If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.....
I've sniped, been sniped, etc. I personally take it as part of the game. I really enjoy eBay (feedback of 736 and growing) as I have been able to find stuff that I could never seem to locate otherwise, for considerably cheaper than I would have thought that it would go for. Sometimes it takes a considerable amount of watching and bidding to finally get the part at the price you want to pay. It's taken as long as 6 months and dozens of auctions before I've gotten the part/item that I wanted at the price I wanted to pay. Most wouldn't put that much effort into it, but I rather enjoy it.
Keep checking eBay, your manuals will show up again...and again...and again. You're bound to win one of those auctions.