If that is you true maximum, then why not bid it at the opening of the auction instead of waiting till the last moment? How would it protect you from anything other than another legitamate bidder getting a chance to big again? I'm confused. Are you saying that sellers jack up their price by trying to guess what the bidders max bid is? Wouldn't they be busy trying to jack up the price for the current high bigger anyway? How much safer are you by bidding at the last second?

I kind of getting what you mean - it is a way of protecting yourself from shady sellers.... but it is the other bidders that get screwed too.... oh well, i don't use eBay much anymore for these exact reasons.