How do I clerk an auction?
What is the online clerking panel?
The clerking panel provides the auction clerk with enhanced controls during online or simulcast auctions. When using a computer to clerk a live auction, the interface in the clerking panel can help to keep bidders engaged up to the final minute of an auction.
The clerking panel also provides an interface to monitor bidders, bids, and status of lots/items in a timed, online-only auction.
How is it different?
- Optimized for customers who clerk auctions from a computer
- See high, ask, and reserve prices in real time
- Start, pause, extend, end, and reopen an auction at any point
- Change the starting time, ending time, and auto-extend increments
- See the active bidding schedule, change the live increment, or override the current next increment (live or timed)
- See complete bid history
- Create/edit/delete new bids either as a registered remote bidder or as a floor bidder
- Accept/reject live and remote bids
- See registered bidders and their online/offline state
- Send in-app notifications and review the notifications you've already sent
How do I get to the clerking panel?
When you sign in as an admin, the "register to bid" button in an auction will instead say "clerk." Click "clerk" and you will be taken to the clerking panel.
What does the clerking panel look like?
At the top of the clerk screen, you will see the item's photo and name in the top left corner. To the right, the current bid, asking price, and reserve price of the item will be shown.
"Auction State" - This section will have the time remaining displayed(timed auction) as well as buttons which control the state of an auction. For example, a clerk is able to start, pause, close, or reopen an auction with a button in this space.
"Autostart" - If you are running a timed to live auction, the autostart button (located in the top left of the clerking panel) will not appear until the live portion of the auction.
"Bidding Settings" - These fields will allow a clerk to adjust the next timed or live bidding increment quickly, as well as adjust the starting bid and reserve price before an auction begins.
"Simulcast Clerking" - In a simulcast auction, the clerking screen will appear here. The auction clerk is able to use the live clerking buttons to quickly increment the asking price, and accept/reject remote bids from bidders using the app.
"Bidding History" - This shows all bids that have been placed on this item. Each bidder, amount, and time the bid was placed will be shown in the list. Each of these bids can be edited or deleted from the list. "Create Bid" allows a clerk to manually input a bid on the item for both Floor and Remote bidders. A remote bidder (typically someone calling in a bid) can be attached to their registration and name, while a floor bid is used for live bidders within a room.
"Bidders" - The bidders panel will display a list of all bidders registered for an auction, with a green dot for bidders currently active/viewing an item. Clicking on the bidder's name will expand and display their contact information.
"Maxbids" - This will display all maxbids that have been input by bidders, as well as the bidder, amount, and time the bid was placed. You have the ability to edit and delete each maxbid in this window.
"Previous Notifications" - This window has a record of all sent item push notifications for this item, including the time and date sent.
" Send a Notification" - This window will allow a clerk to quickly send out banner and email notifications (if bidder has elected to receive bidding notifications via email) from a set of default messages, or a custom message typed in the text field. Once sent, each message will appear in the above "Previous Notifications" field.
How do I access my bidders contact information in the clerking panel?
Scroll to the "Bidders" panel, and click the bidder's name. This will expand the window to display bidder contact information.
Contact information about registered bidders will be displayed in this format when expanded.
How do I create a floor or remote bid in the clerking panel?
Within the “New Bid” screen, floor, and remote can be manually entered. This allows online bidders to have an updated new asking price and high bid on each item.
"Floor" - This is typically for bidders not registered with a username that would need a bid manually input for for them. Select "Floor" from the dropdown to assign them to that bid.
Typing a name, email, or paddle number - allows for a specific bid to be input and assigned to a specific bidder registered in the auction. This commonly is used for bidders that would be bidding on a telephone call. Select the bidder from the dropdown, and enter the bid.
Here is a video that will provide a quick overview of the online clerk panel: