Watching lots, sharing, and being outbid

Beyond bidding, the lot page gives you a few ways to keep track of things you're interested in.

Watching a lot

Watch this lot adds it to your watchlist so you can find it again and keep an eye on the price. Press the button on any lot; it changes to Watching — remove so you can take it off just as easily.

• You don't have to be registered for the sale to watch a lot — watching is just a browsing aid.
• Your Watchlist (in your account) groups lots by how soon they close, so the one ending next is at the top. Lots you watched that have already closed stay on the list with what they sold for, which is handy for judging the market next time.

Sharing a lot

Found something a friend would want? Open Send this lot to someone on the lot page, enter their email and an optional short note, and send. The message goes out from us with your name on it and a reply-to of your address, and it includes the lot link. We won't add your friend to anything. Notes are kept short and can't contain links.

What "you've been outbid" means

While a lot is open, the panel tells you where you stand and updates live:

• You are the high bidder — your proxy is currently in front.
• You have been outbid — someone has overtaken your maximum. This appears in red and flips the moment it happens, so if you're watching the page you'll see it change.

Being outbid means your current maximum wasn't enough to stay in front. If you still want the lot, place a higher maximum. Remember your maximum is a ceiling — raising it only costs you more if someone actually pushes the price up to it.

Getting told by email

You can also be emailed when you're outbid or when a lot you're watching is closing soon. Turn these on under Emails in your account (see Your account → Notifications and watchlist). Whether an email arrives also depends on the sale being set up to send them.