[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='295123' date='Sep 30 2008, 09:03 AM']I always wait till the last second that way I don't get in a bidding war and therefore push the price up.[/quote]
This is why I enter my max bid early. Ebay bids for you up to your max, so if you were to do this, you'd still have to bid just as much in order to win, without the time to reflect upon what the item is really worth. I think a lot of people don't realise Ebay bids for you up to your max, as I've seen people bid 8 times in the last few minutes, being outbid by a pound each time by my earlier max. Only problem is it leaves you open to shill bidding, but I just bid the amount I want to spend, they can't shill it higher than that, the only second chance offer I've had was a ridiculous bargain anyway.
The last minute bidding war is where people spend silly money on Ebay, buying items for over their value as they get overexcited. Auction sniper seems especially pointless, If I have the same amount of money to spend on the item, I win because my bid is higher by the auction sniper fee, no matter how close to the last second you bid goes in, if you bid more than me, you win regardless of when you bid.