Skip to main content

How to Display Auctions Before Bidding Starts (Setting Bidding Start Time and Disable Pre-Bidding)

Bianca Utihata avatar
Written by Bianca Utihata
Updated this week

Timed Auctions

You can delay the start time of bidding in a timed auction so that the auction appears live (and open for registration) before bids are accepted.

To do this:

  1. Create an auction

  2. Go to the Dates tab

  3. Set the Start Date to when you want bidding to open

⚠️ Please note:
The auction and its items will be publicly visible as soon as both are in a LIVE status, even if bidding hasn’t yet started.

Webcast Auctions

For Webcast auctions, you must disable pre-bidding so that you can display the auction and its lots in advance, without allowing bids until the auction’s start time.

To do this:

  1. Create an Auction

  2. Navigate to the Dates tab

  3. Use the Enable Webcast Pre-Bidding checkbox:

    • Tick to allow pre-bidding

    • Leave unticked to disable pre-bidding

Pre-Bidding / Bidding Start Time FAQs

Q: Can users register before bidding is open?
​A: Yes — users can register for the auction even if bidding is not yet available.
​

Q: What does the user see before bidding starts?
​A: The auction appears live, but bid buttons are disabled until the bidding start time is reached.

Did this answer your question?