I used to get pissed when people would outbid me by sniping. And yes, it was always within $1.00 of my max if not even less.
And it was on rare stuff that I'd actually bid my all on.
So I started manually sniping.
I use Auction Sniper now. I just wish your lead time could be less than 3 seconds prior to the close. I get outsniped once in awhile.