All these guys are trying to say is this: You have an item listed, there is bidding and others are "watching" (ebay informs you of this), but the auction is half over and it is not being bid up as high as you'd like. You call or email a friend who also uses the site and ask him to whack your item for $100, $200 or whatever you think won't scare away the other interested parties. Usually it works if you have desirable item. In the event the other bidders shut down and your friend winds up high bidder you void out the deal and re-list. You may lose your insertion fee, but that isn't significant except in the case of motor vehicles.