Don't you just hate it when....

.....you spot something you've been looking for on the bay, negotiate a Buy It Now price, but get called away for a meeting so some other lucky fellow can snap it up on your behalf.

Oh well, the search for an Eclipse Red Ring at a reasonable price goes on.

Bad luck there. You have to compete with serial collectors and idiots on Ebay. I don't bother these days.

Don't get me started on Ebay.
I can't compete with the snipers.
I've lost too many auctions in the last 20 seconds to snipers.
ugh. forget it. go to an antique store or a yard sale.

If you set your bid to the maximum price you're willing to pay, then you will never get "sniped".