Requiring Manual Approval for First-Time (New) Bidders

We are pleased to introduce a new feature that provides auction companies with more granular control over bidder registrations by allowing them to require approval specifically for first-time bidders. This functionality is designed to help auction companies vet all new users prior to allowing them to bid in an auction on their platform.

This feature acts as an alternative to requiring manual approval for all bidders, enabling administrators to focus vetting efforts only on users who are new to the company's system.

Previously, auction companies could require manual approval for all bidders on a per-auction basis through the auction's associated Terms and Conditions. This new feature provides a specific control just for new users.

Note: On the Terms page, only one of these options—either 'Require manual approval' OR 'New Bidder Approval'—can be selected at a time.

To enable approval for first-time bidders, you must modify the Terms and Conditions associated with your auction:

1. Navigate to Terms and Conditions: Access the 'Edit Terms and Conditions' page in the Admin Portal for the terms used in your auction.

2. Select New Bidder Approval: Check the box labeled 'New bidder approval'.

3. Save: Save the updated Terms and Conditions.

When a bidder registers for an auction using Terms that require new bidder approval:

• First-Time Bidders: If they do not have a prior completed registration for the company, they are considered a first-time bidder. Upon completing registration, they are presented with a message indicating their registration requires manual approval. The bid button will display 'Pending Approval' until an administrator approves the registration.

• Existing Bidders: If they are not a first-time bidder (i.e., they have a prior completed registration for the company), they are automatically approved once they register and can bid right away, eliminating the need for clerk intervention.