Archie,

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that eBay does not always show you the highest bid, just the winning bid. For example. Someone has bid $10.00 on an item. I bid $15.00. The high bid will show $10.50, because the increment is 50 cents. If I win at $10.50 you will never know I bid $15.00.

A second example. Same as the first, except another bid was placed after my bid for $14.95. I win the auction at $15.00 and it appears that I only bid a a nickle more than the other bidder, but that is not the case.

I learned to snipe by being out sniped in the beginning. But I have learned since then. I have also lost many auctions by not getting my bids in on time. The best policy is to bid what you are willing to pay earlier enough to make sure the bid gets in.