Auction snipering is gaining popularity at online auctions with companies now offering snipering services.

Snipering is the process of watching an auction and waiting for the very last minute to place a bid. Companies are now offering services that are synchronised with the online auction centres clock and tied to computer systems that at the very last possible moment place the unexpected bid usually the winning one.

This can be a downside for sellers as they are not part of the bidding prior to the auctions close time.

Some of the auction sniping sites charge a monthly fee and for as little as ten dollars you can get a months sniping. Some pogramming savy bidders have also coded there own programs to run on their home systems to take care of the sniping. This also has another benefit that you dont have to be sitting around waiting and watching.

Some online auction centres are curving this by a policy of last minute bids extending the auction giving the opposing bidder an opportunity to counter bid.

Other systems being discussed are a 'sealed bid option' where the bidder can lodge in advance there maximum bid which remains unknown to the rest of the world.

Still early days for this technique and im sure it will bring on change.