I know about the automatic bidding and should have made better use of it.

My first "loss" was a kilt pin that had no bids at all. I had been eyeing it for a couple of days leading up the the end of the auction. I was also watching the counter and there were no additional views. So, I thought I was a shoe-in, placed a bid and lost it when some one swooped in literally "seconds" before the close.

The second was a kilt that I did use the automatic bidding and actually increased my max (problem btwn "what I want to pay" and "what I can justify to the wife"). I went beyond the later. Again, this was minutes before closing came in and won it.

You are right, probably lost for a reason - must keep looking!