So I spend hours and hours scouring ebay every week and I reckon in the last 12 - 18 months more and more buy it now/best offer auctions are coming up, to the point now where items that go to auction are in a minority. I am referring to Transformer items here.
This is more evident once you get into MIB/MISB and big ticket items. Also, and I think I read this on a blog somewhere, it seems that certain sellers Worldwide have cornered the market on certain awesome G1 boxed stuff and therefore control the prices and we have seen these types of things artificially go up.
I rarely see items that I am after go to auction.
I guess a of way to combat this is to go for the best offer option if available. Honestly I have been very surprised with some of the accepted offers or well priced counteroffers that I have received compared to their list price. So I encourage forum members to put in a cheap price because you never know your luck, you get three goes at it, so why not.
I have noticed that a lot of these listed items can sit at the same price for months and even waiting for it to be relisted doesn't mean the price will come down. I have even seen prices go up after no one buys it!!

Just food for thought