How to use Extended Bidding in Your Auction

The extended bidding feature is designed to prevent bid "sniping". This article will explain how extended bidding works and how to set it up.

NOTE: This feature is not automatically available in Handbid Manager and is available by request only. To request access to the Extended Bidding feature please email service@handbid.com.

What is extended bidding?

Extended bidding is designed to combat the "sniping" strategy, where bidders wait until the last second to place a bid in hopes of winning without giving others a chance to respond. When enabled, extended bidding automatically extends the closing time for items that receive bids during a specified period (final minutes) before the scheduled close.

Handbid’s Extended Bidding feature allows auction managers to enable extended bidding and set a closing threshold in minutes. If bids are placed within the last few minutes before an auction or item closes, the closing time is extended by the same threshold period.

Enabling Extended Bidding

The first step to using the extended bidding feature for your auction is to enable it in the auction settings.

Go to Auction Settings ⚙️
Click on the Bidders tab
Go to Extended Bidding, and check box to Enable Extended Bidding
Select the Extended Bidding Threshold in Minutes from the dropdown list — a bid placed during this specified time before the scheduled close will extend the closing time for this same specified time
Click the Update button

How Extended Bidding Works with an Auction Timer

When the auction timer expires, if any items had bids placed during the extended bidding threshold period, the auction status will change to Extended, allowing continued bidding on those items.

In the Handbid Manager, click on Extended Items under Items in the menu on the left to view all items with extended time.

How Extended Bidding Works with Category Timers

When a category timer expires, the category closes, and items with bids placed during the extended bidding threshold period move to an Extended category, allowing continued bidding on those items.

In the Handbid Manager, click on Extended Items under Items in the menu on the left to view all items with extended time.

How Extended Bidding Works with Item Timers

When an item's timer expires, if a bid was placed during the extended bidding threshold period, the item status will change to Extended, and a new timer will be set equal to the extended bidding threshold, allowing continued bidding.

In the Handbid Manager, click on Extended Items under Items in the menu on the left to view all items with extended time.