Proxy bids are when you place the maximum amount that you are willing to pay for an auction and Public Surplus automatically increases the amount of your initial bid for you in set increments. For example: a TV is being sold that you would like to bid on; it's currently listed at $60.00 with an increment level of $5.00; you don't want to pay more than $100.00. The proxy bid will set your first bid at $65.00 so that you are the winning bidder. If another bid is made for $75.00, the proxy bid will automatically increase your bid amount to $80.00. It will continue doing this until it reaches your maximum bid amount of $100.00. Proxy bids are very useful for when you don't want to have to watch an auction to verify your bidding status. If you have been outbid, you will receive notification through email.

If there is a reserve price, proxy bidding will automatically bid to try to meet the reserve price. If your maximum bid is lower than the reserve price, your bid will stop at your maximum bid. If the reserve has been met and your maximum bid amount has not been reached, your bid will stop at the reserve price and only proxy bid again when another bidder outbids you.