Sure, you can try to get closer but every second under five risks eBay not registering your bid in time. But think about it: supposing you had successfully entered your snipe with only *one* second left? What difference would it have made in the outcome of the auction? You still would've won, right? All of which supports what I've been saying all along -- bidding your maximum amount the first time, every time will win more snipes than cutting your bid closer to auction end than the other guy.