Well, an inflated price is to the seller's advantage and if the buyer has not done his/her homework and pays over the odds for something they could have picked up for half the price at K-Mart, that's their problem.

I think the early bidders are new to Ebay, everyone knows the best way to win something is hit 'em with your bids in the last few seconds.

Of course, if you bid early and bid a little more than anyone else is prepared to pay, then nobody else bids and the item is yours.

So I guess it depends on the item and it's desirability.