Help Desk - How To - Bid On Auction Items  

Figure 1

Before participating in any auctions at UWMO-AUCTIONS.COM, it is necessary for you to be registered as a UWMO-AUCTIONS.COM member and be logged in. To signup or log in, click on "Sign Up" or "Log In & Bid Tracker", respectively (1). To tell if you are logged in or not, look at the top righthand corner of our page. If it says "Log In & Bid Tracker", "Sign Up" as the first two buttons (2), you are not presently logged in or are not a UWMO-AUCTIONS.COM member. If you are logged in, the top two buttons would say "Log Out" and "Sign Up" (3). It is necessary to be logged in to participate in auctions but if you wish to just browse it is not necessary. Note that if you do wish to participate in an auction and you do not have an account set up yet then it can sometimes take a few minutes to create one, so don't leave it to the last minute!


Figure 2

To view auctions currently in progress, click the "Online Auctions" link (1) available from any page on our site.


Figure 3

You will then be presented with a list of any auctions currently in progress (2). Click on any auction to view the lots that are available to be bid on. Note that if you are not logged in at this point you will see a box (1) telling you that it is necessary to log in if you wish to participate.


Figure 4

Here you will see a list of various lots in the auction. This page functions almost identically to the rest of our online catalog; each item box (1) contains the manufacturer, model (when available/applicable) and name (2) of the item. The item number is located at the top right of each box (3). A thumbnail image (4) of the item is displayed if available. Unlike our online catalog in which the description of each item is displayed in the box, when on auction the closing date and time (5) are displayed along with the current price and currency (6). To place a bid or view specifications click on either the title text (manufacturer, model, name) (2), the image (4), or "View Specifications" (7). Should you wish to add this item to your bid tracker so that you can easily keep tabs on it, click "Add/remove from bid tracker" (8) once.


Figure 5

The specifications and bid screen is identical to the specifications page elsewhere in our online catalog with the addition of an "Auction Information" box (1). In this box you will see when the item is "on auction until" (2), the time left (3), the currency in which this lot's auction is being conducted in (4), and whether the reserve has been met yet (5). You will also see the current price (6), the minimum increment between each bid (7), and the minimum amount you must bid for your bid to be accepted (8). To place a bid, type in the amount you wish to offer in the box (9) and click the "Place Your Bid" button (9). The amount you enter must be equal to or greater than the "Minimum Bid" (8). Note that by clicking the button you are entering into a legally binding contract to purchase the specified item. If what you entered is an acceptable bid you will be taken to a page that looks like Figure 6. If not, you will be returned to the same page with a message (10) telling you what was wrong with your bid just above the box where you entered your bid. YOUR BID WILL NOT HAVE BEEN PLACED QUITE YET. See below.


Figure 6

This page displays the auction terms and conditions (1). In order for your bid to be placed it is necessary for you to read this page and accept the auction terms and conditions. To state that you have accepted the auction terms and conditions in the box "Place Your Bid" (2), check the box stating that you have read and agree to the auction terms and conditions (3) and click the "Place Your Bid" (4) button. Doing so constitutes acceptance of the auction terms and places your bid. Only once the button has been pressed (and the acceptance box been checked) is your bid placed. If you do so after the auction as has ended your bid will not be accepted.

If your bid was successfully placed, you will see the page portrayed in Figure 5 once again with a message (10) saying "Bid Successfully Placed." If you do not see the "Auction Information" box (Figure 5 - (1)) this means that the time has run out and your bid probably was not placed in time before the auction closed.

For more information about auctions, consult the Auctions FAQ.

Good luck!