Best strategy is to decide the most that you, personally, are willing to pay. Then either yourself or using eSnipe - Bid on eBay Automatically place that maximum bid within the last 6 seconds of the auction. I have done this both ways. If it is something I absolutely don't want to miss, and/or if I know I won't be able to bid right at the end, then I use esnipe. If your maximum is higher than others', you will win. Otherwise, not. But in either case you will have the best chance of taking the auction at a price you like, and you definitely won't pay more than you have to or want to. esnipe also protects you from a glitch on your computer like a temporary loss of internet connection or some other mishap that could prevent you from getting that last second bid in. Bidding any earlier just invites others to try to overbid you. Most bidders are complacent and are taken unawares by your sniping bid. It ain't pretty, but it is the most effective way to win an ebay auction.