I've had similar things happen to me. They get people to bid up the item until they find out what your maximum bid is. Then once auction finishes they come up with some story about the winner not paying and offer it to you at your maximum bid, when in fact you should have got it for much less.

It's a snidey way of extracting as much money from you as poss. But on the other hand they are giving it to you for your maximum bid, so you were prepared to go that much.

Personally I'd tell him to swivel or offer him a lower price.

SMG