Proxy bidding lets you stay active in an auction without constantly watching it. You set the highest amount you are willing to pay, and Municibid will bid for you by the required increment until someone places a bid higher than your maximum or the auction ends. You will never bid against yourself.
The system only places the smallest bid needed to keep you in the lead. Your maximum amount is never shown to other bidders or the selling agency, and you only pay what is needed to win.
After you set your maximum, Municibid increases your bid automatically any time someone outbids you. This continues until you win or the bidding goes above your maximum. If another bidder passes your maximum bid, you will receive an email so you can decide if you want to raise it.
You can always check your bidding activity by logging into your account and going to the Active Bidding section. This page shows every auction you are bidding on and whether you are in the lead.
Some important things to remember:
• You can remove your proxy bid at any time. This keeps your current bid but clears anything above it.
• The system will never let you outbid yourself.
• If an item has a reserve, your bid will move to either your maximum or the reserve, whichever is lower. If your maximum is high enough to meet the reserve, the system will automatically raise your bid to match it.
Placing a Proxy Bid
Enter any amount higher than the minimum required bid. Municibid will take care of the rest. By entering this amount, you agree to pay up to your maximum if bidding reaches that level.
Removing a Proxy Bid
Click Remove Proxy Bid on the item page. Your current bid will stay as your only bid. If you want to set a new maximum, place a new bid that is higher than your current bid.
Tracking Your Bidding Status
Log into your account and visit Active Bidding to view your current bids. If someone places a higher bid than your proxy bid, you will receive an email notification so you can adjust your strategy if needed.
Example
You want a table and are willing to pay up to $75. You enter $75 as your proxy bid. If the bid increment is $1 and another bidder enters $31, the system will place a bid for you at $31. If the auction ends with you winning at $55, you only pay $55 even though you were willing to pay more.
Tips for Effective Bidding
• Know your budget before you start.
• Keep an eye on your email for updates.
• Pay attention to reserve prices and how they affect bidding.
FAQ
Do I need to sign up for proxy bidding?
No. Proxy bidding happens automatically whenever you enter an amount higher than the next minimum bid.
Can I lower my proxy bid?
You cannot lower a proxy bid, but you can remove it and enter a new lower amount.
I bid the same as someone else but their bid when through first. Why?
The competing bidder has a proxy bid in place before you placed your bid. Whichever bid was entered first takes priority.
Why did another bidder place an amount lower than the current increment?
This happens when someone has a proxy bid that sits slightly above the next required bid. Our system still needs to enter their bid to max out their proxy bid, even if their bid is not in an exact increment.