why not just bid upfront your most reasonable price and scare the rest away.
Sniper bids from people with 0 (zero) feedback score scare sellers. I don't blame some people from pulling sales listings. However, a smart seller can write things in the product description to let people know that if he gets offered a decent amount elsewhere, he will close the sale, thus encouraging people to email a cash bid/private buy price n save fees etc.
ebay has no-one to blame but its self, selling fees on a pinny are insanity.