"Also, I've noticed the use of "sniping tools" that make any honest attempt to win at a decent price impossible."

I'm curious as to why people think using sniping tools is dishonest. Even with sniping, the bottom line is the highest bid wins. I've attempted to snipe many auctions where I didn't win because my bid wasn't high enough. I suppose I drove up the final price on the winner but I bid what I was willing to pay.

What I have found is that sniping actually keeps the price lower than it might have gone with normal bidding. Instead of getting into a bidding war and driving up the price in an emotional frenzy, sniping allows a person to bid once, the maximum amount he is willing to pay, and leave the table without giving people the time to search out his maximum bid.

I didn't make the rules, Ebay did. I would agree that it must be maddening for a normal bidder to be constantly outbid by snipers but the fact is that highest bid wins and the normal bidder can still win if he bids a higher amount than anyone else. Snipers do have the advatage of the last bid though. The way I figure it, if you want that advantage, use a sniping tool, it's not against the rules and I personally don't see it as dishonest.
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Volvo Farmer:

20 Volvos '58-'91