Mrs. M - I don't think we're talking about the same thing.
Sure, I've won lots of things at 7 or 8 seconds, if my max price (bid limit) was the highest.
What I'm talikng about is a "bidding war" where the price is going up and up just before the end of auction - and it's a matter of luck who's on top at the exact time the auction ends.
I guess I'll just have to find another way of dealing with this rather special set of circumstances.