Readiness Checklist

First Steps:

Navigate to Software Settings > Auction Settings

1. General Event Details: 

• • Max Bidding - Max bidding allows guests to place 'Not to exceed' amounts on items which in turn allows the system to bid for them up to their designated amount. If they get outbid, the bidder receives an outbid text which reminds them to bid again.

• • Event Start Date/Time: - Edit the start time of your event here. This controls when the landing page allows bidders to sign in and start bidding on auction items.

2. Bidder Settings:

• • Allow Bidder Registration? - Turns on the ability for guests to register themselves. Guests receive a welcome text and welcome email upon registration.
  • Require Address - Make addresses required before a bidder logs into the bidding site.
  • Require Credit Card Info? - Make a credit card required before logging into the bidding site.

• • Register to Bid Welcome Email - Compose your own welcome email that includes any important information about your event. Do not add shortcodes to this email as the bidding link and bidder number are automatically included at the bottom.

3.  Butler Settings:

• • Login Details - Copy the URL provided and send it to your volunteers to use the night of your event to assist with Check in and Check out. Login will be a user that is set up with butler permissions under Software Settings > Users.
  • Custom Welcome Text - Leave the message blank if you like the default text "Welcome! Tap here to bid: [u] Enjoy! [t]" or customize your own message. Remember to type the [u] bidding link somewhere in your message. 

4. Payment:

• • Payment Method - If nothing is selected, click the dropdown and select BidKit Payments. If your account is not set up, click Merchant Registration to set up your Stripe account and enable credit card charging.
  • Capture Admin Fees - Add 3.63 (3.724 for Canada) if you want to charge your bidders the credit card processing fees. You can also turn on the "Allow guests to opt-out of Admin Fees" if you choose.
  • Guests Can Checkout from Phone? - Make sure this feature is turned on if you want to allow guests to check out on their own.

5. FMV Settings:

• • Showing FMV - You have the option to show item FMV on the Landing Page, Bidding Site, and Bidder Receipts. We recommend at least showing FMV on bidder receipts.

6. Custom Content: 

• • Statement Footer - Add your Tax ID here so it shows at the bottom of bidder receipts.

Next Steps:

Navigate to Items > Manage Items

1. Item Set Up:

• • Check Your Closing Time - Use the arrows next to the "Closing" column to check for any incorrect closing times. To batch update closing times, select All of your items together and scroll down to the batch update section. Click Closing Time, select the date and time, and click Update.
  • Are Your Items Active? - Use the arrows by the "Status" column to make sure any items you want to allow bidding on are set to Active.
  • Check Your Prices - Use the arrows by the "Start" and "Raise" columns to make sure there are no $1 start and raise prices set unless set intentionally.  
  • Are You Accepting Donations? - Use the arrows by the "Type" column to determine if you have a Donation item set up. If not, click the "Add Item" button at the top of the page. Change the item type to Donation, set up any desired denominations, make it Active, and click Complete and Go Back.

Last Steps:

Navigate to Software Settings > Landing Page Content > Login/Register Area

1. Event Start:

• • Double-check your start date here. If this is not correct, click the hyperlink "support request" to update.
  • If you want to open the auction before the start date, you can use the "Open Auction Early" option to allow early bidding. Change this setting to Yes so bidders can sign into the bidding site.
  • Be sure to leave "Open Auction Early" to No if you do not want to allow early bidding. The auction will open automatically on the set start date and time.