How did max bid suddenly become winning bid?

[316dountoothers]

I sure could use some help understanding how my max bid became the winning bid when no one bid up to it?

It looks like the second highest bid was mine at about $37 and then bang, I beat my own bid and, now pay $50. 

Item number:

153357235870

[eburtonlab]

@316dountoothers 

Was this a Reserve auction? That bid history makes sense if there was a $50 reserve price.

[wpt05]

@316dountoothers 

The picture is too small.  I can't see anything.  

[316dountoothers]

Honestly I don't know as I had several auctions going. But if it was, what your saying is, my max bid matched the reserve price, EVEN though no one bid up to the reserve price, so the algo gave it to me anyway since I was willing to pay $50?

[316dountoothers]

CTRL + will increase your screen size.

[eburtonlab]

@316dountoothers 

The seller can set a reserve price on an auction, which is the minimum amount that the seller is willing to accept. This is different from a starting bid.

In a reserve price auction, if the bidding doesn't go over the reserve, the seller does not have to complete the sale. Once someone bids at or above the reserve price, the reserve price becomes the current price.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/bidding/reserve-prices-work?id=4018

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Any time your bid meets or exceeds the reserve it will jump to the reserve regardless of if there are other bidders.

Stop bidding even numbers. Always add a few pennies. If someone else bids exactly $50 and bids first you will lose. Even a few pennies will assure you more wins.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

The auction had a Reserve of $50.  If you had bid less, then your bid would have showed as just one bid increment above the next-highest bid, BUT the reserve would not be met and so you could not win the auction.

[316dountoothers]

Thanks awesome. I dont run into RP auctions much so this is helpful. Thx

[7606dennis]

---

@316dountoothers wrote:
Thanks awesome. I dont run into RP auctions much so this is helpful. Thx

---

Actually, all eBay auctions are technically reserve auctions since they have a mandatory starting bid set by the seller.  This acts as a reserve if one is not otherwise set.  However, in the case of a reserve being set on the item, above the starting bid, it is as was explained.  The bid that meets or exceeds the reserve will cause the bidding to jump to the amount of the reserve and the bidding will continue from there.  Of course, in this case your max bid happened to match the reserve and there were no other bidders to drive the bidding higher.  Congratulations on your win.  You could not have won this item for any less.