Help CenterIf you placed a bid and immediately saw “Outbid” pop up, don’t worry — it doesn’t mean something went wrong. It usually means another bidder had already placed a higher Max Bid before you.
💡 Quick Recap: What’s a Max Bid?
When someone places a bid, they’re really setting a maximum amount they’re willing to pay. Our system then automatically bids on their behalf using our bid increment schedule, only raising their bid when someone else bids against them.
If another bidder had already set a Max Bid higher than your bid — even if it’s by just one increment — the system will automatically outbid you the moment you submit your bid.
👉 Want more detail? Check out our article: What is a Max Bid?
🧮 Example:
You place a bid of $50.
Another bidder already has a Max Bid of $60.
The system automatically places a $55 bid on their behalf.
You’ll immediately see “Outbid” — because their Max Bid was already in place.
✅ What Can I Do?
If you’re outbid, you still have time to jump back in:
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You can place a higher bid manually, or
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Enter your own Max Bid — the highest amount you’re comfortable paying — and let the system do the work for you.
Keep in mind: if multiple bidders place the same Max Bid, the system gives priority to whoever entered it first.
⏳ Watch Closely as Lots Begin Closing
Due to slight delays in sending notifications, we strongly recommend watching the lots you're bidding on from your Watchlist as the auction begins closing.
Each lot has a countdown timer just below the image so you can track exactly how much time is left. This gives you the best chance to respond quickly if you're outbid near the end.