Image Quality Upgrade: How BidWrangler Serves and Stores Your Auction Photos
BidWrangler recently upgraded how auction item images are delivered on the bidding platform. Item images are now served in AVIF format, a modern image format that delivers noticeably better visual quality at significantly smaller file sizes compared to traditional JPEGs. For your bidders, this means sharper images that load faster, especially on mobile devices or slower connections. As part of this upgrade, images displayed on the bidding platform no longer carry embedded metadata from the original file - such as GPS coordinates or device details that cameras and smartphones often attach to photos - so that information is never exposed to the public.
This is a behind-the-scenes delivery change. Your original images are not affected - more on that below.
Your Original Images Are Always Preserved
Even though images are displayed as AVIF on the bidding platform, BidWrangler always retains your original JPG files in the Admin Portal. Nothing is lost or overwritten. When you export images through the Photo Manager, you will always receive the original JPG file -- not the AVIF version. This is the recommended way to retrieve your images any time you need them for re-uploading, marketing materials, or any other use.
Note: If you right-click and save an image directly from the bidding platform, you will receive the AVIF version rather than the original JPG. For any workflow that involves re-uploading or reusing images, use the Photo Manager export instead.
To export images from the Photo Manager:
Navigate to the Auction Review screen for the relevant auction.
Click Item Photos to open the Photo Manager.
To export all images for a specific lot, hover over the lot and select Export All Item's Photos.
To export all images in the auction, click Export All Photos.
To export a specific selection, check the images you want, then click Export # Selected Photos.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this change or need help with your image workflow, reach out to us at helpdesk@bidwrangler.com.