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Uploading an Auction to HiBid

Auction Flex makes it simple to upload your catalog and allow online bidding. Follow the steps below to publish your auction to the web.

Updated over 3 weeks ago

🔹 Step 1: Start the Upload

From the Easy Navigator, click:

Upload Auction to HiBid
904_frm_Upload_Auction_To_Hibid_Button

You can also upload your auction directly from:

  • The Auction Lots & Preview screen

  • The Auction Setup window (bottom right corner)

These options all bring up the same Upload Center interface.


🔹 Step 2: General Tab – Auction Configuration

This tab provides the core settings for your auction listing.

You can:

  • Adjust important auction information and dates, including title, start time, and closing time.

  • Enable or disable visibility on HiBid.com

  • Choose whether to show the final lot numbers online

  • List the Terms and Conditions for the sale — this appears on the registration screen for bidders

  • Set the Buyer’s Premium and include a short explanation (e.g., "15% for online bidders")

  • List accepted payment options such as cash, credit card, wire transfer, etc.

  • Specify shipping or pickup instructions (e.g., “Items must be picked up within 3 days.”)

  • Enter the physical location of the auction, even if internet-only


🔹 Step 3: Registration Tab – Bidder Requirements

Controls how online bidders register and what credit card settings apply.

Key options include:

  • Internet Bidder Registration Type

    • No credit card required

    • Credit card required (with or without pre-authorization)

  • Required Last CC Authorization in Days

    • If you chose registration with credit card info, a fee may apply per IWS agreement (based on number of cards authorized).

    • The default value is 180 days, which means the card remains authorized that long.

    • Longer periods reduce the number of times you need to re-authorize a card, but increase the risk of expiration or failed authorizations later.

Use this to register bidders for traditional auctions without enabling internet bidding, if desired.

  • Allow Registration with MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover

    • Only select the cards you actually accept.

    • If you don’t accept Discover, leave it unchecked to prevent registration issues.

  • Upon Successful Registration Automatically Create a Permission for the Bidder for the Amount

    • This setting determines how high a bidder can bid immediately upon registering.

    • Most auctioneers set this to $9,999,999.99, effectively removing the cap.

    • You can restrict this amount if you want to manually approve high-dollar bidders.

Example: You’re selling a $75,000 collector car and only want serious buyers to bid — you might set this to $10,000 and increase it manually for verified bidders.


🔹 Step 4: Bidding Tab – Online Bidding Options

This tab allows full control of your bidding format, rules, and visibility.

You can configure:

  • Internet Bidding Type

    • Absentee Bidding

    • Internet-only Auctions

    • Webcast Auctions

  • Minimum Bid Type

    • Public: Everyone sees the current bid

    • Silent: Only the bidder and auctioneer know the amount

  • Bid Amount Type

    • Maximum: Proxy-style bidding up to entered amount

    • Flat: Straight bid at the exact amount entered

  • Open & Close Bidding Date/Time

    • All times are entered and displayed in Eastern Time

  • Show Immediate Bid Status

    • Lets the bidder know immediately if they’re winning or losing

    • Shows current winning amount

  • "Times the Money" vs. "One Money"

    • Times the Money: Winning bid applies per unit in multi-quantity lots

    • One Money: Winning bid is for the entire lot

  • Show Reserved Status

    • Shows whether the lot has met its reserve price

    • Note: The actual reserve amount is never displayed

  • Confirmation Page with Buyer’s Premium

    • When enabled, bidders will see the total cost including premium on the confirmation screen after placing a bid

  • Bid Increments

    • Adjust or override bid increment schedules

    • You can apply custom increments per auction

    • Bids can be forced to follow the increment schedule

    • Increments apply automatically once the auction is uploaded

Important: Increments can be copied from previous auctions or created from scratch. Always review before uploading.


🔹 Step 5: Lot Stagger Tab – Closing Sequence

The Lot Stagger setting lets you control the time delay between lots closing:

  • Set Stagger by Auction

    • Applies a consistent stagger for all lots (e.g., 10 seconds per lot)

  • Set Stagger by Lot

    • Customize staggering on a per-lot basis if needed

Example: If you set a 10-second stagger and have 100 lots, the last lot will close 1,000 seconds (16 minutes, 40 seconds) after the first.


🔹 Step 6: Soft Close Settings

A Soft Close helps prevent last-second bid sniping. If a bid is placed within the last X seconds of a lot closing, bidding will extend by that same amount of time.

  • Set Soft Close Duration (e.g., 2 minutes)

  • Linked Soft Close Groups

    • Bids on one lot in the group extend the time for all other linked lots

    • Useful for grouped assets like multiple tractors or jewelry sets

Example: If Lot 15 (Tractor A) and Lot 16 (Tractor B) are linked, a late bid on Lot 15 will also extend the close time for Lot 16.


🔹 Step 7: AuctionZip Integration (Optional)

Auction Flex allows you to push auction details to AuctionZip.com.

  • Requires your AuctionZip login information

  • If you do not have an AuctionZip account, you must create one first

  • Fields like Auction Date must be in the future

  • AuctionZip may require a non-empty description field

Use this for added exposure of your sale beyond HiBid.


🔹 Step 8: Miscellaneous Tab – Advanced Options

The Miscellaneous tab contains additional settings for auction behavior.

  • Descriptions for each setting are displayed near the top of the screen

  • Options may include checkboxes for things like:

    • Show auction in mobile view

    • Enable downloadable catalog

    • Display contact info

Be sure to review each option and refer to the in-screen help text if needed.


🔹 Step 9: Uploading Prices Realized (After the Auction)

After your auction is over and all items have been invoiced in Auction Flex:

  1. Open the Upload Center

  2. Select the option to Upload Prices Realized

  3. Click Upload again

⚠️ Important: Do not click "Upload Prices Realized" until your auction is complete and all lots are invoiced. Uploading too early may result in incorrect pricing being shown on HiBid.

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