Sometimes you'll be outbid as soon as you enter your bid, even though the bid you entered was higher than the current bid shown on the item listing. When this happens, you will be notified immediately, and you’ll be given a chance to make another bid.

This happens because another buyer had a higher maximum bid than yours. Your bid prompted HCA's automatic bidding system to raise the other buyer's bid above yours. The other bidder may have placed their bid hours or days before.

Last Minute Bidding:

Placing a high bid in the closing seconds of an auction is called “sniping." Sniping is part of HCA's experience and all bids placed before a listing ends are valid - even if they're placed one second before the listing ends.

To help avoid disappointment, ensure that the maximum bid you enter on the item page is the highest price that you're willing to pay. HCA's bidding system automatically increases your bid up to the maximum price you specify, so entering a higher maximum may help prevent you from being outbid in the closing seconds of a listing.

Tip: When seconds count, REFRESH the page for current bid price, bid history, time left, and high bidder.

Note: When another buyer's bid exceeds your maximum price, you’ll receive an email letting you know that you have been outbid. You can use the link in this email to return to the item page and increase your bid.