Quote from def:
If you're tired of the specialist pennying you, then why not add two cents to the order instead of one or actually lift the offer - which in most of the major stocks have spreads < 5 cents. If you're not a scalper, you're basically stating that you'd rather pay up 5 cents than have any chance of getting a better price under current conditions. I also don't think the specialist is necessarily the one diming you. It might be someone else at your firm or the thousands of other traders scalping the same stock.
i could be wrong but when i short a stock at .20 and then put my bid at .05 and the specialist brings it down and prints at .06 (never showing a .06 bid) and then takes the stock right back up to .20 my guess is he was the buyer. i could be wrong but it happens all the time. if i took your advice and put my bid at .08 he would just pick off .09. as far as the spread goes i don't really care about paying up 5 cents...but increments don't determine the actual spread. i've seen 50 cent spreads even with penny increments. if i want .00 or .05 or .10 that's what i will buy or sell. i care more about the direction of the stock. i would just rather have 20 price points per dollar than 100.