[Exhibitman]

I now always ask the seller to end early on something I really want. I make sure to mention that I am interested in the item and hope that if the seller doesn't want to end now but later changes his mind he will let me know. Worst they can do is say no.

This thread also points out the usefulness of placeholder bids to signal the seller that there is interest in the item. If I really want something and I don't ask for an early ending I make sure to open it with a bid and set a snipe for the end of the auction because when I am selling a card on Ebay and I have no bidders on the item I don't think twice about accepting an offer. If there are bids already and I want to take the offer, to paraphrase Bugs Bunny I'm likely to do it but I'll probably hate myself in the morning.