How to Turn On Bidding for Your Auction
Bidding in CharityAuctions does not begin automatically. There are two key steps required before bidders can place bids: publishing your auction and reaching the scheduled bid start time.
Step 1: Publish Your Auction
Before bidding can open, your auction must be published.
To publish your auction:
- Log into your CharityAuctions account
- Open the auction you want to launch
- Look for the Publish Auction button in the top banner of the page
- Click Publish Auction to make your event publicly accessible
Once your auction is published, participants will be able to view it, but bidding will not begin until the scheduled start time.
Step 2: Wait for the Bid Start Time
Bidding officially opens based on the Bid Start Time you set when creating your first auction item.
The system automatically enables bidding when this time arrives. No additional action is required.
Reviewing or Editing Your Bidding Schedule
If you need to review or change when bidding opens or closes, you can edit the bidding window at any time.
To manage your bidding schedule:
- In the left navigation menu, click Auction Setup
- Select Bid Schedule
- Review your current bid start and end times
- Make any necessary changes
- Save your updates
From this screen, you can also close your auction early if needed.
If you need additional help, Contact Support and include your auction name and URL so we can assist you quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Why can bidders see my auction but cannot bid yet?
This usually means the auction has been published, but the bid start time has not arrived.
Can I change the bid start time after publishing?
Yes. Use the Bid Schedule page to update the start time at any point before bidding begins.
Do I need to manually turn bidding on?
No. Bidding opens automatically based on the schedule you set.
Related articles
- How to Change the End Time of Your Auction
Change your auction start or end time through Auction Setup > Bid Schedule. Edit the Bidding Window—all assigned items update automatically. No need to edit items individually.
- How to Close Bidding and Finalize Winners
Bidding closes automatically at the scheduled end time, or you can close early via Auction Setup > Bid Schedule > Close Early. Winners and invoices are finalized automatically.
- How to Create a New Auction
Create a new auction from your dashboard or while inside an existing auction. Use the auction dropdown to access View All Auctions, then click Create a New Auction.
- How to Launch Your Auction and Make It Live
Click Publish Auction in the top right to launch. Bidding opens automatically at the scheduled Bid Start Time. You need at least one item to publish. Schedule is in Auction Setup > Bid Schedule.
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