Setting up the Mobile Bidding Feature
For choosing your mobile bidding settings and tailoring the Invitation to participate to suit your event.
Note: Max Bidding and Extended Bidding options can be used for Mobile Bidding and are configured in the Online Auction Settings.
Note: Mobile bidding is available with new Premium subscriptions or as an upgrade to your existing subscription.
To select Mobile Bidding settings:
Go to Admin > Site Settings > Mobile Bidding > General:
1. Define the window of time you would like to allow the public to view the Mobile Bidding catalog. A Mobile button will be added to the Catalog button bar at the specified Opening time and will disappear at the specified closing time. This setting only controls when the catalog is visible to the public - the bidding period is determined by the item open and closing times (shared by the online auction).
2. "Friendly" from address to appear on the Invitation to bid email.
3. Specify the email address to receive messages sent via "Reply" from the Invitation email.
4. Checking this box will appear to make your mobile bidding emails appear to come from your email address, but many email services will reject these messages or place them in your guests' spam folders.
5. Check if you want outbid notices to be emailed to guests (a flag automatically appears on their phone > bidding home screen.)
6. If box is unchecked, bidding will be halted, high bidder will be shown, but items will not be placed in winners' shopping carts until this box is checked and page is save. Important! If you want bidding to begin in an online auction, then continue via mobile bidding at your event - disable automatic close-out at least until your mobile event is underway. The online closing time is shared - so if the online closing time is reached and the mobile auction is open for viewing, automatic close-out will award the items to the high online bidders.
7. In order to place mobile bids, your guests will be logged into their account on their phones. When items are awarded to winners, a Pay Now button appears on their cart screen. Checking this box will remove the Pay Now button and prevent guests from checking out/paying on their phones.
8. Click to enable/configure Extended Bidding - button links to shared controls within Online Auction settings.
9. Edit the Invitation that will be emailed to your guests to provide easy access to begin bidding (see below).
10. Save your changes.
To edit Invitation:
11. Edit Subject line of email as desired.
12. Merge tags will personalize message by populating with data from your site. Be sure to include [invite_code] in your invitation - this provides the link which automatically logs your guests in to their account so they can start bidding.
13. Save your changes
14. Restore default text, if desired.
15. Send yourself a message to preview the final format.