Would it be unwise
to develop an automatic eBay sniping program? As soon as an auction is about to end, it jumps in and wins like any other sniping utility. The difference is that it trawls through every item that is just about to end, rather than you choosing specific listings. it then plugs in Paypal and pays for the item.

So, the first you know of what was purchased is when lorry-loads of packages arrive on your doorstep.

This may need many a bank account with many Giga-quids in it to work.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Tue 12 May 2009, 17:07, 9 replies, latest was 17 years ago)

You could
put a stoploss position in so that it only purchases items of less than
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Tue 12 May 2009, 17:11, Reply)

With that option
I imagine it would only run for a fraction of a second unless you were willing to set it to a five figure sum.

I searched for as broad a search as possible. It returned such items as an Enid Blyton book, tickets to a Specials gig, a ride-on lawnmower, some fugly jewellery, a pair of Gucci shoes and the windscreen from a 1989 Mitubishi Shogun.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Tue 12 May 2009, 17:22, Reply)

Not unwise...
But it would make you incredibly unpopular.

You could always make it very specific, so it would only bid for one item at a time!
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 12 May 2009, 17:12, Reply)

Imagine
Your feedback score. Though a feedback generator would need to be built in.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Tue 12 May 2009, 17:23, Reply)

did you
read this on XKCD perchance?
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Tue 12 May 2009, 17:33, Reply)

My first thought
xkcd.com/576/
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Tue 12 May 2009, 18:20, Reply)

bugger
No, I'd not seen that. but no one will believe me now.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Tue 12 May 2009, 19:49, Reply)

It does seem unlikely.
But stranger things have happened.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Tue 12 May 2009, 20:27, Reply)

I think this is an excellent idea
And thank you for reminding me that I had to make a purchase on Ebay - which I have now done.

I am now the happy owner of a lovely black net underskirt (new, not secondhand).

Ta.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 12 May 2009, 18:08, Reply)