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Bid Increments and eBay Making You Bid Against Yourself
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Can someone explain to me why, on several occasions, the system increases my current bid when I am the high bidder after raising my maximum bid? For example, I was the current high bidder on an item at $12.55. The next bid increment requires a bid of at least $13.05. A few minutes before the auction ends I increase my maximum bid to $13.06. Upon doing so, the current bid (mine) increases to $12.71. ...a random $0.16. Based on the bid history there are no bids higher than either of my most recent bids. In some cases, I have been the only person bidding on the item. I both examples, eBay is forcing an increase in the bid amount and thus, I'm essentially bidding against myself. I complained to eBay a few weeks ago and the agent tried to explain it away as caused by the bid increment, but that makes no sense to me. Why is this happening?
Thanks for your thoughts.
bkerea66
OP3 months agoIn this example, I am the high bidder at $3.02 on May 29th. If no one bids $3.27 or more, I will win the auction. On 6/1 I decide to put a cushion on my bid in case someone bids $3.27 ($.25 bid increment). It makes no sense to me that the price of the item should increase when I do this when I am already the high bidder.
eburtonlab
Mentor3 months agoThe next highest bid is also $3.02, so when you bid again, the current bid amount becomes one bid increment ($0.25) above the second highest bidder's bid, which would be $3.27.
You are bidding against the second-highest bidder, not against yourself.
bkerea66
OP3 months agoStill don't understand. I bid my $3.02 before the other bidder so I am no longer bidding against him. I will only be bidding against him if he bids again. The fact that he bid $3.02 after I did doesn't mean it's a tie or that he somewhat is still in the running. How can I be bidding against someone else who hasn't submitted a higher bid. or has continued to bid. He is inactive in his bidding. Seems more like a money grab by eBay.
eburtonlab
Mentor3 months ago@bkerea66
I bid my $3.02 before the other bidder so I am no longer bidding against him.
You are always bidding against the next highest bidder, if there is one.
The fact that he bid $3.02 after I did doesn't mean it's a tie
When two bidders bid the same amount, that is a tie.
How can I be bidding against someone else who hasn't submitted a higher bid. or has continued to bid. He is inactive in his bidding.
There is no such thing as "inactive bidding". Any time you bid within an increment over the next highest bidder's bid, the bid amount is raised to your maximum bid amount. If you bid more than that, the bid amount becomes exactly one bid increment over the next highest bidder's bid amount.
You bid exactly one increment above the next highest bidder's bid amount, and there were no further bids, so you won and paid one bid increment above the next highest bidder's maximum bid.
bkerea66
OP3 months agoI appreciate your willingness to discuss. I'll part ways with this observation. I've been buying and selling on eBay for over 20 years and I honestly have never noticed this until recently. I'm old so probably Almostheimers! There are no ties on eBay as there is always a high bidder and a winner, even if someone else bids the same amount. Timing is everything in that regard. Regardless, lesson learned and I'll think twice about increasing my bid (just to be sure) in situations like this. Thanks.
eburtonlab
Mentor3 months agoYou are welcome.
And you are correct that in the case that two bidders bid the same amount, the earlier bidder is considered the winner.
It is my understanding that at least at one point on eBay when two bidders bid the same amount, it was possible for the earlier bidder to bid again, raising the high bid maximum without affecting the current bid amount. But apparently eBay changed things a while back, and that no longer appears to be the case since then.
eburtonlab
Mentor4 months agoYou are not bidding against yourself; you are bidding against the next highest bidder (or the reserve if there is a reserve).
Raising your high bid can increase the current bid amount if there is another bid within an increment of your current bid amount.
The current showing bid amount will be one bid increment above the second highest bidder's maximum bid amount or up to the high bidder's maximum bid amount, whichever is less.