How Do I Add a Lot to the Beginning of My Auction?
To add a lot to the beginning of your sale in BidWrangler, first create the item in the auction as normal, then move it to the top of the catalog. New items are added at the end of the catalog by default, so the second step is what puts the lot first. You can move it with the drag and drop reorder feature on the Auction Review screen, or by giving it the lowest lot number and running a bulk Auction Position update.
Two Ways to Move a New Lot to Position 1
Drag and drop on the Review screen. Best when you are adding one or a few lots and just need them at the top. No renumbering required.
Renumber and bulk reorder. Best when you want the lot numbers themselves to reflect the new order, for example when the new lot should be Lot 1 and everything else should shift. This uses the Bulk Item Actions tool with the Auction Position field.
One approach that does not work: creating the new item as an "A" lot (like 1A) will not place it before Lot 1. "A" lots follow their base lot number, and the system currently orders ABC lots by when they were created rather than strictly alphabetically, so lettered lots are not a reliable way to insert an item at the front of a sale.
Before You Move the Lot
The auction must already exist and the new item must be created and saved in it. See How do I create an item in BidWrangler?
Note that the Items screen or BW Catalog App lists items in the order they were created, not in sale order. Always check the Auction Review in the Admin Portal screen to see the true catalog order.
Option 1: Drag the New Lot to the Top of the Review Screen
Log in to the Admin Portal and select Auctions from the left menu.
Click the auction title to open it, then select the Review tab.
Find your new lot (it will be at the bottom of the catalog).
Click the handle icon on the lot, then drag it to the top of the list. Items highlight as you drag to show where the lot will land.
Release, then approve the confirmation popup. The position for each lot in the auction updates sequentially.
Reordering does not appear on the public-facing auction page instantly. The system typically needs a few minutes to update, so check the bidder view after a short wait rather than assuming the change failed.
Option 2: Renumber the Lot and Run a Bulk Reorder
Give the new item a lot number lower than your current first lot, either by editing the item directly or with the Bulk Item Actions Lot ID field.
Navigate to the Items page and use the Filter By Recent Auction dropdown to filter to your auction.
Confirm the correct auction is selected, then click Filtered Items and select Update Items.
Choose Auction Position as the field to update.
Select the Reorder by Lot Number strategy. This adjusts positions to match the numerical sequence of lot numbers and allows "A" lots.
Click Execute, then Confirm, and verify the processing log shows zero errors.
Bulk item actions cannot be undone, so double-check the auction filter and the strategy before executing. Also note that the To Match Lot Number strategy cannot be used in auctions that contain "A" lots; use Reorder by Lot Number instead.
FAQ
Can I use an "A" lot, like 1A, to put an item before Lot 1?
No. "A" lots are designed to follow their base lot, so Lot 1A sequences after Lot 1, not before it. In addition, the system currently orders ABC lots by creation time rather than strictly alphabetically, so lettered lots can appear out of sequence and need manual repositioning. You may assign a lot "0" and bulk reorder it to move it in front of lot "1".
Why is my new lot not showing at the top on the website or app yet?
Reorder changes are confirmed instantly in the admin portal but take time to reflect on the public-facing auction page, typically within a few minutes. If the order still looks wrong after that, verify the order on the Auction Review screen, since the Items screen displays items in creation order rather than sale order.
I added several lots at once. Do I have to drag each one individually?
Drag and drop works one item at a time, so for a batch of new lots it is usually faster to assign each one the lot number you want and then run a single Auction Position bulk update with the Reorder by Lot Number strategy.
Can I renumber the whole catalog after inserting the new lot?
Yes. The Bulk Item Actions tool can update the Lot ID field across the catalog, and the Eliminate Number Gaps strategy for Auction Position removes gaps after a resequence. See How do I change my Lot Numbers? for a walkthrough.
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If you run into trouble getting a lot where you want it, reach out to helpdesk@bidwrangler.com and we are happy to help.