What's up with eBay bid increments right now?

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

Ok ... have I lost my mind? Did they make a change?

As I have always known it and current eBay policy pages show the following bid increment schedule:

I'm looking at and bidding on a handful of auctions that are below $25 (should be 50c increment) and some below $5 (should be 25c increment) and they are forcing $1 increments!?!? WHATS UP MAN!?!?

Example auctions -- look at what it would take for you to place a bid and/or look at bid history

https://www.ebay.com/itm/316489526831

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267184752246

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267184748861

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267184745358

[lacemaker3]

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@ajs_coins_and_alchemy wrote:

@wastingtime101 

I wish I was misinterpretting something .... see recent reply w/ pic proof.

P.S., we are showing photo from same auction. Your system showing 25c increment, my system showing $1 increment. My phone showing proper 25c increment.

ETA:

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@ajs_coins_and_alchemy, I am still seeing the correct bid increment in the place-bid window, like @wastingtime101's screenshot. I do see where the increment is wrong in your screenshot, though.

For what it's worth, it looks like it is using the correct bid increment after you place the bid, in the bid history though. I think this is the same auction as above, but after you placed your bid. You're in the lead, and only 25¢ over the previous high bid ($4.00), even though the showing high bid was only $2.25. It doesn't look like it will cost you anything on this auction (at least).

But it does seem to have used $1.00 instead of 50¢ here, on this one. Why is this one different? Curiouser and curiouser.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

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@ajs_coins_and_alchemy wrote:

@wastingtime101 

I wish I was misinterpretting something .... see recent reply w/ pic proof.

P.S., we are showing photo from same auction. Your system showing 25c increment, my system showing $1 increment. My phone showing proper 25c increment.

ETA:

---

@ajs_coins_and_alchemy, I am still seeing the correct bid increment in the place-bid window, like @wastingtime101's screenshot. I do see where the increment is wrong in your screenshot, though.

For what it's worth, it looks like it is using the correct bid increment after you place the bid, in the bid history though. I think this is the same auction as above, but after you placed your bid. You're in the lead, and only 25¢ over the previous high bid ($4.00), even though the showing high bid was only $2.25. It doesn't look like it will cost you anything on this auction (at least).

But it does seem to have used $1.00 instead of 50¢ here, on this one. Why is this one different? Curiouser and curiouser.

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🤯 mind blown

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

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@roccotacodad54 wrote:

   Wht not just put in your max bid and let it be? Check it later and see if you won or not.

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I noticed this while bidding on a lot of low value items. If the items were going to sell for $100+ I'd agree with you partially. Some of the items I bid on last night will sell $5-$10

1. Like nobody*s_perfect said, maybe my max bid is below the erroneous bid increment.

2. Being low value items, a $3 bid ($1 increment) may win, where a $2.25 bid (25c increment) would've also won, forcing me to pay an extra 75c due to a glitch. 

3. Because fundamentally, no matter if the glitch costs anyone any money or not, and no matter how small the difference is now.... it is a fundamental glitch that needs to be addressed by eBay. It just so happens to be occuring on low value items. What stops this glitch from occuring on higher value items on higher increments? Fundamentally costs people more money and I direct you back to point #1 as well. What if the bid increment on a $250 item was $25 instead of $5, or a $500 item being $50 not $10.

[valueaddedresource]

@ajs_coins_and_alchemy  I just checked all 4 of the examples you provided and it's showing me $1 bid increments on all of them in both Firefox and Chrome.

Here's a screenshot of one showing just like yours.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

@valueaddedresource 

Thank you! At least I'm not alone 😂😂

[valueaddedresource]

@ajs_coins_and_alchemy  you're welcome! Just for fun, I tested listings across a bunch of different categories - trading cards, headphones, jewelry, car parts - and they're all showing me the $1 bid increment for lower value items which should have lower increments, so at least for me it appears to likely be a sitewide issue.

I've put in a report through the ? too so hopefully that will help bump it up on the priority list.

[ittybitnot]

@ajs_coins_and_alchemy 

FWIW, I checked each ot the listings you posted. ALL show the correct increment for the "next bid".  I am using WIN 10Pro, Chrome browser on a PC.  

I am glad, as a buyer, you brought this issue to our attention.  Off hand guesses...eBay is getting ready to change the increments, rolling changes out before the announcement,  rolling out to see if anyone notices (test).  Tag the blues, if you are ignored it is likely a test which is often the prelude to an intended change.  

As my old  friend used to say:  
"Today's glitch is tomorrows policy".     Or "Chaos" is not industry standard...LOLOL

[devon@ebay · Accepted solution]

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@ajs_coins_and_alchemy wrote:

Ok ... have I lost my mind? Did they make a change?

As I have always known it and current eBay policy pages show the following bid increment schedule:

I'm looking at and bidding on a handful of auctions that are below $25 (should be 50c increment) and some below $5 (should be 25c increment) and they are forcing $1 increments!?!? WHATS UP MAN!?!?

Example auctions -- look at what it would take for you to place a bid and/or look at bid history

https://www.ebay.com/itm/316489526831

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267184752246

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267184748861

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267184745358

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Hey @ajs_coins_and_alchemy! I wanted to jump in and share that currently this is apart of some testing that is being conduct by our Product team and they thank yourself and others for the feedback.  

Update as of 3/28/25
The Product team would also like to clarify changes that have been tested will soon apply to the eBay mobile app.

[valueaddedresource]

Thanks for that confirmation devon@ebay !

[ittybitnot]

 this is apart of some testing that is being conduct by our Product team and 

devon@ebay 

Thanks for the information.  So, if the bid increments are "increased"  when bidding and no longer reflect the published page/schedule should we advise users to simply try another device so they don't get "cheated" unnecessarily?  i.e. you only have to raise your bid $0.25 instead of being forced to enter an increase of $1 if you bid on a different device? 

 Thank you for telling us this is being done ON PURPOSE, as it likely took some courage.   

What is eBay testing?  To see if anyone notices?  Certainly not to provide a "better buyer experience". 

[navindr]

I have the same issue too.  If current bid is under $1, it is requiting a $0.25 increment, and then $1 increment upto $25.  If my max bid would have been $5, previously I was able to bid on an item all the way until bid reached $4.75.  But now, I skip bidding if the bid has already reached $4 and change, and let the item sell for that low price rather than pay an unreasonably (25%!) higher increment. I was anyway spending too much on eBay, and I am hoping this would get my spending under control.

[navindr]

It is also unfair that the others get to have the $0.50 increment when I have to increase my bid by $1 (when current bid is between $5 and $25).  If I could increase my bid by $0.50, I might bid again, but with $1 increment, I let the item go.  Case in point: I had 15 seconds left to win this auction if I had the option of bidding $12.50, but chose not to bid $13.

[janet9988]

SO  GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE POLICY PAGE IS WRONG FOR THOSE HONEST BIDDERS WHO FOLLOW the EBAY POLICIES SHOWN TO THEM.  

[mudshark61369]

@ajs_coins_and_alchemy, @lacemaker3 , @ittybitnot , @janet9988 , @valueaddedresource 

I just saw an email that could explain what is going on.

https://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/abblog/blog.pl?/pl/2025/3/1742582702.html

It looks like Artifishy Intelligence is at it again.

[valueaddedresource]

@mudshark61369  thanks but that  just references this thread, including the reply from Devon in message 23 which confirmed it was a test 5 days ago so....there's not really any new information, nor does that article or Devon's response say anything about AI. 🤷‍

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/What-s-up-with-eBay-bid-increments-right-now/m-p/34994296#M5167...