Sometimes I can't bid on an item when there's 10 min or less left on the auction either. I know this isn't a fix but now I only buy items that have a buyout.
I feel your frustration cabledog. I don't want to upset you even further but I've read posts dated as far back as 2013 in regards to the 'tool tip bug'. If they haven't fixed it in 3 yrs I doubt some lazy mid summer patch will contain the answer. Of course that was on pc.