I buy on eBay occasionally. When I do, I don't even look at items unless they are about to close. The reason is that the price is unrealistic until it is about to close. How many times have you seen members post "..at FACE VALUE." Wait until the close and see if it holds true. If it is a good price near the close I will bid, the more I want it the closer I let it get to close. There was a chip I really wanted and I waited until the LAST second, hit the 'submit' and waited for the refresh. I missed, in disbelief I popped up the bid history. There were SIX of us wanting the same chip and bid in the last seconds. FIVE of us were sure surprised!! LOL Sniping can also kill you, when you wait 1/10 of a second TOO LONG! LOL Use whatever strategy you think works best for you to get the best price on an item, but remember when you fight the bear, sometimes the BEAR wins. You are not the only one who knows how to snipe, so don't get heartbroken of you miss out now and then. I don’t find many ‘got to have it’ bargains on ebay anymore.

Archie: You are right on the waiting a prescribed time after the last bid. I MAY BE MISTAKEN, or have two auctions confused BUT I think ebay STARTED OUT that way (did not last long). There was a closing time PST... or 5min after LAST BID.