Wow! So you have registered. You have read the predescribed 'how to bid' ebay lesson. Don't follow it. Here is the insider's view: the ebay tutorial states: "bid your max"...eeek! Not a good strategy for the following reasons: if you put in your max bid, someone will inevitably outbid you. Why? well, thats the fun of auctions sites. Someone will always inch your bid up or outbid your bid. This behavior leads to increased biddng levels and in the end higher final sales. Although loved by sellers, it's not the best for bidders. You want the most you can get for the least amount of money.

The best strategy is to "watch" the item in question and bid in the last few hours. (See: How to Track Auctions or Bids) This will reduce the price of the item, via less bids, and will prevent you and others from entering into a bidding war and the ultimate hardship, buyer's remorse.

What is sniping? Sniping is, plain and simple, a bid placed at in very last seconds of an auction. It can really tick people off but is the best way to get what you want a the lowest possible dollar amount. Truly, sniping is an artform.