Auctions 101 - some questions and answers:

Many new bidders have some basic questions about participating on eBay Live Auctions. What is it? Why is it different than regular eBay?

These items (lots) display among the regular eBay (core) items with a little gavel icon next to the listing to indicate it's offered at eBay Live Auctions.

Registration

Step #1 for any auction on eBay Live Auctions is to register per event. Being registered on eBay (core) allows you to register to participate on any catalog posted on eBay Live Auctions. Different auctions posted on eBay Live Auctions have different requirements to register from a few clicks to phone call and credit card verification. If you are a registered user on eBay you are only a few clicks away from being approved to participate in one of our sales. We offer the easiest most convenient process to register. Just click the "Bid Now" button, agree to the terms and conditions and you're bidding, it's that easy!

Bidding

Live bidding is the most exciting type of bidding and unique to the eBay Live Auction platform. This is real time participation bidding live against other bidders. If you're bidding on the lot that is being offered you are moments or seconds away from knowing if you won! No waiting for days or hours like regular eBay, this auction is happening right now! If you win you can check-out and immediately pay, in most cases if you are bidding in the morning your item is shipped that day! If you're the winning bidder in the afternoon or evening and you pay right away your item ships the next day.

Absentee Bidding

For some the best of both worlds (eBay and eBay Live Auctions) is leaving absentee bids just like you would at regular eBay. If you see an item you like and its hours or days away simply leave your highest bid. The bidding is the same as regular eBay in that it will use the one increment required over the second highest bidder to win and does not use your whole bid amount. The live auction is fast moving so this method is the insurance some bidders need to make sure their bid is received. Some times connection speeds vary or go down so your bid might not always be received when you are placing on fast moving sales.

Shipping

Know the auction you are buying from, many new sellers are based over seas and with the price of gold at record levels aren't or can't even make your item until you pay. This can take weeks to make the item and a few more weeks to ship resulting in up to a month to receive your won item. We suggest buy local, pay local, ship local from a seller who offers an unconditional guarantee no question return policy based in the United States. What if you buy overseas, wait weeks to receive your item and you have an issue, what a nightmare to return for replacement or refund considering we offer better jewelry at a better price faster delivery with a no hassle return policy and complete customer satisfaction!

The history of auctions (Wikipedia)

Auctioning can be traced as far back as 500 B.C. According to ancient Greek scribes, the more generally accepted auction occurred first in Babylon in 500 B.C. During this period, auctions were held annually, and women were sold on the condition of marriage. It was considered illegal to allow a daughter to be sold outside the auction method. Women with beauty engendered higher bidding, women without beauty had to pay a dowry to be accepted into the auction, and thus the price would be negative.

During the Roman Empire, following military victory, Roman soldiers would often spear the ground to mark the location of spoils in which goods and property were seized. Roman business agents were said to have accompanied warriors into battle to help facilitate expected sales. The Romans also used the auction to liquidate their own property. For example, Marcus Aurelius is said to have auctioned prized heirlooms and furniture, (an auction that, as legend has it, lasted over two months). The most legendary auction occurred in the year 193 A.D. when the entire Roman Empire was put on the auction block by the Praetorian Guard. On March 23rd, The Praetorian Guard first killed Pertinax the emperor, and then announced that the highest bidder could claim the entire Empire. Didius Julianus outbid everyone else for the price of 6,250 drachmas per Guard, an act that initiated a brief civil war. Didius was then beheaded two months later when Septimus Severus conquered Rome.

During the end of the 18th century, soon after the French Revolution, auctions came to be held in taverns and coffeehouses to sell art. Such auctions were held daily, and catalogs were printed to announce available items. Such Auction catalogs are frequently printed and distributed before auctions of rare or collectible items. Many of these catalogs may be very elaborate works themselves, with considerable details about the items being auctioned.

It's fast and exciting pure entertainment, good luck and have fun!