Then there was the strike seller who decided that he would end auctions early, if he felt like it, so people couldn't bid during the last hours.

I've seen auctions that said, if no reasonable bids are placed by the last day, I'll cancel al bids and remove the auction.

All of this to encourage people to bid like real auctions.

When I see these, I just don't bid, because it's too much playing games. No I don't usually snipe bid, I just bid my Max. and let it go. I've been outbid by 50c on about a dozen auctions this week. Who cares, I bid my highest and someone else bid more than I'm willing to pay.

Meanwhile the TRUE 5 Minute rule would be a great addition to eBay. If someone bids in the last five minutes, the auction is extended for 5 minutes.

So if someone snipes in the last seconds, the auction is extended for another five minutes.

1) It ends snipe programs from being effective in most cases.
2) If people are bidding live they can continue to do this for hours. That's if a couple of people get into a bidding war.
3) Sellers get the best bid, instead of the highest LOW bid at the last seconds. Which is what eBay is now.

Someone who opens an auction site that has the five minute rule will be the first to take a real chunk out of eBays market. (Jackpot, are you reading this?)