In response to the problems with the Ebay beecon / snippet -

I can implement (i.e. add the code and run) the snippet but the output I get in the widget does not match what display fields you have in the example screenshot you posted with the instructions on how to build it. What I see is the title of the listing and then underneath where the field says "ID:" I also get a repeat of the title, where I expect to see the item number. Underneath this, I expect to see the time left for bidding etc but I don't see any of that.

So I don't think this is a 'timer' issue as you understand it - I am just not returning the field data in the widget that I expect to.

My reference to 'optifying' the layout (if that's even a word?) is because when the Ebay widget appears, the listing title dissappears from the right of the page, meaning the length is too short in the default value methinks.

I hope that makes better sense.