In Prisons you need to do /bid (how much you want to bid) the higher it is the higher your chances are that people won't bid.
Same on PvPFest, you do /bid to go to the next highest amount, or /bid (amount) to put in your own amount.
to settle this in a simpler way the usual /bid 1000 will bid 1000 but to AUTO outbid someone try /bid 1000 10000 this will then bid 1000 straight away and then bid UP-TO 10000 and only 10000 if someone else bid 10000 if someone only bids up-to 6000 you will pay the next bid up so most likely 6100 or 7000
You have to do /bid 1000 and that's how much it will pop up for everyone else /bid 1000 200000 the 200k is how much you have really bid and if if someone goes /bid 100k then you have too pay 100k if you don't get over bidded but if someone goes /bid 300000 then he outbids you. But if you do /bid it just says (You have automaticcaly been outbid) Thanks ~OoCreeperZoO