Thank you for your view, region2. I'd hate to think you are employed by an AS competitor to put off AS customers, but your comment reads a bit like that. Blame the customer. Well, why not, if it makes you feel better.
I've used auction sniper to buy over a hundred ebay items, and its rate of failing (not placing a bid that was higher than the winning bid) has recently increased. This is sad, as I would like to be able to rely on Auction Sniper.