Hi KN_Fan,
I have yet to buy anything from "e-bay" but I have "bid" on several items (got out bid).
One thing comes to mind, last summer I was looking for a digital camera and I would always see it on e-bay, so I would bid and like you stated the prices were low (at the beginning) then as I would follow the "auction" in the final few hours the price goes up to the piont of almost retail. So unless you end up with a realy good deal it might be better , in the long run, to go to a store and buy it !!
O-BTW-- still looking for that camera, hahaha
Best of luck, I hope I have helped
jedi