Interbid Bidding Practice FAQ Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions
What are the shipping charges?
In general buyers need to make their own arangements for shipping. MGS will pack items for shipping for a small fee.

Can I pay by credit card?
Yes a 2.2% surcharge applies, or you can pay by cash, bank cheque, EFTPOS or Internet baqnking.

If I leave a bid limit ahead of the auction, will bidding start at my limit?
In general bidding will start well below your limit and the system will bid for you until you get the lot or the limit is reached. In fact where the bidding starts is up to the auctioneer, the only time bidding could start at a left limit is when the limit is below the reserve price.

If I place a bid limit does bidding jump to that limit?
No, the system will bid for you, until the limit is reached or you get the lot. You could end up paying a lot less than your limit.

What about offers?
It is often possible to enter an offer below what the auctioneer is currently seeking. The full amount of the offer is immediately shown to the auctioneer and it is entirely up to the auctioneer whether they take the offer or not.

Can I bid one increment at a time like I normally do at auctions?
While Interbid Live has a patented speed advantage that makes it the fastest live auction webcast system in the world, there are still unavoidable delays with Internet bidding. Unless you are reasonably quick there is a good chance that a single increment bid does not make it to the auctioneer in time.

What's the best bidding strategy?
Selecting a lot and setting an absentee bid limit is really great for giving you the best chance of getting a bid in no matter how fast the auction goes. If you can, set the absentee bid limit to about 80%-90% of the maximum you would pay and then if the bidding approaches the absentee bid increase it to your maximum. Note this bidding tip relies on increasing your limit before the bidding gets to it, so you always have an active limit in place. Its an art, but worth a try.

Will I get notified if I'm outbid?
An outbid notice email will be sent to you if you're outbid during the pre-bidding stage. Outbid notice emails are not sent if you're currently logged into the auction or during the live auctioning of the lot.

I left a bid limit well ahead of time, but the lot sold for that exact amount to someone else?
It is not uncommon for the bidding pattern to fall such that you don't get your final bid at your absolute limit. It is entirely up to the auctioneer whether they take a live bid from the auction floor or a bid from the Internet.

How do I get my bidder's number?
Firstly you need to be registered to bid at MGS webcasts, to register go to the account management section on the left. The first time you logon to a particular auction you will get a paddle number. Some people have permanent paddle numbers others get a new one each auction. The paddle number is important to identify yourself when you want to pay.

Can I view my bids?
Clicking "View My Lots" will display the lots you have bid on. If you favourite a lot by selecting the box in the bottom right hand corner of the lot it will also be displayed when you click on "View My Lots".

How can I pratice using the system?
If you have not used the bidding system before its very important you try the offline demo before the auction.

Should I bother to go to the auction?
It's always best to attend the auction in person if possible. Internet bidding is offered as an extra service for people that cannot easily get to the auction. The internet can be prone to slow downs and outages so it is always best to attend.