I can recall my indignation the first few times I was sniped. I was outraged -- sniping was unfair! That item was *mine* and some faceless sniper stole it from me! Then I realized that a sniper can't take something away from me if my bid is higher at the end of the auction. Those who decry snipers in eBay's chat room haven't got the good sense God gave a goose. No item is theirs until they buy it. Instead of chintzing around seeing how low they can go and still win the auction (a bidding skill I have never mastered), they're not bidding their maximum amount -- or if they are then it's too low. The fact of the matter is that a sniper always pays more than anybody else in order to win. That should be pointed out to those bozos.