Proxy Bid

How proxy bidding works

• You enter the maximum amount you’re willing to pay for an item (your proxy maximum).
• The auction system bids automatically for you, placing the smallest necessary increments to keep you in the lead.
• Your maximum stays private — other bidders only see the current bid, not your top limit.
• If another bidder raises the price, the system increases your bid automatically up to your maximum.
• If someone bids higher than your maximum, your proxy stops and you are outbid.

Simple example

• Current bid: $50. You set a proxy maximum of $100.
• The system becomes the top bidder at the next increment (e.g., $51).
• If someone bids $80, your proxy raises your bid to $81.
• If someone bids $120, your proxy stops at $100, and you lose unless you increase your maximum.

Benefits

• Convenience: No need to watch the auction constantly.
• Better control: You avoid getting caught up in a bidding war and overpaying.
• Cost-efficient: You pay only the next required increment, not your full maximum.

Tips

• Set the true maximum you’re willing to pay — the system won’t exceed it.
• Check the auction end time and bid increment rules (some auctions extend if bids arrive at the last second).
• Review your bids before finalizing, in case you change your mind. You can go back and decrease your proxy if you change your mind, but only by the amount of the current auction. Example: You place a proxy bid of $100. The current bid price is $50. You decide you only want to pay $75. You can decrease your proxy to $75, but you cannot decrease it by less than $50.