private static void placeBid() {
   String ir = getRef();
   double bid = 0;
   boolean correct = false;
   if (!ir.equals("cancel")) {
     while (!correct) {
       try {
         System.out.print("Please enter your bid in £ > ");
         String x = in.readLine();
         bid = Double.parseDouble(x);
         correct = true;
       } catch (Exception e) {
         System.out.println("That's not correct");
       }
     }
     System.out.println(a.placeBid(ir, loggedUser, bid));
   }
 }