Here's a few more points to ponder. A friend emailed me with another very significant point:

1) Since the result of snipper programs is that the auctions sell for less (nobody argues that point) it will also effect the reliability of all of the price guides!

2) That point made, I'll take it one step further. By now creating a lower selling price environment, don't we all suffer a significant loss in value of our collections?

Think about it for a moment. First off, I'm not trying to tell you all that we should pay more so our collections are worth more. That would be pretty assinine. But, when the selling prices for chips is reduced to way below accepted values for various chips, then it hurts us all. If chips are going for 50 percent of value on ebay, does that mean that is now the true value of the chips?
Of course I'm like everyone...I enjoy a bargin. I like getting good deals on chips. But it sure makes me wonder what's going to happen to the future of all chip values in our collections. Will the newer price guides come out with prices reflecting what has been going on in the Ebay world? Will we suddenly see our chip values slashed in half?? I have no answers, but i think we should all be worried.

Another point for the selling side is that we have all seen the prices for LE's and other various chips drop dramatically over the past 2 years. Co-incidently also about the same time the snipper programs have been out. If collectors, who travel around picking up chips for our collections, and perhaps a few extras to put on ebay to offset our collecting cost, no longer can break even on doing the ebay sales then we will stop. IF IT DOESNT PAY, WE JUST WONT DO IT. i KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY STOPPED. Could this be a reason that chippers are jacking up the prices of shipping to silly amounts? I just won a few auctions where the shipping is $2.00 for the first chip and $1.00 for each additional chip. The shipping is a rip-off, but i wanted the chips.

A solution? Yes...it's the 5 minute rule. If a bid is received within the last 5 minutes of the auction, the auction is extended for an additional 5 minutes. Maybe it should be within the last 3 minutes, I dont know...but you get the idea.