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Help >Bidding
You are able to place a bid on items which are in an Auction format, or hybrid Auction-InstantBuy format.
Where there is a "Bid Now" or "Place Bid", you can place a bid.
Placing a bid
The bid that you place must be the same or more than the minimum required amount. The minimum required amount is indicated next to the text box where you type your bid amount. Type your bid in, using the standard dollars and cents format, without the dollar ($) sign. For example, if you wanted to place a bid of twelve dollars and five cents, enter 12.5 into the box. Then press ENTER. You will be presented with a confirmation of the amount you entered. If it is not the amount you intended, press the Back button on your web browser and re-enter your bid. Once you confirm your bid, it will be recorded in the bid history for the item.
How Bidding Works
The bidding system works on the priciple of only bidding up to your maximum amount. That is, the system will only use as much of your bid as necessary to out-bid another member. If another member has placed a bid which is lower than yours, your bid will only be increased to the next increment above the other member's bid, or your maximum bid, whichever is lower. Conversely, if another member has placed a higher maximum bid than yours, your bid will be increased to your maximum amount, and the other member will have their bid set to the next increment above your bid, or their maximum, whichever is lower.
Thus, your maximum bid remains hidden to everyone until you become outbid. Note that if two identical bids are placed, the earlier bid will take precedence.
If you are the current high bidder, you can bid again to place higher a bid - thus increasing the maximum amount you are willing to pay. Doing so will result in multiple, consecutive bids being recorded, however all of those bids will not compete with each other - they will all stay at the next increment required to keep you winning, without disclosing your maximum bid.
Placing a bid
The bid that you place must be the same or more than the minimum required amount. The minimum required amount is indicated next to the text box where you type your bid amount. Type your bid in, using the standard dollars and cents format, without the dollar ($) sign. For example, if you wanted to place a bid of twelve dollars and five cents, enter 12.5 into the box. Then press ENTER. You will be presented with a confirmation of the amount you entered. If it is not the amount you intended, press the Back button on your web browser and re-enter your bid. Once you confirm your bid, it will be recorded in the bid history for the item.
How Bidding Works
The bidding system works on the priciple of only bidding up to your maximum amount. That is, the system will only use as much of your bid as necessary to out-bid another member. If another member has placed a bid which is lower than yours, your bid will only be increased to the next increment above the other member's bid, or your maximum bid, whichever is lower. Conversely, if another member has placed a higher maximum bid than yours, your bid will be increased to your maximum amount, and the other member will have their bid set to the next increment above your bid, or their maximum, whichever is lower.
Thus, your maximum bid remains hidden to everyone until you become outbid. Note that if two identical bids are placed, the earlier bid will take precedence.
If you are the current high bidder, you can bid again to place higher a bid - thus increasing the maximum amount you are willing to pay. Doing so will result in multiple, consecutive bids being recorded, however all of those bids will not compete with each other - they will all stay at the next increment required to keep you winning, without disclosing your maximum bid.