Not all payments are automatic. They are only so if you are required to (and do by clicking the button to submit the bid/offer under the consent language on the "Review your [bid/offer]" screen) pre-authorize the payment if you win/seller accepts. In other situations (Buy It Now, accept an offer from a seller) you are taken to Checkout when you go to buy, or you can commit to buy and pay later (or Add to Cart and pay from the Cart).
You can keep looking at other sellers' items until you don't get that screen.
You can buy at the Buy It Now price.
My understanding is that gift cards can be pre-authorized when you make an offer (look at the screen that comes up when you click to change the payment method) but not when you place a bid.
