Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fanfare.io/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
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
