How to Import Bidders with a CSV File

IMPORTANT: If you are switching from another auction management software to ours, please make sure to consult the support team at helpdesk@bidwrangler.com before importing your past bidders. It is often recommended to start from scratch and to discuss this with the support team before doing this import on your own.

The Bidders import creates or updates bidder accounts in bulk from a CSV file. Every row needs a first name, a last name, and an email address. The import matches on the email address across your whole syndication group, so a re-import updates accounts instead of creating duplicates. The Bidders import does not register anyone for an auction. To register bidders for a sale, use the Registrations import.

Use the Bidders import to load bidder accounts from another system or to update account details in bulk. If your goal is to register a list of bidders for one auction, the Registrations import is the correct tool, because it creates accounts and registers them in one pass.

Download the bidders import template from the import page and keep the template headers exactly as written. When every header in your file is a template header, the page maps all columns automatically. One extra column that the page does not recognize turns the automatic mapping off, and you must then map all 22 dropdowns by hand. You do not have to use every template column. A trimmed file with only the columns you need still maps automatically.

If you fill the Tax Rate ID or buyers premium columns, read the IDs off the Invoicing and Payments screens first.

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

2. Click Create.

3. Click Choose File and attach your CSV file.

4. Make sure that each column maps to the correct field.

5. Save to start the import.

6. Examine the import report for rows that failed.

Required: Email Address is the matching key. An email that already belongs to a bidder at a sister company updates that account and gives the bidder access to your company. First Name and Last Name are plain text.

Bidder Number is the bidder's permanent number. It must be more than 0 and unique within your company. Leave it empty for bidders who do not keep a number across sales. If you haven't done permanent bidders before, please consult with the support team before you start.

Password sets or resets the account password. Leave it empty, and the bidder sets a password through the normal reset flow. It may also be easier to enter something, then have the bidder reset it or help them do so later.

Default Online Registration Status accepts pending, approved, or blocked, and defaults to pending. A row set to approved drops back to pending when its address is missing or invalid, because an approved bidder needs a usable address.

Receive Emails turns on only for the exact lowercase value true. The values TRUE, True, 1, and yes all read as off.

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. If the address does not validate as a whole, the import drops the address, and the rest of the row still imports. No error is reported for a dropped address, so examine a sample account after the import.

Tax Rate ID must be an existing invoicing tax rate. Live Buyers Premium ID and Online Buyers Premium ID must be existing buyers premiums. An unknown ID leaves that field empty, imports the rest of the row, and writes a line to the error report.

The import cannot register a bidder for an auction. It cannot import a row that matches a super user account. It cannot carry custom fields, because the bidder record has no custom field capability.

Why didn't my extra column map automatically?

Automatic mapping applies only when every header in the file is a template header. One unrecognized column turns automatic mapping off for the whole file. Remove the extra column, or map all 22 dropdowns by hand.

Why did Receive Emails stay off when my file said TRUE?

That column accepts only the exact lowercase value true. Change the values to lowercase and run the import again.

Why is the bidder's address missing after the import?

The address columns validate together. An address that fails validation is dropped without an error, and the rest of the row imports. Make sure that the street has 6 to 50 characters, the city has 3 to 25 characters, and the country is a two-letter code.

Why did a bidder from another company get updated?

Matching runs on the email address across your whole syndication group. An existing account at a sister company is updated and given access to your company. A second account is not created.

Should I put passwords in the file?

We recommend that you leave the Password column empty. Each bidder then sets a password through the normal reset flow.

Why did the registration status change to pending?

A row set to approved needs a complete, valid address. Without one, the status drops back to pending.

• How to Export Bidders

• How do I import registrations from other platforms?

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