What is "permission to bid"?

"KK4TL" wrote in message
om...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=5721974 439

VE3CE emailed him for permission to bid. Seller offered him a a "buy
it now" deal for $1100.00 USD.

I emailed him for permission to bid. Seller offered it to me on a
"buy it now" for $700.00 USD.

In subsequent emails to both of us, he was asking us to email him our
best offer.

Caveat Emptor, as they say on Ebay.