well, seeing as i've suffered from the same 
experience recently... i think it's fair to 
maybe suggest some small compensation, but maybe 
not demand it? especially since this has 
happened multiple times to you (and especially 
if you are a regular customer). still, it's kind 
of awkward doing so, since one would hope the 
deputy who made the mistake would take the step 
him or herself.

i feel that a deputy shouldn't say that he/she 
will bid when he/she is unable to. like you 
said, deputies are human too; as such, it seems 
like a good business practice to be aware of 
one's limitations, working with them instead of 
working in denial of them.

maybe i feel this way 'cos i've had good 
experiences with other deputies. when an auction 
fell through (whatever the reason), one service 
gave me a fee-free auction in exchange for the 
trouble. with another service, i was billed too 
little and emailed them to say as much; in 
return, i was given a discount for my honesty. i 
thought both times that the moves made by the 
deputies were a really great way to keep my 
business, even though the result of the auction 
or a slip of the keyboard wasn't something for 
which to fault the deputy. 

though i would lean towards requesting a fee-
free auction, i'm also curious to know what 
other deputy patrons (and even deputies 
themselves) think.

/t.