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The Auction Site FAQ
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An answer to my question does not exist, what should I do?
You should contact us and let us know. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. |
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Auction Watch
Auction Watch is your assistant to keep an eye on auctions which are opened pertaining to your keywords.
To use this feature, insert keyword(s) into the Auction Watch list that you are interested in. When these keywords appear in an auction's title or description, you will receive an e-mail informing you that an auction has been opened containing your keyword(s). You may also add a user's nickname and if that user opens an auction you will get notification by e-mail. All keywords must be separated by a space when entering into your Auction Watch list. |
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Can I keep a user from accessing my listings?
Yes, if you have created a Blocked Bidders List in your user account panel, you may keep any user on your Blocked List from viewing or bidding on your item. When you are on the sell page where you list your item, you will see the Blocked list with the names you have entered; you may choose any or all names from the Blocked List. These users will not be able to see or bid on the item. You must add the user's name for each item you do not want that user to have access. |
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Can I modify my listing?
Yes. You can modify your listing through “My Account.” You must be logged in to make any modifications. Within your Control Panel select Active Auctions, select your auction and edit. |
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Can I re-list my item?
Yes! You can re-list any item that did not sell. You can select this option when you are listing your item. Remember, if you purchased any of the featured options, you will be charged each time you re-list for these extras. Also, if you selected a “reserve or buy now” feature you will be charge for these too.
We recommend if the item does not sell the second time to make changes to the listing. You may add to the description, additional pictures and even drop the price.
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Can I setup a private auction?
Yes, if you have created an Invited Users List in your account panel. When you are setting up the auction for sale, you just invite which users you want to be able to view and bid on the item by clicking on their name from the invited users list you created. Only the users you add from the list will be able to view or bid on your item. You may even select to have an e-mail automatically sent to each user you invite to view and bid on the item. |
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Can I use HTML?
Yes. Your can use the Editor or you can select to insert HTML.
If you are adding your own HTML, after selecting to insert HTML, just paste your HTML code into the description area.
You will see a preview on the next page. |
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Can the price of merchandise be negotiated?
When a seller is willing to negotiate a price for their item, you will see a “Name Your Price” icon. Just click and send your offer information. The seller has 24 hours to respond or it will drop out of the system. The decision to accept any offer belongs to the seller. |
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Does my purchase include installing the software?
If you purchased your softwae with installation i8ncluded, we will install on your server or ours at no additional costs.
We periodically run specials on no cost installations. |
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Dutch Auctions
Dutch Auctions are used to sell multiple quantities of the same item. They allow sellers to sell the same item in various quantities as one single lot in an auction. With a Dutch Auction the items do not have to be listed separately saving time. In a Dutch Auction, all the winning bidders pay the same price. The final price is determined by the lowest winning bid. So, even if your bid is higher than the lowest winning bid, you will still pay the lower amount. The highest bidders of the available quantities win, and the lowest bid within the group of winners sets the final price. As an example, if three people bid on one of three items, the price each bidder would pay would be the third highest bidder's bid amount and each would receive one item as per their bid. If there are multiple buyers bidding on various quantities in a lot the highest bidders are the ones that get first service. The highest bidders' request for their quantities will be honored, while quantities last. In other words, the lowest winning bidder may not get the quantity they wanted. Therefore, it is not always good to be the lowest successful bidder. The highest bidder will get theirs first which may leave you with just one item, or an amount less than you wanted. If you want more than one of an item in a Dutch Auction don't be stingy with your maximum bid. By maximizing your bid you may win your requested quantitiy and pay the lowest winning bid price instead of paying the lowest bid price with only one item. |
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How do I buy or bid on an item?
You will need to register. Select the item you want to bid on proceed to “Place your Bid.” Your bid must be above the minimum bid amount in the box. You will be asked to review and confirm your bid. Fill in your user name and password and click “submit” to complete your bid.
Maximum bids and proxy bids are the same thing. To place a proxy bid, just enter the amount you are willing to pay. Automatic bids will be placed for you up to your maximum bid.
Remember, once you bid you are creating a contract and you must be over 18.
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How do I edit my personal data?
Login and go to your account panel, click on Account Management, then select edit my personal profile link. Once there you will be able to change your password, address and other personal information that you may want to change. |
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How do I get more people to see my listing?
To maximize exposure of your listings, you may want to spotlight or feature your item. You can also choose to highlight or have your item's title be displayed in bold text.
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How do I list an item?
The listing process is very simple. Select the “Sell” tab. Select the top category that you want your item listed in. If there are sub-categories you will make a selection in each subsequent box. When there are no additional levels for that category or you have found the best category, select “continue to the next step.”
Next you will go to the listing detail page. Here you will insert your title, description, picture(s), and price. You can select a reserve price, buy now and/or name your price features. Select your bid increments, auction re-listing (this is used if your item does not sell), shipping destination and expenses, city, state, country, zip and how you want to be paid.
After you select your options then hit the “preview listing” where you will review the Listing before loading it to the database.
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How do I set up an Invited Users List?
Login and go to your account panel, click on Selling then Invited Users Lists from the user menu choices. To create a new Invited User List, just enter the title of the List you want to create. You may have unlimited Invited Users Lists. Once you have created the list, you will need to add the users to the list that you want to invite to have access to your listed items. To add a user's name to the list, click on the list name from the Create a List page. You will be taken to a page where you may enter the users' usernames. You will need to enter the username of the person(s) you want to add to the list. You may search for a user by nick, name or e-mail to find the users' correct username you may want to add to your Invited Users list. You may delete a user at anytime. You may also delete any list you have created by clicking on the delete button on the main Invited Users Lists page. |
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How does “Name Your Price” work?
If you choose to use the Name Your Price option your listing will display a button the buyer can click and enter the amount they would like to pay for the item. You as the seller will receive an email with the Name Your Price offer. You can then go to your control panel to accept or decline the Name Your Price offer. If you accept the offer the listing will end. If you decline the offer the listing will continue as is. The Name Your Price offer will not show as a bid on the auction page. Other buyers will still be able to bid on the auction. If the auction receives a bid while a Name Your Price offer is pending the Name Your Price offer will become invalid and the bid will show on the auction page. |
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How does the Feedback System work?
At our feedback system is very user friendly. You may only leave feedback about another user if you have had a closed auction or classified ad transaction with that user. Each of our buyerfs and sellerfs should take the time to leave the appropriate feedback. Follow these easy steps:
- Return to your Control Panel
- Click Feedback Tab
- Select Leave Feedback
- Select Pos/Neutral/Neg
- Write your Comment
- Click Submit Feedback Button
You must fill in all form elements to leave feedback. Within your Feedback Page, you can view your Feedback, leave Feedback and review Feedback that you have left for other customers.
This system provides each buyer with a quick indication on how the seller has conducted business. It creates a safer environment for our !
COLOR RATINGS
Green = Unique positives
Blue = total positives - total negatives
Red = Unique negatives
Neutrals do nothing to the counts or colors.
%= Blue/Green
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How does the Feedback System work?
The feedback system is very user friendly. You may only leave feedback about another user if you have had a closed transaction with that user. Each of our buyers and sellers should take the time to leave the appropriate feedback. Follow these easy steps:
- Return to your Control Panel
- Click Feedback Tab
- Select Leave Feedback
- Select Pos/Neutral/Neg
- Write your Comment
- Click Submit Feedback Button
You must fill in all form elements to leave feedback. Within your Feedback Page, you can view your Feedback, leave Feedback and review Feedback that you have left for other users.
This system provides each buyer with a quick indication on how the seller has conducted business. It creates a safer environment to conduct business!
COLOR RATINGS
Green = Unique positives
Blue = total positives - total negatives
Red = Unique negatives
Neutrals do nothing to the counts or colors.
%= Blue/Green
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How is my Personal Information used?
Any personal data submitted, will only be used to conduct services in which you choose to use on this site. |
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How to bid
To bid on an item, type your maximum bid amount in the box next to the item description, and click the 'Go' button. Your bid must be above the Minimum Bid amount specified in the box.
You will be asked to confirm your bid. Fill in your username and password and click 'Submit' to complete your bid.
Note*** Maximum bid and proxy bid are the same thing. To place a proxy bid, just enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay. Automatic bids will be placed for you up to your maximum amount. Using proxy bidding, you can win the item at the lowest possible price. Your maximum bid is only placed when a competing bidder bids the same amount.
Please note that if the current high bidder's maximum bid is higher than the bid you place, you are immediately outbid because your bid is not high enough to beat the earlier maximum bid. Remember: Proxy bidding will confidentially & automatically bid up to your maximum, but in order to avoid being outbid, you must have the highest maximum bid. Also, if another bidder placed a higher maximum bid, your bid will increase to your maximum bid because proxy bidding bids on your behalf up to your maximum bid. |
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How to sell
To sell an item, you must be a registered user.
Click on 'Sell an Item' at the top of the window to create a new auction.
Choose the category in which your item should be listed. Once category is selected, proceed to the next step.
Indicate the title and description of your item, and select a graphic image from your local hard drive if you wish to upload a picture of the item.
Specify the minimum bid and reserve price (optional) for your auction, and what types of payments you will accept. While this site allows you to specify payment methods, it does not process the payment for you.
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I forgot my password. How do I get another?
If you lost your password just look within the Login Box on the Home Page and you will see a question; Forgot your password? Hit the question and you will be taken to a box to insert your User name and email address. A new password will be sent to your email address of record.
You can return to Your Account Panel to change the password if you desire.
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Is my listing seen outside this site ?
Absolutely! You are not required to do anything but post your listings.
We are members of Bidfind.com as well as Froogle.com. Both offer additional exposure for your listings.
Many buyers will search both to find all lisitngs pertaining to their interest. |
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Item Watch
Item watch notifies you when someone bids on the auctions that you have added to your Item Watch. |
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Must I register?
To browse this web site you do not have to register. To buy and/or sell items, you must register. You are required to be 18 years or older to use the services on this site. When you register, you will receive an email that you must respond to confirm your registration. |
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Registering
To register as a new user, click on Register at the top of the window. You will be asked for your name, a username and password, and contact information, including your email address.
After submitting your registration, you must confirm by following the link in the e-mail that you received.
Once confirmed, you will be able to login and participate in our site activities.
You must be at least 18 years of age to register. |
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Should I bid on this item?
If you are a registered user and want to bid on an item we suggest you do the following:
1. Read Seller's Feedback - read comments left by other users to determine what kind of reputation they have with other users of this site.
2. Get the Details - read the item description and payment & shipping terms closely.
3. If you have questions - you may post a question on the item page of the auction for others to see, or you may contact the seller using the contact form in their profile page. Be sure of all the conditions or terms of the sale.
4. Need Help Bidding? - Know how to bid on items. If it is a Dutch auction read the information about Dutch auctions before placing your bid. If you want to place a Proxy Bid read the help section "How to Bid" for help on Proxy Bidding. Once you are comfortable with the bidding process you will be able to place your bids with confidence.
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What are bid increments?
When listing your items, you can select to use the built-in increments or you can select your own custom fixed increments. These increments are used to increase the auction price and are built at different levels depending on how much your auction starts at. For example, if an auction starts at $1.00 the bid increment may be $.25 but if you started an auction at $5,000 the bid increment may start at $50. |
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What are featured listings?
There are three distinct features to get your items noticed.
Category: Your item will be posted first in the category featured section within the category and randomly appear with other’s that select this option.
Homepage Featured: Your item will be posted on the Home page when you select this feature. All Home page listings rotate. There is a button where our customers can select to see “all” listings that are posted as Home page featured.
Spotlight: This is our most “exclusive” feature. When you select this feature your item will be shown in the spotlight section of the Homepage, surrounded by a border which scrolls. Spotlight items will post on the Homepage on a rotating basis.
Each of these features can be purchased separately or, to maximize your exposure, we provide different bundles for you to select from. Each bundle is reduced 10%-35% to save our customers additional money!
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What does it cost for Shipping and Handling?
All shipping and handling fees are set by the Seller and could depend on which shipping company the Seller selects to ship their merchandise.
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What is a blocked bidders list?
You can block anyone from bidding on your auctions. To add a user to your list, just complete the following.
•Login
•Go to Your Control Panel
•Select Auctions Management
•Select Blocked Bidders List
•Insert the user (nickname) name
•Hit the ADD button
If you want to remove someone from your Blocked List just follow the steps above and instead of inserting the user name just request a search by hitting Search Users, select a user and hit delete selected users button.
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What is the “Buy Now” feature?
The Buy Now price option is the price that you would be willing to take for your Item. If a buyer selects this option, then the Item will close and the buyer receives the Item at the Buy Now price. This number should always be higher than your starting price and equal to or lower than your reserve price should you choose the reserve price option. |
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Where can I view my feedback?
You may click on the link to view your feedback from your control panel by clicking on the Feedback link. You may also view your feedback from any auction you have listed by clicking on your name, which will take you to your public profile page. Here you may view your feedback by clicking on the "View Feedback" link. You may also click on the number of feedback beside your name in any item you have listed. |
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Why do I need to submit my email address during registration?
Email is the primary method that we use to communicate with you. Also, it will be used for other buyers and sellers when you conduct business. |
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