How to Import Auctions with a CSV File

How to import auctions into BidWrangler with a CSV file: the required columns, the column mapping step, and the rules that reject a row.

The Auctions import creates or updates auctions in bulk from a CSV file. Each row in the file becomes one auction. Every auction needs a name and a description. The import matches rows on the External guid column, so a re-import with the same guid updates that auction. It does not create a second one.

Use the Auctions import to move a season of sales into BidWrangler at one time, or to bring auctions across from another platform. You can upload an items CSV and image ZIP files in the same import. If you do not supply an items CSV, the import creates one item per auction.

Download the auctions import template from the import page and keep all 39 column headers. You do not have to fill every column. Unmapped and empty columns are safe, and column order does not matter.

Some columns hold a BidWrangler ID, not a name. Read these IDs off the admin screens before you build the file: tax rates and buyers charges under Invoicing and Payments, seller commissions and reusable expenses under Seller Settlement, and categories under Auctions.

Give every row a value in the External guid column. The guid is your own unique identifier for the auction. Without it, every import creates duplicates, and image files cannot be matched. Image files in the ZIP attach to an auction by filename prefix. For example, auctioncompanyname1-1-1.jpg attaches to the auction with guid auctioncompanyname1.

For example:

• image 1 for lot 1: abcauctions1-1-1.jpg

• image 2 for lot 1: abcauctions1-1-2.jpg

• image 1 for lot 2: abcauctions1-2-1.jpg

• images will assign to auction import row with guid: abcauctions1

1. In the BidWrangler admin portal, open Imports and select Auctions imports.

2. Click Create.

3. Attach your auctions CSV file.

4. Attach the optional items CSV and image ZIP files if you have them.

5. In the format dropdown, select Custom.

6. Map each column to its BidWrangler field.

7. Save to start the import.

8. Examine the import report for rows that failed.

NOTE: The format dropdown also shows an entry named Upwork. That entry applies a stored header set from an older workflow, and it cannot reach the tax, fee, premium, commission, or category columns.

Required on every row: Auction name accepts up to 255 characters. Description accepts long text. Plain line breaks become HTML, and cells that already contain HTML tags are stored untouched.

Required unless the row is a Listing: Start Time and Timezone. The timezone must be a recognized zone name, for example America/New_York. The start time is read in that timezone. Scheduled end time becomes required when Timed Auction is on, and it must be after the start time.

Status accepts only pending, accepting_bids, paused, or complete, and defaults to pending. Other values leave the auction in no recognized state.

Yes/no columns (Listing, Timed Auction, Private, Hide prices, Becomes Live Auction, Extend all items together): only false, f, 0, off, and an empty cell count as no. Every other value counts as yes, and that includes the words no and n. Use true for yes. Leave the cell empty for no.

Address columns: the street needs 6 to 50 characters, the city needs 3 to 25 characters, the state needs at least 2 letters, and the country needs a two-letter code such as US. Note the column name location_zipcode on this import. Every other import uses location_zip.

Seller number must match a seller in your company. An unknown number imports the auction with no seller attached and writes a line to the error report.

• A value of yes in the Broadcast column rejects the row. A broadcast auction needs a video session that the import cannot create. Leave the cell empty and turn broadcast on in the admin afterward.

• Auto-extend by seconds must be empty, 0, or more than 10. Values 1 to 10 reject the row.

• Extend all items together is rejected on auctions with more than 100 items.

• A Third party bidding URL value rejects the row when that feature is off for your group.

CAUTION: Do not change the seller number on a re-import unless you intend to move the auction to that seller. The change moves the settlement data with it.

Why did my column import as yes when I typed "no"?

The import reads only false, f, 0, off, or an empty cell as no. The word no counts as yes. Use true and false, and leave the cell empty when you mean no.

What happens if I import the same file twice?

A row whose External guid already exists updates that auction. Rows without an External guid create a new auction on every import, so always fill that column.

Where do I find the Tax Rate ID and the other ID numbers?

Each ID is visible in the admin. Tax rates and buyers charges are under Invoicing and Payments. Seller commissions and reusable expenses are under Seller Settlement. Categories are under Auctions.

Does the Auctions import create items?

Yes. If you do not attach an items CSV, the import creates one item per auction. Attach an items CSV to load a full catalog in the same import.

Why is the auction missing its address?

The address columns validate together. If the street, city, state, zip, and country do not form a valid address, the address is not saved.

• BidWrangler Item Import Template

Questions about your import file? Reach out to helpdesk@bidwrangler.com and we are happy to help.