I use ezsniper and have been very pleased with it. You sign up, put a deposit in with a credit card, then enter the listing number and your high bid. If you lose, you don't have any charge, if you win it is a very small amount - depending on the total. I've used it for probably 4 years with no problem. Having your bid put in at the very last second is convenient as the other posters have said. When you put in your bid early, others can see it and outbid you. With the sniping, no one else knows what you are willing to pay. If the bidding doesn't go near your high price, you only pay the minimum bid above the last one. Hope that is clear! Judith