How bidding works
Short version: tell us the most you would pay, and we will try not to spend it.
You bid a maximum, not a price
When you bid, you are not offering that amount — you are telling us the most you are willing to go. We then bid on your behalf, one step at a time, only as much as is needed to keep you in front.
You almost never pay your maximum. You pay one increment above the next highest bidder.
An example
| What happens | Price shown | Who leads |
|---|---|---|
| Opens at $10.00 | $10.00 | — |
| Alice bids a $50.00 maximum | $10.00 | Alice |
| Bob bids a $30.00 maximum | $31.00 | Alice |
| Bob raises to $45.00 | $46.00 | Alice |
| Bob raises to $60.00 | $51.00 | Bob |
Notice Alice never paid $50, and Bob won at $51 rather than his $60 maximum. Nobody ever sees anybody else's maximum.
Bid increments
The step between bids rises with the price — a 5¢ step on a $900 item would be silly.
| Current price | Increment |
|---|---|
| Under $1 | $0.05 |
| $1 – $4.99 | $0.25 |
| $5 – $24.99 | $0.50 |
| $25 – $99.99 | $1.00 |
| $100 – $249.99 | $2.50 |
| $250 – $499.99 | $5.00 |
| $500 – $999.99 | $10.00 |
| $1,000 – $2,499.99 | $25.00 |
| $2,500 – $4,999.99 | $50.00 |
| $5,000 and above | $100.00 |
No sniping
If a bid arrives in the final 2 minutes, the auction is extended by the same amount. It keeps going until 2 minutes pass with no new bid.
This means an auction cannot be won by turning up one second before the end. Everyone gets a chance to respond, and you never lose to a script.
Reserve prices
Some auctions have a hidden reserve — the least we will accept. The page tells you whether it has been met, but never what it is. If bidding ends below it, the item does not sell and nobody is charged.
If you win
- You will get an email with a link to complete the purchase.
- Shipping is worked out then, once we know where it is going — the bid price is the item only.
- Payment is due within 3 days. After that the item is released and may be relisted.
- Payment is through PayPal, exactly like a normal order.
The rules
- You need an account with two-factor authentication set up before you can bid.
- Bids are binding. Please do not bid on something you are not prepared to buy.
- You can raise your own maximum at any time, but you cannot lower it or retract a bid.
- Auction items are sold as described — the same 30-day return policy applies, with return postage paid by you.