Why a lot's closing time moves

Lots close one after another

A sale does not end all at once. Its lots close in number order, a few each minute, so you can follow the lots you want. Each lot page shows its own countdown.

Soft close

A bid in a lot's last minutes pushes that lot's close back, so nobody wins by bidding in the final second. By default a bid in the last 2 minutes adds 2 minutes; each sale's terms say its own numbers. Only the lot that got the bid moves; the rest keep their times.

The countdown on the lot page always shows the current closing time, and updates live when it moves.