If people put in their maximum, the result is the same. The problem is
that
many put in something less than their maximum until compelled to move up
because of the spirit of competition. Sniping takes advantage of these
initially conservative bidders by eliminating that sense of competition.
It also cheats the seller out of the maximum bid. If people just put in
their maximum bid in the first place, sniping would die away and sellers
would get their fair price.

I'm not terribly active on eBay as a bidder, but I do watch at least 5-10
auctions a week. It has been my observation that the majority of the
auctions I watch are won by bids posted in the last 15-20 seconds of the
auction. When I bid, entering the max bid has been successful only when I
enter this max no sooner than the last minute (or less) of the auction. Any
sooner, and I don't win. If that makes me a sniper, then so be it. Like
Jay, I was frustrated by bidding and constantly being beat out in the last
few minutes.

And comment and questions from quoted text...

#1 Putting in your maximum bid, especially more than a few minutes before
the end of the auction allows 'nibblers' to conveniently sit and run up the
bidding until they reach your max. These nibblers MAY be legit bidders, or
shills for the seller. No way to tell.

#2 How does sniping "cheat the seller out of the maximum bid"? Isn't the
winning bid at the end of the auction the MAXIMUM bid?

#3 "If people just put in their maximum bid in the first place, sniping
would die away and sellers would get their fair price." Please illustrate
just how this eliminates sniping. Seems to me that the earlier you enter
you max bid, the MORE it encourages nibbling AND sniping. Fair price? See
#2 aboove/

Thanks,
Gary K.