Auction Formats on Selling Lane
Selling Lane supports multiple auction formats so you can choose what works best for your inventory and audience.
Open Bid (Ascending-Price) Auction
The classic auction format. Participants can see all bids placed by other buyers, creating competitive, transparent bidding that drives excitement and prices up. Best for items where you want to maximize competitive tension.
Silent Bid Auction
Each bidder submits a sealed bid without seeing other bids. The highest bidder at close wins. Selling Lane maintains strict confidentiality throughout the process. Best for charity events, fundraisers, and when you want to avoid bidding wars.
Proxy Bid Auction
Proxy bidding is an automatic bidding system. Buyers enter the maximum amount they're willing to pay, and Selling Lane automatically places bids on their behalf in increments — only up to their max. Best for bidders who can't be present at auction close.
Buy It Now Format
Set a fixed price that lets a buyer purchase immediately, skipping the auction entirely. Can run alongside regular bidding ("Buy it now or bid") or as a standalone listing. Great for items where speed matters.
Hybrid Auctions
Combine in-person and online bidders through unified systems that handle bidder registration, payment processing, and settlement — perfect for live events that also stream online.