Hi There,
Your lead time of 3 seconds is cutting it pretty fine, so AS (Auction Sniper) is adjusting your lead time to ensure your bids get placed. While the majority of your bids will get through with 3 second lead times, if AS detects ebay's response time is lagging - it will adjust your lead time accordingly.
Item 3289002312 - although you were beaten by another sniper (manual or using software), it looks like they may have beaten you even if your bid had gone it at 3 seconds as planned. Their winning amount of $21.56 was higher than your maximum and I doubt that bid was retialitory to your snipe.
Item 3289081842 - the winner of that auction, may very well have retaliated to your snipe.
My advice for using AS is this.....ALWAYS decide what the MAX you are willing to pay for an item and place a snipe for that amount (Make it an odd amount like $20.56 not $20). You need to find the magic amount, so that when you lose you say "Oh well, I wouldnt pay anymore than that" and if you win you dont say "ARGH!!!! Why did I pay that much??".
I personally use a 5-8 second lead time, unless the item ends on the hour, quarter hour or half hour (then I use 15 seconds) or if the item ends prime time Sunday nite, then I would use 23 seconds.
Hope that Helps