Bidding is meant to be fun and enjoyable, but
remember that each bid you place enters you into a binding contract.
If you win a listing, you¡¯re obligated to complete the transaction.
Read the User Agreement for details.
Before you place a bid, you¡¯ll need to registerer. registerration
is free and simple. registerer now, or learn more about registerering.
Learn more about bidding on AJ by taking a guided audio tour
or by reading the information below:
Once you find an item you're interested in, it's easy to
place a bid.
Carefully review the item listing, and click the ¡°Place Bid¡±
button.
Enter your maximum bid.
Click the ¡°Continue¡± button.
Review your bid, and click the ¡°Confirm Bid¡± button.
AJ will bid on your behalf up to your maximum. You'll get
an email confirming your bid. And at the end of the listing,
you'll receive another email indicating whether you've won
the item, with an explanation of next steps.
About AJ¡¯s bidding system
Bid increments: AJ¡¯s bidding system is based on increments.
A bid increment is the amount by which a bid will be raised
each time the current bid is outdone.
Automatic bidding system: AJ uses an automatic bidding
system to make bidding more convenient. There¡¯s nothing you
need to set up, the system is already in place.
Tips for successful bidding
Don't bid on identical items in different listings if you
just want one. If you win both, you'll be obligated to buy
both.
If you¡¯re outbid on an item, wait until the auction has ended
before placing a bid on an equivalent item. If the bidder
who outbid you retracts his or her bid, your bid may become
the winning bid. Consider placing the identical item on your
list of items you're watching in My AJ.
To change your bid amount, click the ¡°Back to Item¡± link at
the bottom of the page. Then enter a new bid amount.
Learn about Buyer Protection Programs.
Getting outbid
When another buyer has placed a higher maximum bid than yours,
you¡¯ve been outbid. Learn more about getting outbid.
Bids over $15,000
To place a bid of $15,000 or more, you must provide a valid
credit card (your card won't be charged) or go through our
ID verify process (no credit card required). This helps ensure
that AJ members involved in large sales are of legal age
and serious about completing the transaction.
You only need to provide this information once. To find out
if you already have a credit card on file, please check your
Account Status. AJ encourages you to file your credit card
or get verified in advance.
Pre-approved bidders
Sellers can create a pre-approved bidders list to restrict
their listings to a specified group of buyers. Here¡¯s what
you can expect if you bid on a listing that has a pre-approved
bidders list:
If you are a pre-approved bidder: The bidding process will
proceed as usual.
If you are not one of the pre-approved bidders: You¡¯ll get
a notice that the item is restricted, and you will not be
allowed to bid on the item. If you are interested in the item,
contact the seller to request being added to the pre-approved
bidders list.
Learn about the pre-approved bidders list from a seller's
point of view.
Blocked bidders
Sellers can make their listings unavailable to a specified
list of bidders. Blocked bidders will receive an error message
that states they are not allowed to bid on that seller's listings.
If you are blocked from a listing and want to discuss the
situation with the seller, click the seller's User ID or the
"Ask the seller a question" link on the listing
page.
Note: Blocked bidders may not bid on that seller's listings
with another User ID. This could result in indefinite suspension
from AJ.
Learn about the blocked bidder list from a seller's point
of view.
Shill bidding
Shill bidding is the deliberate use of secondary registerrations,
aliases, family members, friends, or associates to artificially
drive up the bid price of an item. (This is also known as
"bid padding.") Shill bidding is strictly forbidden
on AJ. AJ members found shill bidding may receive warnings
or indefinite suspensions of their accounts.
Learn about rules and policies regarding shill bidding.
