How do I place a bid on an item?
You must log in, before placing a bid. If you have not registered, please click here to create an account.
Once you find an item you are interested in bidding on, click on the title link to get onto the listing page. Look for the box that says "place bid". Enter your maximum amount you are willing to pay straight away. The way the auction system works, is that the system will enter the minimum possible bid automatically on your behalf - see below for an example.
Why will the system not accept my bid?
There are two reasons why a confirmed bid can be considered invalid:
- You have entered an invalid value in the "Bid Amount" field. Make sure that your bid amount contains only numbers. Do not enter any dollar signs ($) or commas (,) etc. into the bid amount field..
- Your bid amount is less than the "Next Bid" value. Make sure that your bid is equal to or greater than the current "Next Bid" value shown on the listing page. Sometimes the next bid will be lower than the actual minimum bid. For example:
Jane enters her maximum bid of $10 for a No Reserve item that currently has no bids. The current bid stands at $1, because Jane's bid is automatically reduced to the minimum possible bid, the starting price of $1. The minimum increment is $1, which any other bidders will have to enter a minimum of $2.
Bill joins the bidding and enters a bid $5. His bid is accepted, except it is still below Jane's bid of $10. Because Jane has the highest maximum bid, a bid is automatically entered on her behalf at $6 - that is Bill's bid of $5 plus the increment of $1.
Deciding he really wants this item , Bill decides he is willing to bid up to $25, so he enters this bid, and is pleased to see he is now the leading bidding. Provided knowone else bids more than $25, Bill will be the proud new owner of this item.
How do reserve price auctions work?
Some items (excluding NR Auctions) may have a reserve price. This simply means that the seller has a preset bid amount that must be matched or exceeded. The reserve price is hidden, however it states at the top of the item if the reserve has been matched or not. Additionally if you place a bid on a reserve price item, you will notified if you met the reserve price.
If the reserve is not met before the auction closes, any bids will remain, however the auction will restart its countdown and will remain unsold.
Do you have any advice for new bidders?
We suggest you learn as much information as possible about any item you are interested in. Please read our help files in case you are wondering what certain terminology means. One of the important aspects to understand is that you should always place your maximum bid straight away. This way, you cannot spend any more than you are willing to spend, and if you lose out to another bidder, at least you can gain some satisfaction from sticking to your budget.
The Gemrock Auctions system is designed to always enter the lowest possible bid on your behalf. For example, if an item has no other bids, and a minimum bid of $25, and you enter a bid of $50, your actual bid will drop to $25. The system remembers your maximum bid amount just in case anyone else places a bid, and will bid on your behalf up to your limit if required.
What exactly is an NR Auction?
In this type of auction, buyers bid until the auction ends. The item will sell to the highest bidder at the end of the auction period. Bidding starts at just $1, and the seller must sell the item to the highest bidder.
How can I retract my confirmed bid?
Once you have submitted your confirmed bid, it cannot be retracted except in the case of obvious typographical errors or an error in the item's listing. In this case, e-mail with all applicable information, including your username, the type of error, and the item's listing number. A customer service representative will review your request and make a determination based on the information you provide.
Where can I monitor my bidding activity?
You can monitor all your bidding activity from within the my control panel. Look for My Bids.
What is Item Watch?
Item watch is a built-in tool that allows you to track any auction in our system. You can add an item to your watch list when logged in, by simply clicking "add to watch list" when viewing the item. When an item on your watch list receives a new bid, you will be instantly alerted by email. You can manage your watch list by clicking on "Item Watch" in the top navigation when logged in.
What is your Privacy Policy?
Your privacy is serious business here Gemrockauctions.com. Please read our Privacy Policy to understand how we treat and protect your personal information.
We do not share your information with any third party.
It is our policy to respect and protect the safety and privacy of our website visitors. We ask our website visitors to follow our safety rules, especially those regarding privacy and their personal information. We also adhere to strict behaviour rules in order to protect the privacy of all the Gemrockauctions.com visitors.
Last Update: November 20, 2007