Actually, some have approximated Listia credits to be worth $1=1,000cr in many categories. This plus consideration of Free Shipping makes this a better than average deal for those who want or need it delivered right to their door. Starting the bidding a bit lower might have been the way to go, but the "Buy it Now effect" kicks in at the end of the auction. Also, the fact that people are spending something called credits rather than cash tends to tilt a bidder's pain threshold to the seller's advantage. Think of how much more many people spend with their "credit" cards.