EBAY

OK...Am I an idiot????? Let me try to explain. The item was $9.99 (by the current bidder) I placed a bid - it said to bid above $10.50 - fine, I bid $11.00. Then it tells me I must bid about $12. FIne, I bid $12.50...THEN it tells me I must bid above $13.50.....What the F???????? Am I doind something wrong? When I look at the bid history I only see 1 other bidder (and then me 3 times).....

Please help me!?!?!?!?!

I can explain. What you have encountered is proxy bidding. The first bidder placed a bid of say $25, even though the item was at $9.99. Ebay automatically increases his bid as other people come along.

Heres the official explanation from Ebay:

Proxy Bidding
Enter your maximum, then sit back and watch!

eBay uses a helpful bidding system (called proxy bidding) to make bidding on auctions more convenient and less time-consuming for buyers.

Here's how it works:


1. When you place a bid, you enter the maximum amount you'd be willing to pay for the item. Your maximum amount is kept confidential from other bidders and the seller.
2. The eBay system compares your bid to those of the other bidders.
3. The system places bids on your behalf, using only as much of your bid as is necessary to maintain your high bid position (or to meet the reserve price). The system will bid up to your maximum amount.
4. If another bidder has a higher maximum, you'll be outbid. BUT, if no other bidder has a higher maximum, you win the item. And you could pay significantly less than your maximum price!

This means you don't have to keep coming back to re-bid every time another bid is placed.

I get it (but don't like it ) Thanks girls!!!