Folks,

I’ve just completed a program (actually a script) to automatically bid on cigars for me. It’s far from being a complete GUI program and may never become one. I would like to see if there is interest in the ability to have something bid on smokes for you. This would require a constant connection to the Internet and your computer would have to remain on when your bid was scheduled to run.

I’m not looking to charge for this, but if you decide to use it I would appreciate you sending me some smokes for the program.

The current form of this requires a Win32 machine (Win9X and ME will not work)

Linux and MAC OSX+ versions might be fairly easy but would definitely require some serious smoke in hand before starting those versions.

I’m a IT guy that recently got the cigar bug and the wife is giving me grief on how much I’m spending on the new hobby/habit. So unless Cigars International gives me a part-time job at their outlet store near me, I’m gonna have to figure out a way to get cheap/free smoke.

Reply to this thread with your email address and I will work up a set of instructions on how to use this in its current form. This is a very complicated set of procedures and supporting free software that will have to be loaded on your machine, so if your not very proficient at computers and following instructions then wait for my next rev of the software.

~Mike

What advantage does this offer over the auto bid feature included on every auction?

I smell fish, hey trade you a cigar for some fresh fish...

None if your willing to pay more then everyone else. The idea is to not bid until the last moment in hopes steal it from people that are either not using auto bid or have a low auto bid in place.

If this software gets widly used prices likely will not fall (they might go higher) but you would not have to baby sit. Just figure out what you willing to pay and "set it and forget it".

I'm basically bottom feeding on CBid anyway. I'm new to the cigar world and want to try as many cigars without it costing me my marriage.

marriage is way over rated, just think of all the thing's you can do with your own money...

If you autobid the max you are willing to pay, you won't pay "too much" The auctions don't end until 5 min. AFTER the last bid, so if you snipe at -1 min. the people you are bidding against STILL have the time to respond. The only time I snipe at that late a time, is when I have two or more items I want, and want the earlier one worse, so I bid on that, if I get outbid, then I can still bid on one of the others. If I bid on each of them without respect to the others, I'd go bankrupt!

Your right a true snipe is impossible on CBid, which is fine with me. If someone is willing to stay up late and monitor their bids manually and out bid me then good for them. I unfortunately can not donate that kind of time to bidding on cigars. This is the motivation for writing this script.

Responding to this thread is going to take longer then writing the code in the first place.

Don't know if you'll get much feedback on this. It sounds like a neat idea, but I think the autobid feature already covers issues like this. I see more people using the autobid than the users that just post a one time bid price.

Now if you could write a program that would stop the annoying telemarketers from calling my house, or to stop all the credit card applications from being mailed to my house, or to reduce the amount of car sales ads bombarding me then I'd be interested. 😉 Good luck.

The bidding and sniping is big part of the auction fun for me.

I normally find better deals by bidding early. Iset the auto bid at the max price I'm willing to pay (usually the lowest price I ever paid, or lower). If I get it fine, I got a great deal. If not, Itry the same in a couple days. If I snipe, I have a tendancy too pay more.

"Your right a true snipe is impossible on CBid"

I Beg to Differ here...

I've either Sniped the bids or popped their Cherry into the overbid status on many a bids since I've been on this site...

I like running the bid up on folks that don't know how to bid.. kinda like playin poker ya know... and to sit back later and think about them making me #1 for the day LMAO!!!!

Gotta know when to hold'em.. know when to fold'em.. know when to walk away and know when to Run...

good try on your invention though...

Hog

Just curious (I'm also an IT guy). What language did you program this in?

I can't wait til 2 people use this program on the same 5 pack of 5 Vegas!!! Can you say Overbid???

dkeage

I don't know what to laugh at harder...

The coder that's trying to "beat the house" or the player that knows how to read his "cards"!

Either way I'm laughing!

puskarich,

I'm using Perl cuz I found nice module for Internet Exploder functions. I've also started a TCL version, but lost motivation. If you want to join in let me know. I can send you the script and instructions.

Email me @ mikesebayemail AT netscape dot net

What the...........................?

You need to give me all of your smokes because you obviously dont have time to smoke them.

:)

jeezy peezy!

Jeff

I am in no way a programmer and dont know how easy this would be, but what if it really did your work for you??

For example, let's say you choose your favorite brands, quantity (box or 5er), and then set your max price and max amount of bids to occur at the same time for each brand. Then it would automatically scour all the auctions and place your bids for you, and email you a report at the end of each day, hour, week, whatever.

Kinda like having someone bid for you after telling them exactly what you want.

-Josh