# Ebay Question - does the seller ever see a bidders maximum bid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931 "2012-07-31T05:58:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/21 "2012-07-31T15:16:48Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > That’s not how eBay works. Proxy bidding increases your bid by increments up to your maximum. If you paid more than one increment above the next highest bid, it wasn’t because of eBay. You were ripped off by the seller. It could happen.naturally if a genuine underbidder’s account is closed/withdrawn during thevauction - I believe the high bidder’s proxy bid will remain stranded up there. Might be one or two other legitimate scenarios, but all of them are rarer than rocking horse shit - so unlikely to be the cause of furryman’s issue. More likely, the bid history for the listing was just presented in a confusing way. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/22 "2012-07-31T15:20:03Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > At least twice I’ve paid my maximum bid which was significantly higher than the next highest bid. I figure there must be a way The only time this happens is in a reserve auction - if you bid higher than the reserve the bid immediately jumps to the reserve price regardless of what the next highest bidder has bid. Otherwise, you never bid more than one bid increment above the next highest bidder. You should never use the proxy system though, because there are two types of people who will screw you if you do - shill bidders for the sellers, and “nibblers” - people who bid one increment at a time just to drive up the price/see if they can get ahead for a little while at the lowest price. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/23 "2012-07-31T15:22:20Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Don’t give up information…someone will find a way to find it out and screw ya. I have been a seller on eBay in hundreds of auctions, and I was never able to see that information. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/24 "2012-07-31T16:09:31Z")
Thanks for the replies. I’ve bought on Ebay since around 1998. Never sold anything. It’s nice hearing from the sellers side. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/25 "2012-07-31T16:20:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > **Since we’re talking Ebay.** > > Can Sellers see what bidders bought previously and the amounts they paid? For example, if you’re a serious ceramic animal collector. Can a seller check out what you’ve bought (from other sellers) and know your interests? It used to be very easy, just click bids and the userids of everyone who bid were visible in clear text. Then, once you know the userid, you could search on current and past bids for that user. You can still do this but you must know the user’s Id, but all you can search is completed auctions. Originally you could search who is bidding on what, and if you knew someone with a sharp searching skills you would just sit back and bid out from under them. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/26 "2012-07-31T16:27:17Z")
Can some of you experts recommend a couple good sniping services? ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/27 "2012-07-31T16:31:02Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Can some of you experts recommend a couple good sniping services? Install a clock near your computer that has a second hand, and then set the alarm on your phone. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/28 "2012-07-31T17:13:11Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I have been a seller on eBay in hundreds of auctions, and I was never able to see that information. Just because you don’t have the morals/smarts/time/inclination to sneak a way to find it out doesn’t mean others haven’t 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/29 "2012-07-31T17:43:35Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > I stopped using the proxy bid because … Except for BuyItNow, how does one bid without the proxy? I thought the only way to bid on EBay was with the incremental bit, ie, by telling EBay my maximum, and they try not to use the whole amount. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/30 "2012-07-31T17:46:39Z")
You can bid in increments manually. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/31 "2012-07-31T18:03:50Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Can some of you experts recommend a couple good sniping services? [esnipe.com](http://esnipe.com) ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/32 "2012-08-01T03:55:26Z")
On items I have won, I have never had my max bid reached, just the next increment over the next highest bidder. Never seen any funny stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/33 "2012-08-01T04:57:56Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Can some of you experts recommend a couple good sniping services? I use [Auction Sentry](http://www.auctionsentry.com/). Buy it once and no on-going fees. 10 day free trial. One thing I really like about it is that I can add 10 items to a group and it will bid on them until it wins one and then skips the rest. The downside of course is that you have to have a decent internet connection and your computer has to be on and running the software when the auction ends. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/34 "2012-08-01T05:12:03Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > I used to Ebay (buy) quite a bit over a year. > > I stopped using the proxy bid because it ALWAYS (and I mean ALWAYS, not even one exception) won the item at my maximum possible bid. I’ve used eBay (buying and selling) since 2003, and I’ve bought dozens of items at final prices lower than the maximum bid I entered. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/35 "2012-08-01T07:55:54Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > I used to Ebay (buy) quite a bit over a year. > > I stopped using the proxy bid because it ALWAYS (and I mean ALWAYS, not even one exception) won the item at my maximum possible bid. > > When I stopped doing the proxy, I would win auctions at lower than my max bid. > > So, I was convinced there was some way for the seller to figure it out. You may swear up and down they can’t, but I go by experience. You were ‘nibbled’ - the competing buyer _did_ find out your max bid, but only by trial and error - manual incremental bidding until he/she outbid your max. If you don’t do the proxy bid, then obviously, this can’t happen, so it can shape the outcome of the auction (assuming the nibbler doesn’t just end up competing with someone else who happens to max bid the same as you would have). ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/36 "2012-08-01T10:32:50Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > You were ‘nibbled’ - the competing buyer _did_ find out your max bid, but only by trial and error - manual incremental bidding until he/she outbid your max. > > If you don’t do the proxy bid, then obviously, this can’t happen, so it can shape the outcome of the auction (assuming the nibbler doesn’t just end up competing with someone else who happens to max bid the same as you would have). Forgive me, I’m not following. Wouldn’t the nibbler then have won the auction? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/37 "2012-08-01T10:44:09Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Forgive me, I’m not following. Wouldn’t the nibbler then have won the auction? :smack: Yes, unless they subsequently retracted their winning bid, but in that case, they would probably be a shill bidder. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/38 "2012-08-01T15:12:34Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Forgive me, I’m not following. Wouldn’t the nibbler then have won the auction? If the nibbler is the seller shilling, and he screws up and wins his own auction, then he can send a “second chance” offer to the highest legitimate bidder. For some reason, these offers are always at the buyer’s max bid, not +1 increment over next highest bid. ---
**Author:** ![niclouis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@niclouis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/niclouis)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/39 "2012-08-02T13:56:52Z")
I had to retract my bid because it was the wrong item, I had a maximum bid placed. I emailed the seller and immediately after the bid had risen to one dollar above my maximum bid. The seller contacted me just after the bid had risen. Is this coincidence or is someone was able to push the price up quickly.:dubious:??? any thoughts ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931/40 "2012-08-02T15:57:15Z")
That is how proxy bidding works. Some one else had a higher maximum bid than you, so when you bid, proxy bidding automatically increased their bid by one increment ($1.00). This happens instantaneously when you make your bid, and it will continue to occur until your bid exceeds their maximum bid. That is the way it is supposed to work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-does-the-seller-ever-see-a-bidders-maximum-bid/629931.md?page=3)