Joztamps, I make it a rule to put in my absolute maximum bid - my "real" maximum - as my snipe max bid.

I say to myself, "If this went for five dollars more, would you still have bid that amount?" If yes, then I haven't actually put down my maximum.

If someone outbids me, then they've won the item for a price I would not have been willing to pay.

Yes, I took on board what everyone said, and did that tonight.

Still got clobbered though, it went for considerably more than I wanted to pay.

Yes and no.