FAQs

1. How do I place a bid?
   When you’ve found that perfect item, enter the amount you’d like to bid and click Submit My Bid. The first time you place a bid, you will need to create a BidForEducation account and provide your name, email address, phone number and a password.* For some auctions, you may also need to enter your credit card information before you can bid. Once you’ve signed in, you can place your bid!
2. Why do I have to bid a certain amount?
   Each item has a minimum starting bid. After the initial bid is made, further bids must be made in specific increments or in an amount higher than the next increment. For example, if an item has a current bid of $140 with an increment of $10, you can bid any amount $10 or more over $140 (i.e. $150 or more).
3. What is a proxy bid?
   When you place a bid on an item, you'll have the option to create a proxy bid. A proxy bid allows you to designate the maximum amount you are willing to bid for an item while only bidding the minimum amount necessary to stay the high bidder. If you are outbid on the item, the next minimum bid is automatically placed on your behalf, up to your maximum bid amount. For example, Mary bid $50 for an item and entered a proxy bid of $100. Sue then bid $60 on the same item. A proxy bid is then automatically placed for Mary for $70 (assuming a $10 bid increment). Mary is notified by email of her new high bid and Sue is notified she has been outbid. Proxy bids are only placed up to the maximum amount designated.
4. Why didn't I win the item when it sold for my maximum proxy bid?
   Your maximum proxy bid is used only to determine if another bid should be placed on your behalf, not to ensure that you are the highest bidder on the item. For example, Dave bids $50 for an item and also enters a proxy bid for $100. Bill later bids $60 on the same item and also enters a proxy bid for $100. Assuming a $10 minimum bid increment for the item, a proxy bid is then automatically placed for Dave for $70, then Bill for $80, Dave for $90 and Bill for $100. As the next minimum bid of $110 exceeds Dave's proxy bid, a bid is not placed for Dave. Thus, Bill may win the item for $100 (if he is not later outbid).
5. Why have I received so many emails regarding my proxy bids?
   You must have bid on a hot item! As each proxy bid is made on your behalf, you are notified of your current bid. If you have received multiple emails regarding your proxy bids in a short period of time, most likely another bidder has also entered a proxy bid and is bidding the item up. If you are outbid on the item (i.e. your proxy bid is exceeded), you will receive an email that you have been outbid.
6. What happens if I’m outbid on an item?
   If you’re outbid on an item, you will receive an email letting you know you’ve been outbid along with a link to the item so you can bid again!!
7. What is Buy it Now?
   Buy it Now is available on select auction items and allows for the immediate purchase of that item at a set price. The Buy It Now price will be available for the duration of the auction or until the Buy It Now option has been exercised. If a bidder chooses to Buy It Now, the item is marked as sold and the auction for that item closes. All Buy It Now items must be paid for immediately or the item will be relisted.
8. What is the leader board?
   The leader board is a scrolling list of the top 10 highest bidders and the item bid on. It’s good to be at the top!
9. I placed a bid right before the close of the auction but didn’t win the item. How did this happen?
   All bids are taken in the order received. If a bid was not received by close of the auction, the bid would not be valid. We cannot control the speed of your internet or other factors that may affect the time it takes for a bid to be recorded, so bid early!
10. What if I want to rescind my bid?
    We ask that all bids be made in good faith with a commitment to purchase the item.
11. How do I pick up my item(s)?
    All items must be picked up from the organization no later than 72 hours after the auction has ended.

* Your email address is used to contact you regarding your account, including when you place a bid, to notify you if you are outbid, and to notify you if you are the winning bidder. Your phone number is used only if the auction administrator(s) need to contact you regarding an item you bid on or won. We do not use this information for any other purpose nor do we provide it to anyone outside the auction committee.