I hate when that happens

The bidding increments are based on the current bid that is showing when you pull up the auction. If the visible bid was $5 or $6 (or whatever) you could bid $25, in an effort to beat out other bidders. By the same token the next bidder could come along and see the same $5 or $6 (or whatever) and bid $25.01...which would then beat your bid by a penny. If the next guy's bid had been $24.99, you would have won the auction by a penny.