How to place a Maximum Bid (or automatic maximum bidding)

Hi,

Actually, this is already possible with HikaAuction when using the Vickrey auction mode (which is the default mode).

In Vickrey mode, the system works exactly like eBay's automatic bidding:
- You enter your maximum bid amount (for example $50)
- The displayed "winning price" is only the second-highest bid + the bid increment, not your actual bid
- If someone bids $20 against your $50 maximum (with a $1 increment), you stay winning at $21 — the system automatically "counter-bids" for you
- You only get outbid if someone places a bid higher than your maximum

So using your example: if the starting price is $10 with a $1 increment and you bid $50, the winning price would show $10. If another user bids $15, the winning price would automatically go up to $16 and you'd still be winning. The other bidder would need to bid more than $50 to outbid you.

You can configure the auction mode in the HikaAuction configuration page (Components > HikaAuction > Configuration > Main tab > Auction mode). Make sure "Vickrey auctions" is selected.

Hi,

Well, you could turn off the display of the auction history in the settings of HikaAuction, that way, you would not leek the maximum bid.
But having an option to be able to display the auction history without the bid amounts could be added.

And regarding the first point, you can just add some text in a view override, or change some texts with translation overrides in order to make it clear to the user.
We'll look at improving this on our end.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

Hi,

The next version will include two improvements that should address your needs:
1. A new "Hide bid amounts in history" option : When enabled, other bidders will only see that a bid was placed, not the actual amount. Each user can still see their own bid amounts. This keeps maximum bids secret while maintaining transparency for dispute resolution.
2. Better Vickrey mode communication : The bid input will now display "Your maximum bid (minimum: X)" instead of "Minimum bid: X", and an explanation text will appear below the bid form: "In this auction, you only pay the second-highest bid plus the bid increment, not your maximum. Enter the most you are willing to pay."

Regarding the idea of a second box (live bid vs. maximum bid): in Vickrey mode, every bid is already a maximum bid by design and the system automatically determines the winning price based on the second-highest bid plus the increment. So a second input field would be redundant since there's only one value to enter: the most you're willing to pay. The system handles the rest, exactly like proxy bidding on eBay.

With the hidden amounts and the clearer labeling, Vickrey mode will effectively work as a "secret max bid" system without needing any additional input fields.

Hi,

Just to clarify: the "Winning price" displayed on the product page in Vickrey mode is already not the highest bidder's maximum. It shows the second-highest bid plus the bid increment, that's the core Vickrey principle. The actual maximum bid of the leading bidder is never shown on the product page.

So if bidder A places a max bid of €100 and bidder B bids €70 with a €5 increment, the winning price displayed will be €75 (second-highest + increment), not €100. Bidder A's real maximum remains hidden.

On top of that, the next version will add the option to also hide bid amounts in the auction history, so other bidders won't be able to see the individual amounts there either. Combined with the new explanation text on the bid form, users will understand they are placing a maximum bid and that the system handles the rest.

So I don't think we're missing anything for what we have planned for next version. Unless I'm missing something else ?