Originally Posted by Lenton58

Randy: By what you say, I am assuming that you must be referring to referring to sniping software. When I use the verb "snipe", I mean ... as in last minute/second bid dueling. Perhaps I am out of date.

I must add to my last post by saying this: in bidding or sniping duels, I have sometimes paid just a bit over what I predetermined the value of the item. But the one thing that puts me at abeyance is my aversion to gambling and risk. I can write off the extra $5 on what I think is a $50 item, especially if it costs more here in Nippon or is unavailable. But I will not get carried up into the stratosphere in a bidding war. And in my experience, not many people will. It seems to me that the winning bid is a chiseling affair amounting to incremental bids and beating the seconds to win. If someone enters with a fat wallet at the tail end, then he she wins — and I am just as happy to lose!