when i was looking i had similar style scenarios
where you wonder if your bid even gets to the house seller
buyer: yeah im keen, my offer is $200,000, 30 days settlement, blah blah
agent: yeah ill find out and get back to you
(1.5 days of nothing, dont even speak to house seller)
agent: nah they are goign to wait
or
agent: nah they want 205,000
buyer: ok 206,000
agent: ok ill find out
agent: hey seller i got 206, will u take it
seller: oh its first offer, thats good, lets take it
so you never quite know if your bid even gets through
i suspect they mask the first few bids into lala land (like you have seen)
and then on your 3rd up-bid they pass it on and sell sell sell