Table of Contents
- How do I register?
- Why do you require a deposit to bid?
- How do I find my user name or password if I can't remember them?
- After the closing time, you have (Or 5 minutes after last bid)...What does this mean?
- If I win, who, how, and when do I pay?
- Something is wrong. I received an email that I was out-bid AFTER the auction is closed. Is your system malfunctioning?
- Who determines the minimum or starting bid?
- What is the Bid Increment?
- Okay, what are Proxy or MaxBids?
- What does using this auction cost and how do I qualify?
- How do I bid?
- What are Reserve Bids?
- How do I Post an item for sale?
- How do I find out more about a posted item?
- How do I know I'm getting a good deal?
- How do I know I won?
- Why does PayPal give me time out errors when I try to pay?
- How do I receive a refund for my $100.00 registration deposit?
How do I register?
At the top of every page under REGISTRATION, click on NEW. Read the Bidder Contract. If you agree to the terms of this auction site, complete the information and click on SUBMIT. The system will send you an e-mail with more information.
Back to Top
Why do you require a deposit to bid?
The Internet makes it very easy to bid on Online Auctions. It is also very easy for children, deadbeats and competitors to place bids with no intention to actually pay for items won. The deposit requirement has been implemented for the protection and benefit of our online bidders. It will help ensure that each bidder is a valid bidder and no fraudulent bids are placed. This method will greatly reduce the amount of resale items we have been having, which will also save you time and money. You will now know that each bidder you bid against is a valid bidder that has met the same requirements that you have to be able to bid online. Keep in mind that your deposit is fully refundable. You can either apply your deposit to your purchase or leave your deposit with us to keep your account active. The $100.00 refundable deposit activates your account and you are free to bid on any and all of our auction items. For information on how to place your deposit, see If I win, who, how, and when do I pay? below.
How do I find my user name or password if I can't remember them?
Our auction system keeps up with your registration by your e-mail address. At the top of every page is our header. Look under REGISTRATION and click on Forgot?
Simply enter your e-mail address and press GET PASSWORD. Our auction system will send your user name and password to you in an e-mail!
After the closing time, you have (Or 5 minutes after last bid)...What does this mean?
Early in the infancy of online auctions, there was a big problem of people waiting until 10 seconds of an items closing time and then sneak in and place a bid. This practice is called Sniping. You may have been in a fierce bidding competition with someone and finally won the battle just to have someone steal it from you. Due to a fixed closing time you do not have enough time to place another bid.
We have since installed a Sniper Protection Feature. Basically this feature will extend the closing time of an item and additional 5 minutes if a bid is placed within 5 minutes of closing. For example, an item is scheduled to close at 3:00. If a bid is placed within 5 minutes of closing, say at 2:59, the system will email the out-bidder and extend the closing time until 3:04 giving the out-bidder an opportunity to place another bid. This process keeps adding an additional 5 minutes to the closing time until no bids are placed within the 5 minute period.
If I win, who, how, and when do I pay?
When you win an item at this auction you will receive an email stating in detail all of the particulars.
If you will be Mailing Payment in the form of a cashiers check, you may mail to:
| Certified Auctions |
| P.O. Box 5304 |
| Pasadena, Texas 77508 |
| Phone 832-881-4906 |
|
We accept most major credit cards. You may phone in your payment/deposit at the phone number above.
NOTE:The automated auction system will restrict future bidding and forfeit your deposit if your item(s) are not marked paid within two (2) days.
The system will permanently ban you from all future auction if your account remains unpaid for more than 3 days.
Something is wrong. I received an email that I was out-bid AFTER the auction is closed. Is your system malfunctioning?
Simple answer:No. This system sends out automated email notifications as a service to our customers.
All emails are SENT immediately. But keep in mind that there are many factors beyond our control that may affect when you RECEIVE the emails. Email travels through many HOPS trying to get to it's final destination. If a server or router is down along the way, the message is stored and the mail server attempts to re-send it every 10 minutes. It will continue to try to get you the message for 7 DAYS before it gives up.
DO NOT RELY ON EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS OF OUTBID IF THE AUCTION CLOSE IS NEAR. YOU CAN QUITE POSSIBLY RECEIVE YOUR OUTBID NOTIFICATION AFTER THE AUCTION CLOSES! Use the Maximum Bidding feature to insure your bid is received.
Who determines the minimum or starting bid?
The owner usually decides what he or she wants the bidding to begin at. Usually this is (and should be) just below the lowest price acceptable for the item. If you bid, the system will ask you to bid the starting price PLUS the Bid Increment. Sellers are encouraged to start items at a reasonable amount and not absurdly high. Buyers like the auction process because it allows bargain shopping. If an item is priced right, people recognize the bargain and bid on it.
What is the Bid Increment?
The Bid Increment raises the bidding each time by that minimum amount (you can always bump it up even higher or enter a Proxy Bid, in which case the system will bid either the bid increment or enough of your stated amount to make you the leading bidder. The purpose of the bid increment is to keep someone from outbidding you by some silly amount like $.01. It protects you and assures the seller of getting a decent return if the item is hotly contested.
Okay, what are Proxy or MaxBids?
There are several systems of "proxy" bids; i.e. the system bidding for you automatically. This system uses a feature called "MaxBid." Think of 'Max' as someone who stays and watches the auction 24 hours a day while you're off doing more interesting stuff. You activate 'Max' by entering the highest amount you are willing to pay for an item into the "place bid" box. The system will then bid for you, bidding only enough to make you the high bidder. If someone tops that bid, good old 'Max' places another bid for you and so on up to the maximum amount you've specified. Under no circumstances will 'Max' ever bid MORE than you said. But the system will send you e-mail about an outbid and you can give 'Max' a few more bucks to play with, if you like. Just enter another bid amount.
What does using this auction cost and how do I qualify?
Since we are just starting this website, sellers will be able to list their own items FREE of charge for the first few months. If we list your items for you, we charge a percentage of the sales price to the seller. Read our Help Posting page for the details.
How do I bid?
Click on the description of item you'd like more information about. If you wish to place a bid, enter your bid in the box below the item, then just click on the "place bid" button nearby. We suggest that a good strategy for items you really want is to place the highest bid you are willing to pay. Otherwise, someone may beat you out. This system accepts proxy or maxbid bids (see Proxy Bids below). Should someone outbid you, the system sends you an e-mail notification with a link back here to the item. Click on the link right in your e-mail message and you will be returned to the directly to the item. You can then decide whether you want to raise your bid.
What are Reserve Bids?
Sometimes (and our system supports this) a seller enters a Reserve Bid. For example, his Model 384T Golden Widget sells for $100.00 new. He or she decides to place a starting bid of $1.00 on the item but they want to get at least $80.00 for it. So a reserve bid of $80.00 is entered into the system. In such a case--even if you are the high bidder at, say, $60.00--you will not win the item unless you go over $80.00 We feel this is a poor auction strategy and wastes the time of buyers and sellers alike. We suggest this to sellers: enter the item at the least price you will accept, with no reserve.
How do I Post an item for sale?
First decide whether you want to list as an Auction or as a Classified Advertisement.
Then decide on the Category and Subcategory where the item best fits.
The title must be descriptive to allow searchers to access the key words simply for the item offered for sale.
Determine the price.
Include good photos, preferably digital and can be uploaded to your listing to promote your sale.
Detailed descriptions are essential to assist the sale. Try to include the Brand, Age and Condition together with any other special features.
How do I find out more about a posted item?
If you have any questions about an item, by all means contact the seller and ask him or her (not us!). The seller's e-mail address is included on the item's page. Just click on it to send him or her mail. You can ask about condition of the item, payment and shipment terms, or anything else not already spelled out in the item's description.
How do I know I'm getting a good deal?
When buying something from someone--whether on the internet, in any kind of auction, or anywhere else--your best protection to be an informed buyer. In Latin: Caveat Emptor! The age-old warning of Buyer Beware! It behoves people who sell items all of the time to be honest or the word gets around that they are not so nice and people will quit buying from them. We do police this auction and make our best effort to keep it clean and pleasant, but we can give no blanket guarantee. You might read our Terms & Conditions page for more info on this. However, we also go to great lengths here to make sure you have plenty of great stuff at bargain prices to bid on.
How do I know I won?
The system automatically sends the buyer (highest bidder) an e-mail when the auction ends. This e-mail will have specific instructions on payment and the sellers pickup terms. This auction merely offers a venue for buying and selling. We will not, nor cannot, be held responsible in any way for any lack of performance by any and all parties. We simply provide a place that allows people to buy and sell. HOWEVER, do let us know of any problems. We can and will banish anyone who abuses our auction.
Why does PayPal give me time out errors when I try to pay?
For security reasons, PayPal limits the time of a transaction to 5 minutes. For more information, you can click here to view the PayPal explaination.
How do I receive a refund for my $100.00 registration deposit?
#1. The buyer may apply their $100.00 registration deposit toward their purchases.
#2. The buyer may contact us via telephone or e-mail and request their deposit. All deposits will be returned by the same method that it was applied. Example: Payments through PayPal will be refunded through PayPal*. All cash, cashier's checks or money orders will be reimbursed by a company check.
*PayPal's terms and conditions allow deposits to be refunded 100% if the refund occurs within 30 days. Refunds after 30 days may be charged a small processing fee by PayPal. This is a requirment of PayPal's terms and conditions and is not controlled by or charged by Certified Auctions.
For questions about our web site, please feel free to e-mail our auction webmaster.
