1. Resist the temptation to place an immmediate bid or proxy bid on something the first time you see it. Instead place it on your watchlist or make a note of the auction number. Spend a little time to research your find and make sure its exactly what you want (or that there are not others available at a possibly lower starting bid). You make also want to check completed auctions of the same item to see what the closing price was.

2. Now is the time to decide if you really want the item, and decide as well the top price you're willing to pay.

3.Make a note of the closing time of the auction and prepare to be at your computer, online, and with the auction open about 5-10 minutes before the closing time.

4. Have your watch or a clock with a second hand handy. While keeping the auction in question open in one window, open a second window to exactly the same page. In your first browser window enter your maximum bid and click the submit button. This will bring you to the confirmation page with your bid displayed. Do not confirm the bid yet!

5. In your second browser window press the refresh on you computer to continually update the auction clock time. Continue doing this until about 60 seconds remain.

6. Now, using your watch or clock, count down 50 seconds until there are only 10 seconds left in the auction. (you can check your timing midway through by pressing the reload button again)

7.With exactly 10 seconds left in the auction, press the confirm button in the open window of your first browser>

8. After about 15 seconds have passed reload the auction using the refresh button on your computer. If your sniping was successful you should be listed as the winning bidder.

The alternative to manually sniping is to use either sniping software or an online subscription sniping service. There are a number of software packages available, and many offer free trials. It is helpful to take advantage these trials to get a feel for how the software works. You will also find a few auction sites, in an effort to prevent software sniping, will automatically extend an auction that has late bids. Usually the extension is for a few minutes or so when bids are placed within the last few minutes of an auction. While this may prevent some automated sniping software from doing its job, the same basic rules apply for manual bid sniping.