I have been known to do some sniping myself for things that I have really wanted and not wanted to pay too much for. I had been burned in auctions many times by a seller who doesn't understand the concept of proxy bidding and will place bids chipping away at your bid then out bid you. I would bid again and then get bid against again. Over the scheme of things a war begins where the price can run up to rediculous extremes. Therefore the practice of holding back a little and being there at the time that an auction ends to place a last minute (Snipping)bid is something that I have considered, as a buyer, to be a legitimate bidding strategy.

An auction the other day, for a piece of slot glass, was ending at 8am Chicago time. Knowing that I, probably, wouldn't be around at the time I went ahead and placed a serious bid, holding back a little, just in case I could be on line. I often would watch an item and bid last minute on some things. I didn't want to run the risk though of not getting a bid in at all so I placed the serious bid. I wasn't around when the auction closed and surprisingly did win without snipping. I was trying and planning to be there when the bidding closed. After being sniped myself, on many occasions, I have found that it is a necessity to BE THERE WHEN THE AUCTION ENDS, to, at least attempt to, defend your bid.

Normally, using dialup, I would insert the bid and get everything done till I had to just hit send. I would watch the time till 1 minute and hit send. Often I would get my bid in at about 20 seconds. I think I, once, had a bid enter at less than 10 seconds. Now with Broadband I can wait a little longer though. Your post though has stunned me that some buyers are using programs that can snipe at 3-5 seconds?

To that I ask, how does an average buyer have a chance at all.

The only advice I can think of that might help a little, is that I also bid odd amounts. If say I think $12 is a fair bid for an item, and if the bidding is in, say, .50 increments and the auction started at $4.95, then bids for $11.95 or $12.45 would be normal bids for the $12 range. I might bid something like $12.62 or something.

That will take the bidder who bids a dozen bids trying to outbid you and give them a little more difficult time finding your final. Maybe discourage him/her. A sniper might, and I have had this happen a few times. Snipe to the round numbers like $12.00 or $12.50 but since my bid is still more, can they get the second snipe bid in, in time? Doesn't always work because a snipper could just snipe at $15 and get me but it often does help a little to protect your bid. Every little bit helps.