Bidding

What is a Power Bid at auction?

A Power Bid is a seller-set price that any bidder can take to short-circuit the wait: taking it places a real bid at that full amount, waives the seller's reserve on the spot, and pulls the auction's close forward to the next evening slot at least 24 hours away. It's 'buy it now' energy with auction honesty — others can still outbid you in the shortened window, and anti-snipe overtime still applies.

For bidders

If a lot shows a Power Bid price, taking it does three things at once: bids the full amount through the normal engine, removes any reserve (the item now definitely sells), and shortens the auction — the close snaps to the item's usual evening end-time at least 24 hours out. You're not buying instantly; you're putting the sale beyond doubt and daring the room to beat you. If nobody does, it's yours at that price. It can only be taken once per auction, and only while bidding is still below the Power Bid price.

For sellers

Set a Power Bid when you'd happily take a strong price today instead of a maybe-price next week. It's optional, set at listing time, and shown on the item page. When someone takes it you keep all the upside — the shortened window is still a live auction, and a bidding war past the Power Bid price is yours to enjoy.

What it never does

A Power Bid never lengthens an auction, never blocks other bidders, and never bypasses the bidding engine — it IS a bid, with the same increments, notifications and anti-snipe rules as any other.