Find Great Deals on an Auction

Use Proxy Bidding To Come Out On Top

When bidding on items in an auction, proxy bidding lets you make one bid and then forget about the auction until it ends. A proxy bid is the maximum amount you're willing to pay for an item. As others bid, the auction site tracks bids and as long as the current bid is lower than your maximum, the site increases your bid by the current bidding increment for the item.

On an auction, proxy bidding is the default method you use to bid; you simply enter the maximum you're willing to pay for an item. Here are some tips for turning your proxy bids into winning bids:

• Hold off on bidding until the last day of the auction. Bookmark the item's Web page in your browser, and set up a reminder in your scheduler so that you can return near the end of the action. This lets you check the status of the bidding. If it's already over your maximum, you'll avoid frustration by not bidding at all.
  
  
• Before deciding on your proxy bid amount, consider shipping costs, which can be considerable on bulky or heavy items.
  
  
• To help defeat snipers (those bidders who come in at the last minute and top the latest bid), avoid even numbers when bidding. For example, instead of bidding $250, make your bid something like $257.68. This can slow down snipers, often by just long enough for you to win the item.
  
  
• When using proxy bidding, always check the item a few minutes before bidding closes. If bidding is approaching your proxy bid, go to the bidding page for the item and--if you're willing to fork over a little more--enter a new, higher proxy bid. But don't click the Submit button until 30 seconds before the bidding closes. (That's sniping, of course, but all's fair in the auction game.)