Where can I find an affordable, custom programming company that
specializes in Ebay Interfacing, web based applications? (Auction
listing, bid sniping, image hosting, etc.) Preferably one that has
experience with applications that utilize Ebay's API. Also, I'm
looking for an actual programmer or programming company as an answer.
Not "Elance.com". I've tried Elance and I've had nothing but bad
experiences so far.

ch3713,

Here are a list of companies and private contractors I have found that
have experience in building custom eBay web applications:

HammerTap
http://www.hammertap.com
"We create custom Windows desktop and web-based applications, and
specialize in applications that interact with the internet, including
custom eBay software and auction management tools."

Silanta Technologies
http://www.silanta.com/
"Customer eBay integration modules for those volume eBay merchants in
need of a more efficient mechanism for uploading and managing their
eBay auctions, allowing for greatly increased economies of scale."

Slingshot Solutions
http://www.slingshotsolutions.com/
"Slingshot Solutions delivers developed software, services, and custom
solutions to fit a broad range of client needs...fully integrated with
eBay servers (through the eBay API), allowing for faster, more
efficient and more secure transaction and data processing."

CL & SS Partners
http://www.classpartners.com/
"Let CL&SS Partners develop the program of your dreams, whether it's a
custom front-end for your database, or a stand alone
application...[developed]eBOT Direct, a fast loading, easy to navigate
site which could manage all of the items this company submits to Ebay,
as well as offering a separate 'store front'"

Jesse B. Bentz
http://www.jbentz.com/
"I provide clients with custom software solutions for business
processes on the web...From 1999-2002, I served as head of software
(Perl) and database (MySQL) development for Prosperpoint.com, an
auction services company providing tools and services to help eBay
sellers sell more effectively...As a major player in the auction
services industry, Prosperpoint gained the opportunity to become an
eBay developer, and thereby gain access to eBay's functionality
through the eBay API (application programming interface), rather than
programmatically emulating a web browser and parsing the desired
information out of the HTML content. To re-architect the system and
integrate the new functionality, I implemented the new code to
communicate with eBay via XML. eBay approved our application, and
Prosperpoint became a certified eBay developer. As a result, the
company’s site is now much more robust and dependable in its
interactions with eBay."

I hope one of these services can meet your needs.

Google search terms used:
develop eBay custom programming
"eBay API" "custom"
"custom eBay"
company custom "online auction" "applications" "eBay API"
company custom "online auction" "custom applications" eBay
company custom "online auction" applications

Jesse Bentz is exactly what I'm looking for... The others can't really
help me. Cl & SS is close though...

If you could find any others like Jesse Bentz I would be grateful.

Thanks,
Chris