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🧪 How to Create a Mock Auction in ClickBid

🎯 Why Run a Mock Auction?

A mock auction is a great way to:

  • Train staff, board members, or volunteers

  • Test bidder experience from registration to payment

  • Explore ClickBid’s bidding features in a live setting—without processing real credit card transactions

💡 Tip: Mock auctions are perfect for board meetings, committee previews, or dry runs before the big event.

🎁 Step 1: Activate a few Items

  1. Go to Items → Manage Items

  2. Quickly configure existing items:

    • Select a few items

     

    • Scroll down and click Batch Update

    • Choose:

      • Closing Time (recommend 15–30 minutes from now for testing)

      • Status: Set to Active

    • Click Update Items

💡 Tip: A short bidding window helps you see outbid and winner notifications in real time during your session.

🏠 Step 3: Share the Auction Link

  1. Return to your Home Page

  2. Find the Important Link section with your event keyword

  3. Copy the auction URL

  4. Share it with your board, committee, or test users

🧑‍💻 Step 4: Experience Bidding as a Participant

  • Click the Auction button in the top menu

  • Click on any item’s Place Bid button

  • You’ll be prompted to:

    • Enter your email and mobile number

    • Receive and enter a one-time login code

  • Place a bid:

    • Choose the next available amount

    • Or place a Max Bid to let the system auto-bid on your behalf

📌 Info: You’ll receive text notifications when outbid, with a direct link to rebid.

💡 Tip: Encourage your team to test out:

  • Bidding on multiple items

  • Competing with each other

  • Donating if donation items are active

🏆 Step 5: Simulate Payment & Checkout

When your test items close:

  • Winning bidders will receive a text message with a link to complete payment

⚠️ Note: Card payments WILL be processed and credit card fees will apply. We do not recommend charging cards during a mock auction.

To simulate In-Event checkout:

  1. Go to Event Central → Butler

  2. Pull up the winning bidder under Bidder Lookup

  3. Click the red Checkout button

  4. Choose a payment type:

    • Check

    • Cash

    • Other

  5. Submit the transaction

  6. The system will send a receipt via email to the bidder

 

💡 Tip: For test events, we recommend selecting cash or check to avoid unnecessary credit card fees or refund scenarios.

 

💰 Step 6: Refund and Remove Bids

After your mock auction concludes: 

  • Refund cash, check, or other payments under Event Central > Event Payments > Paid Checkouts.
  • Click the Refund Arrow to process the refund on the next page.
  • Delete the bids after the refund
    • Do this under Items > Manage items > Find the "Has Bids" tag 
  • Click "Has Bids" and click the Xs to delete the bids placed.

🧪 Final Thoughts

Running a mock auction helps everyone get comfortable with:

  • Registration and bidding flows

  • Outbid and winner notifications

  • The checkout and payment process

It’s the best way to ensure your live event runs smoothly—for your team and your guests.