May 21, 2013, 07:19 PM ET P14
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the seller ship my item?
A: Most sellers will not ship your item or work with a shipping agent of your choice.
Please read the sellers terms and conditions for specific shipping instructions.
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Q: What is a strike price?
A: A strike price is a price the seller sets to instantly sell an item.
If met, the auction will instantly end and award to the bidder who placed the strike price amount.
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Q: How to Register
A: Registration Steps Overview:
1. In the red field, select "register"
2. Fill out the Bidder Registration form
- Enter your full First name and full Last name
- Enter your mailing address - DO NOT ENTER A P.O. BOX
- Enter your email in the Email and Confirm Email fields
- Enter the password you want to use in the GovDeals Password and Confirm Password fields
- Enter a phone number where you can receive a call or text in this format: 555-555-5555
- No promotion code is needed
- Read and check the box stating that you have read and accept the Bidder Agreement
- Enter the code you see in the colored square
- Click register
3. Validate your telephone number
4. Retrieve the email that was sent to you
5. Use the link embedded in the email to return to the GovDeals login screen
6. Log in with your password
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Q: Ninety (90) Day Probationary Period
A: Ninety (90) Day Probationary Period explained:
Q: Who does the Probation period apply to?
A. All new bidders who registered on 11/09/2011 and beyond.
Q. What is considered a completed transaction?
A. An item won that has been paid for and marked picked up in the GovDeals system within the specified time noted in the seller's Terms and Conditions.
Q. What is an Incomplete (Open) Transaction?
A. An item won that is not paid for and or not marked picked up within the specified time noted in the seller's Terms and Conditions, or an item for which the bidder currently holds the high bid.
Q. How does the Probationary Period work and how does a bidder remove themselves from the Probationary Period?
A. There are three levels of bidding activity a new bidder must work themselves through to have the Probationary Period removed.
- Level I: During the first thirty (30) days of probation a bidder may only have three (3) transactions open at any one time. As soon as a transaction is completed another transaction may be opened. At the end of the first thirty day period if a bidder has a minimum of three (3) completed transactions, they will be moved to Level Two.
- Level II: During the second thirty (30) days of probation a bidder may only have six (6) transactions open at any one time. At the end of the second thirty day period if a bidder has a minimum of six (6) completed transactions, they will be moved to Level Three.
- Level III: During the third thirty (30) days of probation a bidder may only have nine (9) transactions open at any one time. At the end of the thirty day period if a bidder has a minimum of nine (9) completed transactions, they will be removed from probation and will be allowed to bid freely.
To move from one level to the other, both the number of completed transactions and time must be met.
Q. Is there a way a bidder can be exempt from the Probationary Period?
A.Yes. If the bidder does not want to be restricted to the amount of items they are allowed to purchase during the Probationary Period, the bidder may send GovDeals a $1,000 refundable deposit and the restriction will be removed from the bidder’s account upon receipt of the deposit. The deposit must be made payable to GovDeals, Inc. in the form of a Certified Cashier’s Check or U.S. Postal Money Order and mailed to GovDeals, Inc., at 5907 Carmichael Place, Montgomery, Alabama 36117. Once 90 days have passed, and the bidder has completed nine (9) transactions, GovDeals will return the bidder’s deposit. All bidders are continuously monitored based on the number of transactions they have opened at any given time.
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Q: How do I know if I am the winning bidder?
A: GovDeals provides you with three different methods to determine if you are the high bidder at the close of an auction:
1) A Buyer’s Certificate is sent via e-mail to the high bidder shortly after an auction closes. (Print this certificate and present it to the seller as proof that you are the high bidder).
2) Check My Bids (available 10 minutes after an auction closes):
3) View bid history
To check "My Bids"
A) Login.
B) Select “My Bids”.
C) Check the items listed under the heading “Past Auctions Results" – Last 365 Days”. If you were the high bidder, the item will be listed in this area.
To View the bid history:
A) Select “Classic Search" on the Home page
B) Change the timing to "Sold"
C) Select search
D) Navigate to the closed item you want to view the bid history on
E) Click on the description of the item
F) On the right, select "view bid history"
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Q: How to View sold items
A: An item shows up under "sold" approximately 10 minutes after an auction closes.
You may not view the bid history on an item that has closed without meeting the reserve set by the seller.
To view sold items and the bid history:
A) Select “Classic Search"
B) Change the timing to "Sold"
C) Select search
D) Navigate to the item you want to view
E) Click on the description of the item
F) On the right, select "view bid history"
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Q: How to Bid
A: Place your bid amount in the Bid box
It is not usually necessary to enter a decimal point. Do not enter a dollar sign or comma.
Your bid will automatically be placed as a max auto bid. (Also known as a proxy bid).
Example bid A: For a bid in the amount of $200.00, enter 200 only.
Example bid B: For a bid in the amount of $2,000.00, enter 2000 only.
Example bid C: To enter an odd amount or change, for a bid in the amount of $101.06, enter 101.06 only.
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Q: Can I increase or decrease my Bid Amount?
A: Rules for increasing or decreasing your Bid Amount:
Subsequent to a bidder entering their initial Bid Amount, they may increase the Bid Amount, however, the new Bid Amount” must be equal to or greater than the current Minimum Bid.
A bidder may also decrease their Bid Amount, however, the new Bid Amount cannot be less than the current Minimum Bid.
You may only lower a max auto (proxy) bid
How to increase or decrease your Bid Amount:
In order to change your Bid Amount, simply enter your new Bid Amount in the Bid bid box for the item on which you are bidding.
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Q: Can I retract a bid?
A: No, bids are binding contracts. If you have a max auto bid, please lower it to the current minimum bid and then contact the help desk at 800-613-0156 x 1, or send an email to customerservice@govdeals.com
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Q: How to make an electronic payment
A:
- Log into GovDeals
- Select "My Bids"
- Check the box to the left of the item you wish to pay for
- Select the payment type (Bottom)
- Payment types:
- PayPal: Continue with check out through PayPal
- Credit Card: Complete Form
- Wire Transfer: Print document and take it to your financial Institution
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Q: Can I change my username after I register?
A: No. When you register you create your "user name" and it CANNOT be changed.
Your user name will be viewed by all others as so: A***B. Only you will see your full user name.
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Q: What do I do if I forget my username?
A: 1) Select “Login” on the home page.
2) Under the Sign In button, select "Forgot Username"
3) Enter the email address in your buyer account.
4) Your Username will be sent to you via email.
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Q: What do I do if I forget my Password?
A: 1) On the home page select "Login"
2) Under the sign in button select "Forgot Password"
3) Enter your Username
4) Select Send.
5) A Password reset will be emailed to you.
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Q: How do I change my email address?
A: 1) Login.
2) Select “My Account”.
3) Scroll down and select “Edit”.
4) Change your email address.
5) Select “Update”.
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Q: Restriction Banner? What does this mean?
A: You may see restriction banners under these categories located at the top of an items listing :
Fire Departments
Government Agencies
Gun Dealers Licensed
Law Enforcement
Licensed Auto Dealers and Salvors Only
Licensed Landscape / Nursery Personnel Only
Licensed Medical Personnel Only
Liquor Dealers (Licensed)
Motorcycle Dealer (Licensed)
Police and Fire Departments Only
Police Equipment Dealers
You may not be able to place a bid on this item
To qualify to bid on an item under any one of these restrictions, please email a copy of your business license or ID badge to customerservice@govdeals.com.
You may wish to fax this documentation to 615-846-1154.
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Q: What does “Reserve Not Met” mean?
A: "Reserve Not Met" is displayed when the bid does not meet the price a seller is willing to accept for an item. The seller is under no obligation to complete the transaction when their reserve is not met.
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Q: Does GovDeals allow for automatic (proxy) bidding?
A: Yes. On the asset page, you can place your bid in the "Bid" field.
Unless you un-check the Auto-Bid check box, the bid will be received as a "Proxy / Auto Bid".
The following steps will allow you to set a limit as to how high you are willing to bid on an item.
Any time you are outbid on this item, GovDeals will automatically place a bid for you up to your set limit.
After you have set a “Bid Amount”, a line will be displayed telling you what the amount is each time you view the item.
Step 1.Click on the asset that you would like to bid on. This will display an asset information sheet.
Step 2.Enter your “Bid Amount” in the bid box labeled “Bid”. Your “Bid” must be equal to or greater than the “Minimum Bid”.
Step 3.Click 'Place Bid!'
Step 4. Click 'Agree.' A confirmation page will display the item description and the “Bid”. By clicking the 'Agree' button, you agree to the “Bid” placed, and the sellers "Terms and Conditions"
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Q: How does automatic (proxy) bidding work with a reserve amount?
A: When placing an automatic bid amount on an item with a reserve, the automatic bid amount is compared to the reserve amount.
Examples:
1) The automatic bid amount is lower than the reserve amount:
The bid is placed for the total amount of the automatic bid and the item reflects, the high bidder, as well as “Reserve Not Met”.
2) The automatic bid amount is equal to the reserve amount:
The bid is placed for the total amount of the automatic bid (equal to the reserve amount) and the item reflects the amount of the bid as well as the high bidder.
3) The automatic bid amount exceeds the reserve amount:
The bid is placed for the amount of the reserve and the item reflects the amount of the bid as well as the high bidder.
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Q: Is it possible to have equal bid amounts?
A: Yes. It is possible for equal bids to occur during an auction. The person who placed their bid first is the high bidder.
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Q: How can a bidder be the high bidder or winning bidder without appearing to meet the bid increment or minimum bid? Max Auto Bid and its Effect on the Bid Increment.
A: At the time a bidder places a “Max Auto Bid Amount” the bid amount must be equal to or exceed the “Minimum Bid”. A bidder may be outbid by an amount less than a full increment. This will occur when the winning bidder's bid beats the second highest bidder’s bid by an amount less than the full increment.
There are two cases where a bid increment may be higher than the standard increment:
1. Meeting the reserve
2. Beating a competing bidder's high bid
The following is an example of how a “Max Auto Bid Amount” can be declared the winner of an auction and appearing not to meet the “Minimum Bid:
Opening amount $100.00
Bid increment $10.00
Minimum bid amount $200.00
Bidder A enters a max auto bid amount of $215.00.
Bidder A’s max auto bid amount passes the minimum bid test.
GovDeals records bidder A's minimum bid amount of $200.00.
The new minimum bid amount is now $210.00. ($200.00 + $10.00 bid increment).
Bidder B enters a minimum bid amount of $210.00.
GovDeals records bidder B's bid amount and then enters bidder A's max auto bid amount of $215.00 as the high bid. Although Bidder A’s max auto bid amount of $215.00 appears not to meet the bid increment of $10.00, at the time Bidder A placed the max auto bid amount it passed the minimum bid test.
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Q: Does the auction time extend if a bid is placed within the last minute?
A: Some sellers do extend the auction ending time if a bid is placed within the last minute.
Other sellers do not.
If an auction extends it will be clearly stated on the auction page.
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Q: Is there a way for me to know when I have been out bid on an item?
A: During the bidding process you will be notified after bid confirmation or via email notification if this option has been selected and you are the high bidder. Note: This is a courtesy feature and notices may not be received before an auction ends
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Q: What if someone else uses my account and defaults on a bid?
A: Notify the Help Desk immediately. The registrant is responsible to pay the GovDeals service fee. The GovDeals service fee is 40% of your high bid amount.
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Q: I am only interested in certain items. Is there a way I could be notified when these have been put up for auction?
A: Yes.
You may save as your "favorites" items posted by location, in a certain category, or by a specific seller, or any combination of these options.
1) Login into GovDeals
Select by location
1) On the home page, select "Search by Location"
2) Enter a zip code
3) Enter a distance in miles or kilometers
4) *Optional* Select a category
5) Select "Submit"
6) Below the map, select "Save as Favorite"
7) Review your selection, select "save" again in the pop up, or cancel to make a change
8) On the next page, check the box/s to the left of the Favorite Name you wish to receive notification for
Select by Category
1) On the home page, select the category you wish to set up as a favorite
2) In the middle of the next page, right under where it reads; "Search results for ***", select "Save as favorite"
3) Review your selection, select "save" again in the pop up, or cancel to make a change
4) On the next page, check the box/s to the left of the Favorite Name you wish to receive notification for
Select by seller
1) Select Classic Search
2) Select the seller from the Seller Name drop down
3) Select "Search"
4) In the middle of the next page, right under where it reads; "Search results for ***", select "Save as favorite"
5) Review your selection, select "save" again in the pop up, or cancel to make a change
6) On the next page, check the box/s to the left of the Favorite Name you wish to receive notification for
While in "Classic Search" or "Search by Location", you may combine attributes for the search results you desire.
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Q: How do I stop receiving emails when new items are posted
A: 1) Login.
2) Select “Favorites”.
4) Deselect the notify the option by clicking in the box.
5) Select Update.
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Help Desk Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 7 pm ET.
Contact us with any questions, comments or concerns.
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