As far as I can remember (because it's been years now that I've bid on anything) $12 is the starting bid for any expired domain on GD. Once it reaches close out status (~5 days), it drops $11, $10, $9, $8, $5. Albeit, your paying a reg fee on top of it.
As long as no one else bids on it, and the owner doesn't renew it, than it'd be yours.
And/or the price of a backorder, if that ~loophole is still available.
I'm sure you know all that.
As far as I can remember, names listed at $10 that get mixed up in the expired pile (expireddomains.net), are still being privately sold by the owners. A high bid on that, will not guarantee you the name, unless it's no reserve, etc.
Correct me on any of this if I'm wrong, but I think I'm right.