Auctions
Q1: How do I create a new auction?
Go to the Auction management section in the menu bar and select “New Auction” from the dropdown. Fill in the required details such as the auction name, type (e.g. Online or Aftersales), status, currency, start and end dates, and whether the auction should be visible on the website. Click “Save” to finalize. You can add translations for a multilingual auction title afterward via the Translations tab on the edit page.
Q2: Can I make an auction private so only selected bidders can participate?
Yes, there are two ways to do this. You can assign a custom Register Role (e.g. “Gold Members”) so that only users holding that role can bid, or you can set “Extra registration is required” to “Yes,” which means each bidder must be individually approved before they can participate in that auction.
Lots & Lot Management
Q3: How do I add a lot to an auction?
Navigate to Lot Management, select the relevant auction, and click “Create New Lot.” Enter the lot title, start/end dates, bid type, starting bid, and pricing information. A category is mandatory — you must select a sub-category from the dropdown before the lot can be saved.
Q4: How do I approve a lot so it appears on the website?
Open the lot’s edit page and go to the Base Fields tab. In the “Lot status” section, check the “Approved” checkbox and click “Save lot.” Only approved lots are published and visible to potential bidders.
Lot Pricing
Q5: What is the difference between the starting bid, reserve price, and estimated price?
The starting bid is the minimum amount needed to open bidding on the lot. The reserve price is the minimum the seller is willing to accept — if bids don’t reach this level, the lot will not be sold. The estimated price (low and high) is a guide for bidders indicating the expected market value range for the lot.
Q6: What happens to the starting bid if a lot already has bids?
Once a lot has received bids, the starting price is locked and can no longer be changed. You can still reduce starting prices on lots that have no bids using the “Reduce prices” tool, which lets you apply a percentage reduction to all unsold lots in an auction at once.
Lot Images
Q7: How many images can I upload per lot?
You can upload multiple images per lot. The first image you upload serves as the primary image shown in the catalogue and search results. You can add additional images — such as close-ups or detail shots — to give bidders a more complete view, and manage or replace them at any time from the Images tab on the lot edit page.
Q8: What is an image set and how does it relate to auctions?
An image set is a storage group for images associated with a specific auction. When creating an auction you can assign an image set; the image marked as default within that set will be used as the auction’s hero image on the website.
Lot Extend Feature
Q9: Can the closing time of a lot be extended automatically when a last-minute bid is placed?
Yes. You can enable the “Extend Lot” feature on any lot. Set the “Extend From” value (e.g. 120 seconds) to define how close to closing a bid must be placed to trigger the extension, and the “Extend Till” value (e.g. 600 seconds) to define how much time is added. This gives other bidders a fair chance to respond.
Q10: Can I set individual closing times per lot, or do all lots follow the auction end date?
Each lot can have its own start and closing time, which you can edit from the Base Fields tab on the lot edit page. By default, lots inherit the auction dates, but you can adjust them individually as needed.
Invoicing
Q11: How do I search for a specific invoice?
In the Invoicing section you can search by invoice number, recipient name, or payment status. You can further narrow results using filters such as date range, proforma status, and shipping or payment status.
Q12: Can I export invoices, and in what formats?
Yes. Invoices can be downloaded as PDF or Excel files for individual invoices, or exported in XML format for bulk processing. You can also resend or edit the invoice email directly from the invoice management page.
Bidder Management
Q13: How do I manage bidder access and permissions?
In the Bidder management section you can search for and edit any bidder’s profile details, and control their access or permissions within the platform. This includes adjusting their registered role, which determines which auctions they are eligible to participate in.
Q14: What is the absentee bid feature?
The absentee bid feature allows auction staff to place a bid on behalf of a bidder — for example, if a bidder has communicated their maximum bid by phone or email but is not present online. This is managed directly from within the Bidder management section.
Bulk Mail
Q15: How do I send a bulk email to a group of bidders?
Go to Bidder management and open the Bulk mail page. Create a new mailing list by entering a name and clicking “Add.” Then define your filter criteria — such as a specific auction, language preference, subscription list type, or last login date — and save. The list will show a count of matching bidders before you send.
Q16: Can I target bidders from a specific auction with a bulk mailing?
Yes. When setting up your mailing list filter, you can use the “Select auction” criterion to limit the recipients to only those bidders who are registered for a particular auction, ensuring your communication is relevant and targeted.
Reduce Prices
Q17: How does the price reduction tool work?
From the auction edit page, go to “Manage auction” and select “Reduce price.” Use the slider to select the percentage you want to retain (e.g. dragging to 75% means lots will be reduced to 75% of their original starting bid, applying a 25% discount). Click the button to apply the reduction. Only lots without any bids will be affected.
Translations & Language Settings
Q18: Can the platform support multiple languages?
Yes. The “Other” section includes translation management for the public website, the manager interface, and email notifications. You can set a default language and add additional languages to make the platform accessible to a broader audience, and customize email text per language or region.
Store & Location Management
Q19: Can I associate an auction or lot with a physical store location?
Yes. You can add and manage multiple store locations in the system. When creating an auction or editing a lot, you can select a store from your list — the address details will auto-fill. Each location can include a name, address, contact details, and opening hours for display to consumers.
Profile & Account Settings
Q20: What account settings can I manage in the system?
From the profile and account section (under “Other”) you can update personal information such as your name, email, and contact details, as well as configure communication preferences, security options (including two-factor authentication), and privacy settings. Subscription or billing details can also be managed here if applicable.