MAX BID i need this explained in really dumb terms

If someone is willing to pay 200. and you are willing to pay only 150, you will lose.
The idea is to put the very maximun you are willing to pay as your max bid. That is the price that if someone pays a 1.00 more, and wins; it will not hurt your feelings. You must decide just how much will you pay for that gizmo. Then enter it as your max AS bid. Then let the computers sort it out. You will pay only as much as is needed to win, but as in any auction, the HIGHEST BID WINS

"Shop" and My Snipes

In simple terms - AS bids in the same way that you do. So think of the max amount you want to go up to and create the snipe.

Then, at the appropriate time, AS will try to place that bid for you and eBay's Proxy Bid system takes over unless your snipe is below the current bid or next increment.

Top tips
1. read the AS FAQs
2. read eBay's Help on Proxy Bids

Good luck

R2