Homepage >> Help >> Buying >> Bidding on Auctions
An auction is a public sale in which the Seller specifies a starting price and optionally a reserve price for the item. Multiple Buyers can place sequential bids on the item and the Buyer that has the highest bid when the auction closes wins the auction. Sellers also set minimum bid increments and specify a start and end date for the auction. A Seller can also make multiple quantities available on an individual auction in which case there can be multiple winners.
All 'Auction' listings have the auction icon 
associated with the item listing.
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 as well as an image indicative of the product on sale.
You can track an item throughout the duration of the auction by clicking on the plus sign associated with the listing (you will need to be logged in), and can view all the items that you're tracking through your My Bob Shop buyers 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 Bob Shop'.
If you suspect a fraudulent listing, you are able to notify community watch who will investigate further. In order to report an item to community watch find the link below the full description of the item.
When listing their items for 'Auction' sales, Sellers can optionally set a 'Reserve Price', which is the minimum price that they are willing to accept for the item. This amount is set before the auction 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 by the reserve icon .
Sellers cannot set a reserve price and starting bid price such that the starting bid is more than 20% lower than the reserve price.
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 Bob Shop username and ratings as well as an option to view all the other items that are listed for sale by this particular Seller. It is strongly recommended that you review the ratings a Seller has received from other Buyers before deciding whether to make a purchase from that 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 the box where you enter 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 the shipping charges.
The automatic bid feature bids on your behalf up to the maximum amount that you have specified. It will not necessarily increase your bid amount to the maximum amount you have specified, but only high enough to meet the current highest bid amount. This feature is very useful to prevent getting outbid in the dying seconds of the auction before you are able to increase your bid.
You will receive an email confirming your bid, and every time the automatic bid feature bids on your behalf if you chose this option.
Bidders are ranked according to the following ranking algorithm: amount, quantity and then time. So for two competing bidders, if one bidder bids higher than the other then the bidder with the higher bid amount will rank first. If two bidders bid the same amount and there is more than one quantity available then the bidder that bids for the higher quantity will rank first. If two bidders both bid the same amount and quantity then the bidder that bid first will rank higher (note that with automatic bids the original time stamp at which time the automatic bid was placed is used).
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 the order page. Once you have 'submitted your order' you will receive an email confirming the order containing the Seller's details. If required, 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.
