Bidder Help
How Bidding Works
Discount Depot Auctions uses timed online bidding. The guide below explains the standard bidder experience across our auctions. Always review the specific auction and lot terms before bidding because dates, payment rules, fees, and special conditions can vary.
Two terms to know first
Auction
A timed sale containing multiple lots, with its own schedule, terms, and payment method.
Lot
A single item or group of items offered together under one lot number and one bidding history.
- 1
Create your bidder account
Register with accurate contact information, sign in, and complete any account requirements shown before bidding. You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into a binding purchase agreement.
- 2
Choose an auction and review its terms
Each auction has its own opening and closing schedule, payment method, buyer's premium, tax treatment, and any special rules. Our standard pickup schedule is consistent across auctions unless we clearly post a special exception. Review the auction details and terms before placing a bid.
- 3
Review the lot carefully
Open the lot page and review the title, description, condition grade, photos, quantity, closing time, current bid, and any lot-specific notes. Do not assume accessories, hardware, manuals, packaging, or functionality unless the listing states or shows them.
- 4
Place your maximum bid
Enter the highest amount you are willing to pay. Our protected proxy-bidding system keeps your maximum private and automatically bids only as much as needed to keep you in the lead, up to your maximum, using the applicable bid increments.
- 5
Follow your bids
Use My Bids, your Wishlist, and the lot pages to monitor activity. If another bidder's maximum is higher, the system can immediately advance the price against your maximum. If two bidders submit the same maximum, the maximum received first has priority.
- 6
Watch the staggered and extended close
Lots normally close in sequence rather than all at once. Unless an auction states otherwise, lots are scheduled approximately 30 seconds apart. An accepted bid during the final two minutes extends that individual lot by approximately two minutes, and additional qualifying bids can extend it again.
- 7
Review your wins and invoice
After lots are finalized, winning lots appear in My Wins and on your invoice. Your invoice shows the winning bid amounts, buyer's premium, applicable sales tax, and other auction-specific charges if any.
- 8
Pay and pick up your wins
Payment rules can vary by auction. Some auctions may be Pay at Pickup, while others may require a saved card or another disclosed payment method. Standard pickup hours are Tuesday & Wednesday: 11 AM–5 PM and Friday & Saturday: 11 AM–5 PM.
Maximum / proxy bidding
Your maximum is not the same as the displayed current bid. If the current bid is $20 and you enter a $75 maximum, the system does not automatically bid $75. It advances only as needed according to the bid increments until you are either winning or your maximum is exhausted.
Bid increments
The next accepted bid must meet the current minimum bid shown on the lot. As the price rises, the increment may change. The lot page is the source of truth for the minimum amount currently required.
Binding bids
Accepted bids are binding. Do not bid as a placeholder or assume a bid can be removed later. Review the lot, quantity, condition, pickup requirements, and your maximum before submitting.
Soft close / extended bidding
Extended bidding is designed to prevent a last-second bid from instantly ending a lot. When a qualifying bid is accepted inside the extension window, only that lot receives additional time; the rest of the auction keeps its own schedule.
Before every auction
- Confirm the auction's closing date and time.
- Review the buyer's premium, taxes, and payment method.
- Plan for pickup during Tuesday & Wednesday: 11 AM–5 PM or Friday & Saturday: 11 AM–5 PM.
- Check whether shipping is offered for the auction or lot.
- Read the condition grade, description, and all available photos.
- Make sure you can pick up large or heavy merchandise and bring proper loading help.