How is the minimum bid calculated?

Our system calculates the next minimum bid based on the current highest bid. This table gives the exact numbers:

Current bid

Next minimum bid

$1-$10

+$1

$11-$100

+$5

$101-$200

+$10

$201-$500

+$20

$501-$1000

+$50

$1001-$2000

+$100

$2001-$5000

+$200

$5001 and up

+$500

The reason we do this is to make sure only bidders who are serious about taking the object home will bid. This stops people from driving up the price by placing many smaller bids in the last stages of the auction.