And I only paid $150 for it. If you just wait, there will be another one, I’m sure. And it will probably be cheaper, or in better condition.

Sorry you’re feeling bad, btw. I hope this helped. 🙂

[keschete]

The issue is we live in a world where things are valued at whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

When any of us engages in an auction, we must understand that the person who wants the item the most and has the money to pay for it, will get it.

It isn’t fair…I would love to go to a car Auction and buy my husband a 1970 GS Stage I Buick for 20k, but unfortunately…that will never happen.

The whole point is..in a fair market economy…things are worth what someone is willing to pay for them..

Good for Windstone…not so good for the Collector. I get frustrated when someone way out bids me on something I want….but I can’t begrudge them the fact that they are obviously willing to pay more for it than me.

I have been sniped plenty and I have sniped myself and try to just look at it the same way I look at life….sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t…..

And I set a limit in my mind about what I am willing to spend. If the auction goes to high, usually I will find a piece that is actually less when I troll through Ebay or buy or sell here on the forum.

Maybe if there is something you want…post it in flea market….I have found some of the best deals there and there is a straight up agreement with the two people.

The Flea Market is a great place and I have not had to resort to selling anything on Ebay! I get what I want and the buyer or seller gets what they want and everyone is happy.

I think the Flea Market is a much better place to do business than ebay.

Good Luck!

[Arlla]

It’s funny, last night I was thinking about this same subject…and I was thinking about disappointing DDVM on the female flame point griffin auction, because I knew she wanted it, and I was feeling lousy about it…and feeling lousy about crowing about winning her when I knew other people had wanted her and lost, but at the same time wanting Nambroth to know how very happy I was to get her…and anyway, I was thinking that I probably just shouldn’t post anything celebrating my ebay wins anymore, because it probably makes other people feel baddly. And tonight I see this, and it’s certainly relevant.

I am, by all accounts, one of the people you are angry at Kyrin – I am lucky enough to able to afford some of the special, expensive pieces, and I am a self confessed sniper on ebay. I’m not going to apologize, because I don’t feel I’ve done anything wrong in being lucky enough to afford the things I want to have, and I don’t feel that sniping is wrong either – I snipe with the highest bid I am willing to pay for something, and if it’s higher than the previous bids, I get it. If it’s lower, someone else gets it. If I were bidding against you, it would make no difference whether I sniped or not – my max bid would be the same. The only reason I snipe is because it helps keep the final price lower than it might be otherwise, as other people here have mentioned too, and I’m as much into getting a deal as anyone else.
Though, as for that – when it comes down to price, remember that Windstones are what they are because they are extremely beautiful and well made pieces of art. They come out of the factory expensive, and we all want to keep them that way – one, because it’s good for Melody and her business, and two because it keeps up the worth of the pieces that we have.

But anyhow, while I’m not going to apologize, I can say that I do sympathize….until just a few years ago, I was lucky if I could afford much more than ramen and macaroni. Windstones of any kind were definitely out of the question. I do know what it feels like to want and not get. It’s miserable.

So I sympathize. And I wish you better luck with ebay. I really do hope you manage to get the pieces you want.

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."
-J R R Tolkien

[Maria]

I’m going to congratulate you anyway, Arlla. I’m glad you got the Flame Point female, because that way she stays a pair with the FP male. Plus, since you got it, we’re likely to see pictures. 😆
But, if DDVM had won it, I’d of course have been happy for her too. I don’t see why people can’t be happy for other people’s good fortune, instead of feeling they lost something their never owned.

[Arlla]

Greater Basilisk wrote:

I’m going to congratulate you anyway, Arlla. I’m glad you got the Flame Point female, because that way she stays a pair with the FP male. Plus, since you got it, we’re likely to see pictures. 😆
But, if DDVM had won it, I’d of course have been happy for her too. I don’t see why people can’t be happy for other people’s good fortune, instead of feeling they lost something their never owned.

Thanks so much, GB! I feel the same way…And while I’m naturally sad and upset when I don’t win something I want, I AM happy for whenever it’s a forum member who gets it – it’s like it’s staying in the family! 🙂
But if it makes anyone feel better, the things I’ve been getting recently have gone on the credit card – we’re a bit in debt! – and soon I will probably drop off of ebay altogether! ;_;

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."
-J R R Tolkien

[Maria]

I take it you’re not going after that test paint griffin that’s up right now?

[Arlla]

Greater Basilisk wrote:

I take it you’re not going after that test paint griffin that’s up right now?

Nope, not me! But I am eyeing that ki-rin… 😉

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."
-J R R Tolkien

[Maria]

Good luck!

[Zelda]

I’ve never been above sniping on Ebay. It’s not like it’s illegal or anything! It’s a tactic that many MANY people employ to get what they want for the lowest bid price possible, and if I don’t do it then someone else will 🙂 In situations where special Windstone pieces are concerned, I think we can be happy in the fact that these pieces are going to dedicated collectors and friends here. Our appreciation for these pieces brings us together despite the sense of competition that bidding for an item might entail. Of course some people have the money for the big-ticket pieces, and most of us (like me!) simply don’t. That’s the way of the world! But what we all have in common is appreciation in spades for Windstone’s craftsmanship, and the fact that the factory is letting these unusual pieces and test paints go at all!

Trust me I’ve been burned plenty of times by snipers. But when I do actually win something, it makes me that much happier!

Forever seeking: Blackwatch the raffle Old Warrior, Jennifer Miller's pieces, and GB Baby unis!

[drag0nfeathers]

I feel the exact same way Arlla. That’s why I practically went into convulsions when you won the Flame Point Female. I was really happy for you because I know how much you wanted her =D Though I would have been happy for anyone who won her on the forum. You’re right, it’s like she would still be in the family! Though I have to admit to everyone…I was routing for her at the last few seconds at the auction! 😆

I admit, I won basically all my pieces by sniping also. I’m just not that good at it! hahaha! I’m always worried the computer will get stuck loading and I get the dreaded “bidding has ended for this item” across my screen. Then I am down a new Windstone AND a computer! So I usually get outsniped by someone faster then me 90 % of the time.

I will shout out loud though I am going to try and go balls to the wall to win the Gold Peacock Sunburst Test Paint if it happens to go up for auction. I would literally loose my house for that griffin! LOL! I’m really dying for one of Olympia’s Rising Spectrals too. I hope she does alot more of those! SQUEE!

Got a busted Windstone?
drag0nfeathersdesign@gmail.com
*OPEN for repairs*

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Indigo Rockfish + Flame Tabby Little Rock Dragons
Dragon Quail + Obsidian Frost Old Warriors
Betta Sun Dragon + Male Dragon
Dreamscape, Orion, Poison Dart, Fireberry, Spangler + Tigerberry Dragons

[Maria]

Have at the Spectrals while the gettin’s good, drag0n. Once I’ve recovered from the BVP OW, I0’m after them too. 😈

[Pamela]

Arlla wrote:

It’s funny, last night I was thinking about this same subject…and I was thinking about disappointing DDVM on the female flame point griffin auction, because I knew she wanted it, and I was feeling lousy about it….

Hey, Arlla, don’t feel bad on my account. You wanted her more than I did – I could have increased my final bid but since I just got the SK and have my eye on one or two of the things Windstone is selling now…actually, I would have felt bad if I won her since you really wanted the pair. It’s not as if I don’t have other things Nam painted 😉 I just figured if you hadn’t gotten to a computer that afternoon…really, I’m very happy for you. That said, if the chicks appear all’s fair in love and evilbay! 😈 😆

[Jennifer]

Food for thought! This is not aimed at anyone in particular.

The facts:

Sniping is not against any rules on eBay.
Hundreds of thousands of people snipe on eBay.
There is always someone out there with More Money Than You.

In regards to Windstone’s specific eBay listings:

The enthusiasm and bidding wars on eBay (and resulting high bids) are a huge part of why Windstone is still around today, and are a very important income for Windstone.
Part of the reason (NOT the only reason) Windstone makes bidder names anonymous on their auctions is to encourage bidding because you DON’T know who you are bidding against. If it became common practice to withhold bidding to help another member win, it could really hurt Windstone (I’ll leave it at that).

I am not privy to nor would I want to disclose the financial plans or business end of Windstone, but will say that fair competition and enthusiam for any Windstone piece- be it a Windstone official auction or an individual selling a piece- only helps keep Windstone alive and in business. 🙂

The opinion (mine at least):

I understand and sympathize with those that are unable to afford the pieces they want. That is the annoying and beautiful thing about free trade though- it is very frustrating to be unable to afford the things you want, but at the same time it is realistic to say that you shouldn’t able to afford everything you want. I want a small aircraft and a private instructor so that I can get a pilot’s license and have my own plane to fly but I know I cannot afford it. Frustrating? Yes. Realistic? Yes. And at the same time, I would not be angry with or harbor bad feelings toward a friend that COULD afford to do the thing I want the most.

We all come from different financial backgrounds. There are members of this forum that cannot realistically afford a hatching dragon… and there are members that can afford several Secret Keepers or high dollar pieces.

I have never seen anyone buy something just to be malicious to another. In fact I am often ASTOUNDED by the generosity I’ve seen on this forum.

Whenever you get collectors together, there are bound to be a little friction now and then as we are essentially a large group of people vying for a small group of collectible items.

Auctions are a very unique format where you see an item, decide how much it is worth to you, and then offer that amount. The person with the highest offer walks with the item.

We’ve always joked that “all is fair in Love and ebay”, but really, it’s true, and eBay is business. As someone that offers a service and product myself I have learned long ago never to mix friends and business.

I too feel a small sadness when I cannot get an item when the price skyrockets due to others having far deeper pockets than I. But I am also very ecstatic for my friends here, that walk away with those pieces. They worked hard for that money that allowed them to purchase an item they really wanted. Did they work harder than I do for my money? I really have no idea! And it shouldn’t matter. Instead of lingering on the sadness that I couldn’t get the piece, I push that energy into working harder in hopes that I can one day save up enough for that thing I cannot afford but want. 🙂

This is a good discussion guys- as long as no one gets nasty or points fingers I’ll leave it right open! 😀

Volunteer mod- I'm here to help! Email me for the best response: nambroth at gmail.com
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[wolflodge100]

Here is my 2 cents.
I agree with Nam, there will always be people with more money, faster sniping skills, ect. It is only human to be upset at losing anything we want. It is OK to be fustrated and hurt but get over it quickly because it only hurts you! I know ebay is factoring into keeping Windstone around. That is why I don’t begrudge them one bit for putting up these wonderful pieces and getting large amounts of money for them. I love the fact that they offer some limited editions of the pieces that can’t be production. It gives most people a chance to have something special. My biggest fear is that they will stop selling to stores and be direct sales only. That would be a tradgedy! So, I hope the ebay pieces continue to make good money even though I would LOVE to get one at a deal! 😆

[Arlla]

ddvm wrote:

Hey, Arlla, don’t feel bad on my account. You wanted her more than I did – I could have increased my final bid but since I just got the SK and have my eye on one or two of the things Windstone is selling now…actually, I would have felt bad if I won her since you really wanted the pair. It’s not as if I don’t have other things Nam painted 😉 I just figured if you hadn’t gotten to a computer that afternoon…really, I’m very happy for you. That said, if the chicks appear all’s fair in love and evilbay! 😈 😆

Thanks DDVM! 😀 And I know you’ll give me a good run for those chicks!! 😈

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom."
-J R R Tolkien

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