I just joined tonight. The best part about this site is the people who think it's a "scam". Those are the folks who make it fairly easy to win. Read about the site first! After that, realize the money is made in the non-iPad, non-macbook items.
I paid $60 to join (well, to get your first 100 bids). So far, I won $50 gift card to JCPenny and $10 Gift card to Target and paid $6 shipping for all three. Best part is, each came with 15 extra bids "worth" $9. So, technically, I'm up a few bucks and have more bids.
I have now tried 6 times to explain it to my girlfriend who graduated cum laude from U of A, and she doesn't get it, so don't just dive in. But once you realize that a $34.91 bid on an ipad means 3,491 bids have been placed, but $.01 on a $25 gift card means only one other schlep is sitting there looking at it you're good.
I was at first annoyed that you can only win 3 items in a day and 8 in a month, but I get why, and now I actually appreciate it.