Pete, you said "I still don't know how someone outbid me by one measly cent, four days after my high bid was placed. (no it wasn't a continuous bid, I was high bidder for four days)"

It was a coincidence. You and the sniper both saw the same value to the item.....
Opening bid: $4.99
Your max bid (and the only bid): $15.00

I come along and click on the auction. I see a price of $4.99, and I see that one bid has been placed.

The minimum bid I can place is $5.49 ($4.99 that is SHOWING + .50 bid increment). I decide to bid (or snipe bid) $15.01 (meaning I think it's worth $15, and I add the .01 just in case the previous bidder bid $15 even).

The pro×y bidder program kicks in and posts your $15 maximum, which is beat by my $15.01.

Auction over.

If your initial bid had been $15.02, you would have won the auction by a penny.

If the sniper had bid $14.01, you would have won with a bid of $14.51. (His max + .50)

If the sniper had bid $16.01, he would have won with a bid of $15.50. (Your max + .50)

Happy Sniping!!

p.s. the "I" was for example only...I didn't really bid (or snipe) against you!