In a webcast auction, floor bidders and online bidders compete in real time. This article covers the AuctionFlex360 settings to review before you upload your auction to HiBid.
Before you start
Make sure these are done before you set up the webcast:
Your auction is created. See Creating a New Auction.
Your general auction details are set. See Creating Auction Details in 360.
Set the auction type to HiBid
Any auction you upload to HiBid uses the HiBid auction type, including a webcast.
Open Pre-Auction Details.
In Auction Information, find Auction Type.
Select HiBid.
Set the bidding type to Webcast
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
In the Bidding section, select Webcast (Live Internet Bidding) for Bidding Type.
Set up your rings
Ring Options is located in Pre-Auction Details and is available to edit once the bidding type is set to Webcast. Use it to add rings and choose which lots belong to each ring.
Open Pre-Auction Details.
Go to Ring Options.
To add a ring, select New Ring.
To change which lot ranges belong to a ring, select Edit on that ring's row.
Under Assign Ring By, choose Range by lot # if your lots run in order (1, 2, 3, and so on). Choose Range by sale order if your sale order isn't in lot number order.
Review your bidding settings
Webcasts default to Public Bidding (Bid Displayed). Review the other bidding settings before you upload.
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
Review these settings:
Bid Amount Type: Choose Maximum Bidding (Up to) or Fixed / Flat Bidding for prebids.
Open Bidding: The date and time when lots open for prebidding.
Close Bidding: The approximate time you expect bidding to end.
Note: In Options, Show Immediate Bid Status (won/lost and winning amount) on Closed Lots is required for webcasts. It is checked automatically, and you can't uncheck it.
Set the bid card number ranges
Separate ranges keep the numbers of your floor bidders distinct from the numbers of your online bidders. Floor bidder numbers start at 1 by default, and online bidder numbers start at 7000.
Open Pre-Auction Details.
Review Live Starting Bid Card Number. If you use pre-assigned or reserved numbers, change it.
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
In Successful Bidder Registration Options, review HiBid Starting Bid Card Number.
Important: Keep the two ranges from overlapping. Then no two bidders share a bid card number during the sale.
Set your dates
Bidders rely on the dates you enter, so list exact days, times and locations.
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
Under Dates, fill in each field:
Preview Date/Times: List exact dates, times and the location.
Auction Date/Times: For a multi-day event, list each day.
Checkout Date/Times: Webcast events may allow several days for payment and pickup.
Set up registration
Review these registration settings before you upload. For every registration field, see Upload Settings in AuctionFlex360.
Successful Registration email
Use the Successful Registration email to repeat important information, such as your auction policies and contact details.
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
In Successful Bidder Registration Options, edit Email Subject.
Edit Email Body.
Registration types
Compare the registration types, and choose the one your auction really needs. The options are Authentication, Verification, Contact Info Only and No Registration.
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
Under Bidder Credit Card Registration, select your registration type.
Auto bid permission
The auto bid permission is the default limit for each bidder.
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
In Successful Bidder Registration Options, review Maximum Amount a bidder can spend per item (USD).
Bids above the limit go to pending until you approve or decline them in My.HiBid.com. During a live webcast you probably won't have time to raise a bidder's permission, so set it before you upload.
Check your bid increments
Check your bid increments before you upload, because they mainly affect prebids. A webcast should force the minimum bid to the increment schedule. That makes prebids follow your schedule, which makes them easier to execute at the auction.
Go to Pre Auction > Upload Settings.
In Bid Increments, check Force Min Bid to Bid Increment Schedule.
Review your Bid Increment Schedule.
Confirm that Min Bid Amount fits the schedule.
Once the webcast is live, you can change the bid increments whenever you need to.
Upload and run your webcast
When your settings are ready, use the Auction Upload Checklist to upload your auction to HiBid.
To run the webcast, see Run a webcast auction on HiBid.