I think the buy it now option will disappear if someone bids OVER that price. Which it sounds like maybe someone has? And maybe even if someone bids a max that is over that, but the max isn't showing as the current bid. That too is one of the problems with waiting and bidding in the last seconds. Say the current bid shows at $100. It is possible that person put in a bid of $200, so if you go in and bid 110, then it will say you were outbid and the current bid is 111. then you go in and bid 120, and it reads 121. So it is possible to run out of time doing that. Personally, I'm a fan of the 'go in and bid the max you are willing to spend' style. Then I don't get caught up in the thrill of the win, and end up bidding more than I wanted to spend. Hey, my grandfather was a bookie by trade, there must be a bit of the gambler in me that I have to keep in check. And if you put in the max you are willing to pay, doesn't mean that is the amount you will pay if you win. That will depend on how much other people bump up your bid.