I want to add something here.  I often bid on E-bay items, and will often
set up proxy bidding.
 
If an item is currently at $5 and bidding is set for $2 increments, and
I'm willing to pay $50, I put in my bid for $50.  Ebay will then make the
current bid price $7, and every time someone bids against me, E-bay will
automatically raise my bid up to the $50 point.
 
I have won two items on Ebay recently by doing just this, thus even those
trying to outbid me at the last minute were unable to do so, as E-bay
placed my bid for me.  Kat Parsons can back this up on my behalf, as she
was aware of the auctions I am referring to and how I won them.  Nothing
wrong with doing it--just good use of time so you don't have to keep
checking.
 
So it's very possible that is part of what was happening with the
transaction in question.
 
As far as the comments about Japanese ferret eyes, I also felt it was
offensive, although I could see that it was being said as a joke, a bad
one, in poor taste, but obviously a joke.
 
I believe that most ferrets currently residing in Japan were imported
from Marshall Farms.
 
Anne
[Posted in FML issue 4671]