Lead time

Here.

So the answer is "seconds."

(Just mentioning it in case another new user has better luck than I did, and manages to bring this thread up in a search of the board.)

Thanks!

Might be helpful, but can't remember the question ever being asked before.

Hmm ... so then the answer is obvious? *shrug* I realize the fact that there's a whole community here indicates that there's a lot to discuss on the subject of sniping. But for those of us who haven't thought about it much, who are new to the concept of a third party entering a bid, and who just want to quickly join, add a snipe and then forget about it - it would help to know what increment the lead time is in.

Thanks again.

It would definitely prevent those that thought they were placing a 5-minute snipe from getting upset because the snipe is actually placed only 5 seconds before the auction ends. And, think what impact it would have on those that thought they were placing a 5-hour snipe, let alone a 5-day snipe.

Well ... when you put it like that!

Hey, even I knew that "hour" couldn't have been the right answer. (Hence the emoticon in my OP. There's no winking one, or that would have been my choice.)

Show off!

Isn't a "snipe" only seconds from the end of an auction by definition? If it occured minutes or hours earlier it would just be a "bid".