Homepage >> Help >> Buying >> Bidding on Auctions
An auction is a public sale in which the seller specifies a reserve price for the item. This is the minimum price the seller is willing to accept for an item. This amount is set before the auctions starts and is never disclosed. In order to win an auction with a reserve price, your bid has to be equal to or higher than the reserve price. Reserve price auctions can be identified with the (insert icon picture) icon.
Multiple buyers can place bids on an item and the buyer that places the highest bid wins the auction.
Sellers also set minimum bid increments and specifies a start and end date for the auction.
If the information you are looking to find is not provided on the item description page, you can always 'Ask the seller a question' about a specific aspect of the item. You will be notified via email once your question has been answered.
Read the item details carefully to ensure you make an informed bid.
The item description will contain information like whether it's new or secondhand, precise specifications of the item, an indicative market price – which is the indicative retail value of the item as provided by the seller – as well as an image indicative of the product on sale.
If you like the item you are viewing and would like to see similar items you will be taken to a new page with listing of items with similar descriptions.
You can track an item throughout the duration of the auction, and view all the items that you're tracking through the 'My bidorbuy' page. Tracking an item gives you instant access to items that you're interested in; a view of what the current bids are on the item and the time left before the auction closes.
You can view other bids to see what bids other buyers have placed on the item.
You can recommend the item to someone else by entering their email address. They will receive an email notification with the subject: 'See this item on bidorbuy'.
If you suspect a fraudulent listing, you are able to notify community watch who will investigate further.
Sellers can offer warranties such as 'Replacement warranty', 'Dealer warranty' and a 'Manufacturer's warranty' which means that if you purchase a faulty item, you could return it to the seller who will have it repaired or replaced.
This is usually a money back guarantee, which means that if you are not satisfied with an item you have purchased, you can return it to the seller for a refund.
On the right hand side of the item description page, you will find the seller's details. This includes the seller's bidorbuy user ID and ratings as well as an option to view all the other items that are listed for sale by this particular seller.
Shipping charges are in addition to the cost of the item and can be different for each seller.
Some sellers have various shipping options and these charges must be added to your payment when completing the transaction.
A payment method is the method by which you pay the seller for the item and shipping. Sellers have various options for payments, ranging from EFT's, Credit card payments etc.
Once you've found an item that you would like to bid on you can enter your bid amount in the space provided. You will see the minimum bid required in brackets next to your bid amount.
When you've entered your bid amount, you will be taken to a confirmation page, where you can set an optional automatic bid limit and check shipping charges.
The automatic bid feature bids on your behalf up to a maximum amount that you have specified. It will not directly increase your bid amount to the maximum amount you have specified, but only bid higher to meet the current highest bid amount.
You will receive an email confirming your bid, and every time the automatic bid feature bids on your behalf if you chose this option.
Once the auction closes, and you are the winning bidder, you will be notified via email.
Your winning bid will be converted into an 'order' and you are able to confirm your payment method, contact details and delivery address on your order page.
Once you have 'submitted your order' you will receive an email confirming the order and containing the seller's details. You can contact the seller to arrange for collection or shipping or the seller will contact you to confirm that your item has been shipped, and provide you with a tracking number, if applicable.