Account & Enrollment
Anyone can browse upcoming auctions and view lot details without signing in. But to bid, you'll need to take two steps:
- Create an account using email and password, or sign in with Google or Facebook.
- Enroll in the specific auction you want to bid on. Enrollment requires a valid credit card.
A $1 verification charge is applied to your card at enrollment. That dollar is deducted from any winnings. If you don't purchase anything, the dollar is forfeited.
Pre-Auction Information
Once you're enrolled in an auction, you'll have access to details that aren't visible to the general public:
- Auction date and time, plus a general description of the items
- Number of lots and the general location (postal code with the last digit omitted for privacy)
- Full auction rules in plain English — note that rules can vary by auction
Lot Status Progression
Every lot moves through a series of statuses as the auction progresses. Here's what each one means:
| Status | What It Means |
|---|---|
| viewable | Enrolled bidders can view lot details. No bidding yet. |
| open_for_early_bidding | Enrolled bidders can enter bids. Bids are saved but not processed until the auction starts. |
| open_for_bidding | Auction is live. All enrolled bidders can bid. Early bids are processed first, in arrival order. |
| new_bidders_blocked | Normal bidding window has closed. Only bidders who previously placed a bid within 50% of the current high bid may continue in overtime. |
| bidding_finished | The lot is sold. The current high bidder is the winner. |
Closing Sequence
Lots don't all close at once. They close in a rolling wave, giving bidders time to focus on each lot as it finishes.
- The default closing spacing is 300 seconds (5 minutes) between each lot closing.
- Closing spacing can vary by auction and may adjust dynamically during the auction to keep things on schedule.
- The minimum closing spacing is 0 seconds, meaning all lots can close simultaneously if the auctioneer chooses.
Overtime
When a lot leaves the open_for_bidding status, it enters an overtime window. This is where last-minute competition plays out.
- Only bidders who previously placed a bid within 50% of the current high bid may continue bidding during overtime.
- The default maximum overtime is 24 hours (this can vary by auction).
- The deadzone is 10% of the maximum overtime by default. If no new high bid is placed within the deadzone window, the lot moves to
bidding_finishedimmediately. - If the maximum overtime expires with no winner declared, the current high bidder wins regardless.
Example: With a 24-hour max overtime, the deadzone is 2.4 hours. If nobody places a new high bid for 2.4 hours during overtime, the lot closes immediately and the current high bidder wins.
Bid Types
We offer two ways to bid, so you can choose the strategy that works best for you.
Fixed Bid
You name an exact dollar amount. If your bid is higher than the current high bid, you become the new high bidder.
Simple and direct — you decide exactly what you're willing to pay.
Bounded Bid
You bid "up to $XX." The auction engine automatically enters the minimum competitive bid on your behalf: the current high bid plus the minimum bid increment, as long as that doesn't exceed your $XX limit.
- The minimum bid increment is approximately 5% of the current high bid, rounded to a clean number. It increases as the high bid increases.
- Your bounded bid stays active as long as you're the high bidder and the high bid is below your limit.
- If another bidder exceeds your limit, your bounded bid is removed from the system.
Bounded bids let you set your maximum and step away. The engine competes on your behalf, bidding only what's needed to stay on top — never more than you've authorized.