When you bid on a lot, you may choose to place a max bid (maximum bid) representing the highest amount that you're willing to pay at the moment.
Our system will then place bids on your behalf. It will always place the lowest bid necessary and never go higher than your max bid.
If you're the first to place a bid on a lot without a reserve price, our system will place the lowest accepted bid amount for that lot.
If you bid on an auction with an unmet reserve price, our system will bid the reserve price amount, so you have a chance to win the bidding. It will never bid more than your max bid amount.
If someone bids against you, the system will attempt to bid one bid step higher. Again, it will never bid more than your max bid amount.
During the auction, you can change your maximum bid at any time: just place a new bid for a different amount. You will never bid against yourself, even if you increase your max bid.
You can lower your max bid in the same way. But you can never lower it below the highest bid currently placed by yourself or by the system on your behalf.
If two bidders end up placing the same bid, the max bid placed or edited first wins. So it is recommended to place your max bid as early as possible.