Configure Auction Experience
Auction experiences enable competitive bidding on products, allowing the market to determine fair prices. This is ideal for high-value items, collectibles, and unique products where demand exceeds supply.
When to Use Auctions
Auctions are best for:
- High-value items - Luxury goods, rare collectibles
- Price discovery - Let the market set the price
- Unique products - One-of-a-kind or limited items
- Charity events - Fundraising with competitive bidding
- Overstock liquidation - Clear inventory at market prices
Creating an Auction Experience
- Navigate to Experiences > Create Experience
- Select Auction from the experience type options
- Complete the auction configuration form
Caption: The auction creation form with all configuration options
Auction-Specific Settings
Auction Type
Choose the auction format:
| Type | Description | Best For |
|---|
| English (Ascending) | Bids increase until time expires | Most common, transparent |
| Dutch (Descending) | Price drops until someone bids | Quick sales, perishables |
| Sealed Bid | Hidden bids revealed at end | Fair allocation, no bidding wars |
Pricing Configuration
Caption: Configure pricing rules for your auction
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|
| Starting Bid | Yes | Minimum first bid amount |
| Reserve Price | No | Minimum price for the item to sell |
| Bid Increment | Yes | Minimum increase between bids |
| Buy Now Price | No | Price to immediately win the auction |
Reserve PriceIf the reserve price isn’t met, the item won’t sell even if there are bids. The reserve is hidden from bidders by default.
Schedule Configuration
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|
| Auction Start | Yes | When bidding opens |
| Auction End | Yes | When bidding closes |
| Soft Close | No | Extend auction if bid placed near end |
| Settle By | No | Deadline for winner to complete payment |
Soft Close (Anti-Sniping)
Prevent last-second bidding from unfairly winning auctions:
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Extension Window | Time before end that triggers extension (e.g., 5 minutes) |
| Extension Duration | How long to extend (e.g., 5 minutes) |
| Max Extensions | Maximum number of extensions allowed |
Payment Integration
Auctions require payment integration to collect from winners.
Stripe Connect
Connect your Stripe account to process auction payments:
- Navigate to Settings > Payments
- Connect your Stripe account
- Enable auction payments
Caption: Connect Stripe to process auction payments
Payment Terms
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Payment Due | Hours after auction ends for payment |
| Auto-charge | Automatically charge winning bidder |
| Payment Hold | Authorize payment before bidding |
Bidder Requirements
Control who can participate:
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Audience Restriction | Limit to specific audiences |
| Payment Method Required | Require card on file before bidding |
| Bid Approval | Manually approve bidders |
| Bid Limit | Maximum bid amount per bidder |
Notifications
Bidder Notifications
| Event | Notification |
|---|
| Bid Placed | Confirmation of your bid |
| Outbid | Someone bid higher |
| Auction Ending Soon | Reminder before close |
| You Won | Congratulations + payment instructions |
| You Lost | Auction ended, you didn’t win |
| Payment Reminder | Reminder to complete payment |
Seller Notifications
| Event | Notification |
|---|
| New Bid | Someone placed a bid |
| Reserve Met | Bidding reached reserve price |
| Auction Ended | Final results |
| Payment Received | Winner completed payment |
Auction States
Draft → Scheduled → Active → Settling → Completed
↓ ↓
Paused Failed
| State | Description |
|---|
| Draft | Not published |
| Scheduled | Published, waiting for start |
| Active | Bidding in progress |
| Settling | Auction ended, awaiting payment |
| Completed | Payment received, auction finished |
| Failed | Reserve not met or payment failed |
Example: Collectible Auction
Scenario
- Item: Signed memorabilia
- Expected value: $500-1,000
- Duration: 7 days
Configuration
Name: "Signed Championship Jersey Auction"
Product: Signed Jersey #23
Audience: All Registered Users
Auction Type: English (Ascending)
Pricing:
Starting Bid: $100
Reserve Price: $500
Bid Increment: $25
Buy Now: $1,500
Schedule:
Auction Start: Monday 9 AM
Auction End: Sunday 9 PM
Soft Close:
Extension Window: 5 minutes
Extension Duration: 5 minutes
Max Extensions: 10
Payment:
Payment Due: 48 hours
Auto-charge: No (manual confirmation)
Notifications:
- All bidder notifications
- Seller notifications for new bids
Best Practices
Setting Prices
- Research comparable sales - Check what similar items sold for
- Start low to attract bidders - Low starting bids drive competition
- Set realistic reserves - Too high and you won’t sell
- Consider no reserve - Guaranteed sale, potentially lower price
Auction Duration
| Duration | Best For |
|---|
| 3 days | Low-value items, quick sales |
| 7 days | Standard auctions |
| 10-14 days | High-value items, maximum exposure |
Timing
- Start mid-week - Avoid Monday/Friday when people are busy
- End on Sunday evening - Maximum bidder availability
- Avoid holidays - Reduced participation
Handling Issues
Reserve Not Met
Options when reserve isn’t met:
- Contact highest bidder to negotiate
- Relist with lower reserve
- Accept the highest bid anyway
Payment Failure
If winner doesn’t pay:
- Send payment reminders
- Contact winner directly
- Offer to second-highest bidder
- Relist the item
Disputed Bids
If a bidder disputes:
- Review bid history
- Check for technical issues
- Contact bidder for clarification
- Consider canceling problematic bids
