FAQ

Online Auction Bidder Tips

How do I register to bid?
Only registered bidders over the age of 18 can participate in the showstock.com online auctions. To register, select the Register To Bid link displayed at the top of every auction page. Enter your contact information, email address, desired password, etc. Once you submit the register to bid form, you will be sent an email with your bidding number. Please keep your bidding number and password in a secure place as you can use the same number for all online auctions hosted by ShowStock.com

How do I get my bidding number to bid?
After you have registered online, and we receive your information and complete verification, we will send you your bidding number via email and you will be activated to bid. Please remember your password and bid number and keep in a secure place. This password and bid number will also work for future auctions.

Why is a credit card required to bid?
We require each bidder to post a credit card verification to ensure that each of our bidders is a valid, qualified bidder. This verification method has been implemented for the protection and security of each of our bidders. Each bidder knows that all bidders are valid and that they have met he same requirements that you have to be able to bid online. The credit card verification process is completely secure. This is the only procedure available to bid online. Please click here to view our Privacy Policy.

How do I bid?
Select the auction you would like to view. When the bidding for the auction is open, you will have the opportunity to enter your bid (and your maximum bid) for each item. Enter your bidding number and password at the bottom of the screen to submit the bid(s).

What is a Maximum Bid?
A maximum bid is the highest dollar amount you are willing to pay for an item. Here is an example of using the maximum bid feature. If you enter a maximum bid the system will automatically bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid amount. For example, let’s assume that you enter a bid of $200 on an item and maximum bid of $400. If no other bids are placed on that item you will be the winner at your $200 bid. If another bidder places a bid of $225 on the item you will now be winning at $225 plus one increment level, $225 + $25 = $250. Your maximum bid is completely confidential and not revealed to the public or viewed by anyone other than you when selecting this feature.

May I raise my Maximum Bid?
Yes, but if you are the current high bidder, you will have to raise your bid by one bid increment.

What is a Bid Increment?
The bid increment is the minimum dollar amount that the bid must be raised. Bid increments will typically be in $25.00, $50.00, $100.00, or $250.00 increments. You can bid higher than the minimum bid, or you may enter a maximum bid, but you may not bid in denominations less than the set bid increment.

What is auto-extend time?
The auto-extend time feature will leave the bidding open for any item that has received a bid within the last 5 minutes, even if the original ending time has been reached. Extended bidding means that the auction is not declared closed until there have been 5 minutes of inactivity on the sale. If there is any bidding during the inactivity period, the auction is extended until there is no bidding for 5 minutes during the inactivity period.

How does the auction end?
Each auction will end at a specified time. However, we use an auto-extend feature. With this feature, the bidding will remain open on any item that has received a bid within the last 5 minutes. Once 5 minutes has lapsed without any bidding activity the bidding on the item will be closed. Each sale will close utilizing the Horse Race Style auction closing. With this option, all lots will close simultaneously. Please see the examples below – this is a sample and may or may not match the actual ending times.

Example 1: Auction closes at 8 PM. There is no bidding from 7:55 PM to 8 PM. All lots are declared closed and the sale ends at 8 PM.

Example 2: Auction closes at 8 PM. There is a bid placed at 7:57 PM. Auction is extended by 5 minutes. No more bidding occurs. All lots are declared closed and the sale ends at 8:02 PM.

Example 3: Auction closes at 8 PM. There is a bid placed at 7:57 PM. Auction is extended by 5 minutes until 8:02 PM. Another bid is placed at 8:01 PM. No more bids are placed. All lots are declared closed and the sale ends at 8:06 PM.

How do I know I won?
If you are the high bidder, the ShowStock.com online auction staff will email you an invoice to your registered email address after the auction has closed. This email will have complete instructions on payment.

How can I make sure I am seeing the most current bidding information on the screen?
During the bidding process you will need to refresh your page to ensure you are viewing the most current bidding screen. The refresh button can be found under each lot (to the right) on the sale page, or at the top of your internet browser.

If I win, how and when do I pay?
When you win an item you will receive an email with the complete details of your purchase. Acceptable payment forms include: credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), wire transfer, electronic check, money order or cashiers check. All check payments should be made payable to Kevin Wendt, Auctioneer and sent overnight via express mail to:
The Wendt Group, Inc.
PO Box 133
121 Jackson St.
Plain City, OH 43064

We will permanently ban you from all future auctions if your account remains unpaid for more than 10 business days. Please do not send cash via US Mail!

What is the BUY NOW Feature?
The buy now feature may be used in conjunction with some items in an auction. A buy now icon or logo will appear on the screen next to lots with this feature. The first bidder to click and submit a winning bid at the buy now listing price will be awarded the high bid and have an opportunity to buy that item at the listed price.

How do I find out more about a posted item?
Contact information for the seller can be found on the front page of each auction and also underneath each lot on a particular sale. If you have any questions about an item, please contact the seller.