Archie, I don't know if you don't understand or I don't understand your question? (village idiot mode on)

Say someone puts up a chip at $1 and I bid $10 (my opinion of the most I would pay) ebay enters a bid of $1 for me.

Joe Blow bids, $2 and ebay bids $2.50 for me. He counters with $3 and ebay bids $3.50 for me. It's automatic but only increases when someone else bids. If they should bid $10, I would be the high bidder, because I put in my offer first.

Now Tom wants a book, but only if he can "steal" it. (no offense intended, just bidding on items with no bids at minimum) I try this now and then, and if I'm lucky, someone outbids me! So he bids the Min. and nothing more.

When I did my 40 $5 chips at $6 (shipping included), one person took the chance and bid $6 on every auction. I can't remember, but he won something like 10 of them. I'm happy, he's happy.

For anyone who wonders, I have a top secret ebay name "pporro" lol