I assume you were very happy with your ashtray, so this doesn't apply, but we were kicking this around the other day and Archie pointed out that I was making a risky move.

Here's the scenario. Someone puts up a moderate Wisconsin chip. Lets say it's worth $20 tops. The auction closes at 4 PM on Sunday when I'll be miles from a computer. I really want it for my collection and I'm tired of being sniped by 50c for this chip... (at $10.50 because I'm trying to steal it myself)

So I make a bid of $100 so no matter what happens, I'm going to win. Sounds good. But what Archie pointed out is what if someone else is playing the same game and bids $99 so they won't be beat out? Suddenly I just bid $100 for a $20 chip! OUCH

What if someone just bids $50 so they won't be outbid? My Proxy bid just won the chip for $51.

I've given up that "trick" lol

I confess, I hate it when I get sniped, because I'm too cheap to bid higher. In fact, sometimes I've been very happy to be sniped, because I had already gone way too high for something.

My most favorite was when I read a description wrong and bid on the wrong model of an electronic unit. Thank God someone sniped me at the last minute and saved me. Funny part is the same thing was going for 1/3rd of the price. I guess they saw how stupid my bid was and figured I knew something. Why would someone bid triple the going rate for dozens of other eBay sales for the same item.. they have to know something!
(or be very stupid, which was my case that time)

Bidding way over to avoid a snipe, isn't a good solution.

This whole discussion has been very interesting. All of the points of view.

I've decide that if I don't like it I have two simple choices. 1) Get software and join the snipers 2) Bid higher. But no matter what, enough whining, it's just a fact of life, and whoever said Life Is Fair?

I may have a new motto for my auctions, "bid early, bid high, a sniper is watching this item..."