Place bids, use automatic maximum bids, and understand Buy Now

How to use

Open an available auction item, review the current amount, minimum next bid, closing time, and any Buy Now price. Enter an allowed whole-dollar bid. If the auction enables maximum/proxy bidding, set the maximum you are willing to offer and review the result after submission.

Rules

Bids are rejected when the auction is paused/closed, the item is sold or unavailable, the bidder is ineligible, the bid is below the minimum increment, or the amount is fractional. Proxy bids require proxy bidding to be enabled; a maximum cannot be below the entered bid.

An existing maximum can automatically outbid a new bidder. Being accepted as an attempted bid does not guarantee you are leading. An already-leading bidder may raise their maximum, but cannot simply submit another ordinary bid against themselves.

Entering a bid or maximum bid at or above the Buy Now price triggers a purchase at the Buy Now price. Check that price before submitting a maximum bid.

Troubleshooting

Refresh the item’s current state after concurrent-bid or rate-limit errors. Do not repeatedly submit blindly or promise that a local countdown establishes final acceptance.