Every time I confirm a bid I get a message that I have been overbid. Is it real or a means to make me bid more?

[getmalighafi]

I have been trying to bid on an item. The highest bid was $29.00. My bid was $35.00. The second I confirmed the bid a message came up telling me I have been overbid and asked me to bid more.

I increased my bid to $40.00 and another message came to tell me the highest bid now is $41.00 and that I have to bid more.

I tend not to believe this is a real auction. When I went back to the item the highest bid still shows it is $29.00. How can this be?

[ok_so_im_50]

You're getting outbid because you haven't exceeded the other person's proxy/maximum/hidden bid.

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/buy/outbid.html

It is very possible the other bidder has placed a $50 or higher bid on the item even though you saw it at $29. When you bid $35, you got the outbid notice because you still haven't exceeded their highest bid. Ebay used enough of their proxy bid to place them one bid increment above your bid.

As for the item still showing $29, ebay search pages are a little behind sometimes but the $41 you saw in the listing is the current high bid untill someone else comes along. Sometimes within a listing it is necessary to click on the refresh button to see the current high bid.

[heidilynn0_3]

Click on the # of bids in the listing to see what is occurring. Show automatic bids for ebay proxy bidding.

Nibbling is not the way to go. Place item on your watch list in your myebay. Monitor progress.

As close to the end of auction as possible , bid the max you are prepared to pay , win or lose.