[McLovin]

If you are waiting for 4-5 seconds until the end, an auction sniper won't help you. In fact, if you are at your computer and can bid at the end of the auction, an auction sniper is completely useless and unnecessary.

The reason you are losing is . . . wait for it . . . you aren't bidding high enough.

Here's how it works:

(1) Say an object is at $10. There are two bidders, you and another guy (Bidder X).

(2) With 10 minutes left, Bidder X put in his maximum bid of $20, and goes out to lunch.

(3) The object was at $10. He bid $20, but his bid will only show as $11.00 - the next higher increment. It will NOT show as $20.

(4) With 1 second left, you bid $15 (either manually, or through a sniper site, it makes no difference).

5) Immediately after placing your bid, you will be shown as being outbid, and Bidder X will win the auction at a price of $16.

That's the way it works. What you are obviously doing wrong is not really putting in your true maximum bid. If when you place your last second bid, you bid your true maximum that you want to pay, plus $1, you should never be disappointed when you "lose" the auction. Because the only way you will "lose" is if the other guy bid more than you were willing to pay.