Automated programs

[lancerlacediana]

Hello-  Maybe I'm late to the party, but I have been screwed out of three items just this week due to an automated or automatic program that has outbid me at the last possible seconds in an auction.  I try to use odd cent totals to try and make it more difficult for someone to outbid, it hardly ever works.  But, I just lost an auction that first started to say I was the high bidder, then in literally ONE second it changed to outbid, and I had used $0.46, the winner used $0.47.  It is just not possible for someone to do this with only 3 seconds left.  I do not think this is fair at all.  While someone is using an automatic program which only bids a penny over you they have literally no chance of losing.  How is this allowed to go on?  I am so upset about this.  Thanks.