a snipe program. Whether it's a program, a watch, or an early bid, it's STILL the HIGH bid that wins.

Most bidders don't have unlimited resources, so regardless of whether they use a snipe program or place their bids early in the auctions, they're still going to spend the same amount of dollars on ebay.

Granted, sellers might not like sniping as it tends to eliminate "bidding wars"....but why does everything have to revolve around the sellers? The seller decides what payment methods are acceptable, the seller decides whether to charge a "handling" fee, the seller decides how well the item will be packed, the seller decides whether he's willing to offer insurance, the seller decides when to ship, the seller can hold the item AND the check for up to 2-3 weeks.

The buyer decides whether the seller's terms are acceptable, the buyer decides how much and WHEN and HOW to bid.