You have to realize you are paying for bids and they may cost you around 10 or 12 cents (taking into account free bids) so if you have to place 200 bids to buy something for $5.00, you have paid $25 to $30 before you are done. But it is clear in the rules. The problem is everything has an inflated buy it now price. The lady did not get a $5100 coffee table for $20, she got probably a $500 coffee table for $20 and maybe $100 of bids. Still some get lucky. You can't win bidding 20 bids for most things. Need to be in it to win it and you need to watch the jumpers and cheaters.