How to Import Registrations with a CSV File

How to import registrations into BidWrangler with a CSV file: required columns, online vs live paddle numbers, and the paddle number minimum.

The Registrations import registers a list of bidders for one auction from a CSV file. It creates accounts for anyone not already in your company, and each imported bidder is registered and approved for the auction you select. Every row needs a first name and a last name, plus paddle and email columns that depend on the registration type. The form will not submit until the required columns are mapped.

First name and Last name are always required, and email is encouraged if you want users already in the system with emails (such as pre-existing online bidders) to be registered. Beyond that, map one of two column sets:

• Online registrations: map Online paddle number and Account email. The email matches an existing bidder in your company, or a new account is created.

• Live registrations: map Live paddle number only. Email and Online paddle number become optional. Bidders created this way get a placeholder address and cannot sign in to bid online.

Every online paddle number must be at or above the auction's Online Starting Paddle Number, and every live paddle number at or above the live starting number. The default starting number is 10,000. A spreadsheet numbered 1 to 50 fails on every row with "Online Paddle Number must be greater than or equal to 10000." Renumber your file, or lower the starting paddle number on the auction before you import.

For simulcast auctions, it is common to lower the tradition online paddle number range from 10,000 to something like 2000. Then, external paddle number range (to accommodate the external online bidders you're about to import/register) may be set to 5,000-1,000,000.

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

2. Click Create.

3. Select the auction.

4. Select the Buyer's Premium for the imported registrations.

5. Attach your CSV file.

6. Map First name, Last name, and your paddle and email columns.

7. Click Save to start the import.

8. Examine the import report for rows that failed.

NOTE: The Buyer's Premium you select applies to every row in the file. Existing registrations keep their own premium unless you select Override Buyer's Premium.

Required: First name and Last name must be mapped or the form will not submit. Online paddle number with Account email is the online registration set. Live paddle number alone is the live registration set.

Optional: Phone number, Secondary phone number, Driver license, Organization name, and Tax id are plain text.

Address columns are all or nothing on this import. Leave every address column empty, and the row imports without an address. Fill even one, and the street, city, state, zip, and country must together form a valid address, or the whole row fails. 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.

• A paddle number below the auction's starting paddle number fails the row.

• A paddle number that another bidder holds as a permanent bidder number fails the row.

• A bidder who already holds a different online paddle in this auction fails the row.

• A partial or invalid address fails the row.

Why does every row fail with a paddle number error? The auction's Online Starting Paddle Number is 10,000 by default, and every imported paddle number must be at or above it. Renumber the file, or lower the starting number on the auction.

Do imported bidders get approved automatically? Yes. Each bidder in the file is registered and approved for the auction you select.

Can I import live bidders who have no email address? Yes. Map Live paddle number only, and the email becomes optional. Bidders created this way get a placeholder address and cannot sign in to bid online.

Why did the whole row fail on the address? On this import, the address is all or nothing. One filled address column means the full address must validate, or the row fails. Either complete the address or empty every address column in that row.

Which buyer's premium do imported bidders get? The Buyer's Premium you select on the import page applies to every row. Bidders who were already registered keep their existing premium unless you select Override Buyer's Premium.

Does this import assign permanent bidder numbers? No. It assigns paddle numbers for the selected auction only. Permanent bidder numbers are assigned on the account or through the Bidders import.

• How do I import registrations from other platforms?

• How to Register All Permanent Bidders in Bulk via the Registration Import

• Exporting Auction Registrations in BidWrangler

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