Thought I would have a stab at the impossible tonight - digital camera repair for idiots:

Nikon Coolpix camera

This camera stood at around £21, so I lodged a bid of £31.50 with AS. Rather to my surprise, I found I lost to a bid of £31.01 as AS did not place a bid for this reason:
"Bid Below Increment Your snipe could not be placed because your maximum bid was below the next bid increment for the item"

I thought this did not apply if you were:
a. The final bid
b. You outbid the last bidder by almost any amount

AS themselves say:
"Note: A bidder may be outbid by less than a full increment. This would happen if the winning bidder's maximum bid beats the second highest maximum by an amount less than the full increment"

Is it that I am (once again!) thoroughly confused or has AS got itself in a twist?

Any thoughts? (If this topic has `been discussed ad nauseam, please point me in the right direction!)

WHy don't you post the auction #? It makes it a little easier to see what was going on. Thanks

I did post the full url, but this *!?** system doesn't differentiate a clickable link from ordinary text!

I enteredNikon Coolpix Camera


What I should have done is say:Click on this link >>> Nikon Coolpx Camera[B] <<<[/B

...ALWAYS apply. For any bid to ever be accepted by ebay, it MUST be at least 1 bid increment above the CURRENT WINNING BID.

One can end up winning by less than a bid increment with a proxy bid.

Example: Opening bid $5

Bidder#1 Bids $7, Current winning bid#1 = $5
Bidder#2 Bids $10.01, Current winning bid#2 = $7.50
Bidder#3 Bids $10, Current winning bid#2 = $10.01

Bidder #2 wins above example by $0.01. At NO TIME did any bidder bid less than at least one bid increment above the current winning bid.

Does that help?

Jabbergah                                                  

I must admit, I had to read your exposition twice before the concept sank in!

I didn't know that!

Thanks again for your prompt response