What is Mobile Bidding?

This year, all Silent Auction items will be bid on using your internet enabled mobile device (i.e. your smartphone). This has become a fun and wildly successful trend at fundraising events for several reasons.

• You can enter your bids easily using your phone from anywhere, not just when you are physically in front of the item, since there are NO paper bid sheets to write your bid on.
• You will receive "outbid texts" so that you know when someone has trumped your bid. You can bid again with just a click to make sure you get that favorite package.
• You can set a "max bid" amount on any package you wish and the system will bid in increments for you up until your max bid is reached - no need to "goal tend" packages. 
• You can watch certain items and see all your bids easily in the My Bids tab (think EBay). The bidding will open one week before the event and conclude at the end of illumination. We just need your mobile phone number on file and we'll send you a text to start bidding! 

What if I don't have a smartphone? 

Not to worry. There will be Bid Assistants around the Mackey House with devices to help. You can also use a friend's device by simply logging on using your own personal bidding number, then logging out so they can log back on with their own bid number. 

Are there other kinds of devices I could use? 

Yes. You can bring any Wi-Fi enabled tablet or touch screen device to use as your bidding device. 

Is there a big learning curve to wireless bidding? 

Not at all. It is a very user-friendly site that is clear and simple. Additionally, Bid Assistants will be available to help. 

Do I need to download an app to my phone? 

No. The wireless bidding platform is a mobile-ready website, so it will use your phone's internet browser. You will receive a text with a link to the site and your bidder number.

How do I start bidding?

It takes about 60 seconds after leaving the registration table for a text message to hit your phone. This text message will contain a link that will take you directly to your personal bidderapplication! 

How can I find the package I want?

From the home screen, enter the package name or number or a search phrase, and jump right to that package. Or, you can scroll through a list of packages by category by choosing"Browse by Category." When you see the package you want, click on the "Details/Bid" button to get more info about the package and to place a bid.  If you are attending illumination in person, you can view a full display of all items in the Mackey House.

How do I enter a bid?

Entering a bid is easy. Just go to a package's "Details/Bid" page, enter your bid amount into the box, and press the "Place Bid" button.

What is a "Max Bid"?

You can bid in two different ways. You can bid the traditional way by bidding the minimum raise, or you can enter the maximum you’re willing to pay for that package. When you place a maximum bid, the system enters the current minimum increase and then bids for you against other bidders until your maximum bid is reached.

Why would I enter a Max Bid? 

Maximum bids are ideal if you want to place a bid on a package and not worry about checking back to see if you are still the top bidder. The system will bid for you, using the minimum possible increase each time, until your maximum bid is reached. If someone exceeds your max bid, you will receive an outbid notification and are given the option to increase your maximum bid.

How do I know if I have been outbid?

If you are bidding with a smartphone, you will receive a text message when you have been outbid. If you are using a tablet or computer, you will see an onscreen outbid alert in theupper right-hand corner of your home page. You can also watch the status of your bids on the"My Bids" screen.

Why does it keep saying that I’m being outbid as soon as I try to put in a new bid for this package?

Most likely, someone else has set a max bid on this package. If you bid anything below their maximum bid, the system will automatically out bid you in favor of the max bidder.

I accidentally bid $10,000 on this package when I meant to only bid $1,000, can you help?

Yes! Find a Bid Assistant. He or she will then direct you to someone who can retract your bid. Once that bid is retracted, you will need to re-enter your $1,000 bid.

Where can I see my winning packages?

From the home screen of the bidder interface, click on the “My Bids” button.  

If I purchase packages in mobile bidding, when will my credit card get charged?

If you put your credit card on file, the card will be charged for your entire outstanding balance once we close out the auction post-event. This includes packages purchased in the silent auction and the live auction.

I accidentally clicked “Logout”, now what?

Log back in by entering your bidder number. If you don’t remember your bidder number, find a Bid Assistant or a staff member from the registration table to get the information to you. Also note that your bidder number is in the left hand corner of your screen once logged in.