So I understand completely

You should set up your AS bid with the maximum amount you want to pay for an item, and program the bid to be entered close to the end of the auction...not closer than 3 seconds is recommended. I use 8 seconds. Then let it ride. You don't have to do anything else. You certainly don't want to place a bid on eBay in advance of your AS bid, since that tips your hand and shows other bidders that you're competing. The whole idea is to quietly sneak up and drop a bid into an auction with so little time remaining in the auction that nobody has a chance to enter a competing bid.

Now I understand, thank you for your explanation. I like the idea of sneaking up at the last minute and winning the item. I have lost many items in the last seconds, and could never figure out how that was done. Now I know, and can do my own last second winning. Thanks again.

I am a newbie and am a little confused. I put in a snipe on item (#1357758135) and was outbid at the last second, but not by the $10 bid increment. That is, my snipe was $575.01 and the winning bid was $575.25. What gives? Thanks.

Although the winning bid was only marginally higher than your snipe amount, it was placed earlier and therefore remained high bid even after your snipe. Bid increments don't matter under those circumstances. Better luck next time; you seem to have the knack of gauging your opposition's bid down pat.

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I get it now. Onward and upward!