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What is BidMuseum?
Welcome to BidMuseum, the only place to be at, for a fun and thrilling online auctions galore.
Our daily auctions start at a mere $0.01 with no reserve, for only the best quality brand new top-name items at unbelievably low prices. A quick peek at the range of products we currently have for auction and you will no doubt find one that you want. From there, all you need to do is purchase a bid at a paltry $0.50 each and you are good to go.
Here’s a brief look into how the bid process works. Once you place your bid, we will increase the timer back up to a maximum of 20 seconds. This is in order to allow other interested bidders a chance to place their bids. However, should no one else place a bid and the timer reaches zero – you will emerge the winner of yet another fabulous BidMuseum bargain!
How do I participate?
In order for you to bid, you need to register at BidMuseum. Thereafter, purchase your bids and immediately get in on the bidding action.
How much does a bid cost?
Every bid costs $0.50. Bids are available in "BidPacks" of 30, 60, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 bids.
How do I place a bid on BidMuseum?
It is easy for anyone to bid on BidMuseum. All one needs to do is simply follow these 4 steps: - Register on BidMuseum – Free of charge
- Charge-up your account by buying bids
- Select an auction to participate in
- Bid and win, win, win!
Register – Free of charge
In order to bid online, you must first register. Registration is absolutely free and easy to do. To conclude the registration process, a confirmation email will be sent to your account containing a link which you should click on in order to confirm your email address.
Once you have been confirmed: congratulations – you are now registered with BidMuseum.
Charge-up your account by buying bids
Each bid is priced at just $0.50, and comes in "BidPacks" of 30, 60, 100, 250, 500 and 1000. Select the size of BidPack you want to buy then decide on the most suitable payment option available, be it credit or debit card, or PayPal.
Select an auction to participate in
What’s your fancy? That luxury all-expenses paid vacation you have been craving? A brand new Apple notebook? Or maybe the latest Manolo Blahniks you are dying to get your feet into? We apologize in advance for making it difficult to know what to pick and what to leave behind! Each of our thrilling auctions is listed on our homepage for easy access. Alternatively, you may browse through the categories to find what you' need.
Bid and win, win, win!
And now you are all set to participate in your first BidMuseum auction. All you need to do now is simply click on the "Bid" button!
And should you have to leave your computer, no need to worry because our "BidBot" will place bids on your behalf when you are away.
How does the BidBot work?
The BidBot bids for you when you haven't got the time to follow a live auction. Simply choose your price range and the maximum number of bids that you want the BidBot to use. The BidBot will then bid automatically for you within your price range.
How does the BidBot know when to bid?
If there is just one BidBot booked to bid in an auction, the bids will be placed automatically within your range at any point within the final ten seconds. The countdown will then extend to a maximum of 20 seconds for each bid that is placed.
If there are two or more BidBots bidding against each other, all the consecutive BidBot bids are placed immediately, and the price and countdown increase with each BidBot bid placed. The countdown will extend to a maximum of 20 seconds per bid.
Hint: Ensure that the price ranges you choose are not too close together. - You must book a minimum of 2 bids for the BidBot to be able to bid.
- A BidBot can be deleted at any point. All unused bids at the time the BidBot is deleted will be returned to your account.
Why did the auction end before my BidBot bids were placed?
The auction can end before your minimum BidBot range has been reached. The BidBot can only join the auction within the given price range. This ensures that we offer the lowest prices for our products. All unused bids will be returned to your account.
What happens to bids that are not used by my BidBot?
Unused bids will be returned to your account.
This can happen when your BidBot isn't able to use all of your bids within the given price range or when the auction is won at a lower price than you instructed your BidBot to bid between.
All unused bids are returned to your account as soon as the auction ends.
What advice is there about how to bid?
Our customers often ask us for tips on how to improve their chances of winning at a BidMuseum auction.
We always tell them that unfortunately, there’s no "sure-fire" winning strategy. However, we do have a few tips to help you get started. These include ways to avoid the traps that novice bidders sometimes find themselves caught in.
Place your bid late
Watch the timer and try to place your bid in the last ten seconds. Should the timer reach this point, chances are high that the auction will end with you as the winner unless another bid is placed.
Begin with the least expensive products
Although you can get some incredible bargains on our most expensive products, these tend to also be our most competitive auctions, as they attract hundreds of bidders. Our cheaper items tend to attract fewer bidders, which increases your chances of winning.
Use the BidBot to your advantage
The BidBot is a great ally to have in your corner. With the right timing you can place a bid that will have your competitors running away from the auction! They will not like having their bids matched over and over again by your all powerful BidBot, and if you’re lucky, you may just persuade them to give up and live to fight another day.
Turn your competitor’s BidBots against them
Some bidders also tend to place their bids with their BidBots and then forget all about it. This provides you with an opportune time to sneak in and place a single winning bid when your competitor has stepped away from their laptop, with the false assurance that their BidBot has everything under control. This is because many users tend to set the ‘Bid To’ value of their BidBots to a round number. By watching out for this, you may be able to snap up a bargain by simply clicking on the “Bid” button once a competing BidBot has just finished their bids.
Watch out for other bidders
Timing is everything! Observe the details of the last ten bids placed; try to determine who is bidding and when they’re bidding. This will help you to figure out when is the right time to get in and win.
Check out the competition
Check to see how many different bidders have recently bid in an auction. Your chances of winning are increased in the event that you have fewer bidders interested in that particular item than if there are many competing bidders.
Bid at the right time of day
The number of bidders varies throughout the day. If you are smart you will use this advantage to win bargains by bidding when other users are occupied elsewhere, say, out shopping or preparing lunch.
Perfect your BidBot
When using your BidBot to place bids; try not to set your ‘Bid To’ value to a round number, because your competitors will most likely be watching out for this.
How do I purchase bids?
Bids can be purchased at BidMuseum via a credit or debit card (through PayPal), or via your PayPal Account balance. Note - Bids are available in "BidPacks" of 30. 60, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 bids.
How can I keep track on the auctions I am bidding on?
After logging in to your BidMuseum account, you can go the "My Auctions" page to keep up with the auctions you are bidding on.
How can I see how many bids I have placed in an auction?
To see the number of bids you have spent in an auction, you will first need to login to your BidMuseum Account. After login, you can go to the “Bid Account” page to track the bids placed by you in a particular auction.
You can also get more details on each bid by clicking on the “+” icon that appears at the right of each auction, on the “Bid Account” Page.
How can I see my Booked BidBot bids?
In a Live Auction
Click on the “BidBot Overview” tab which can be seen in the right panel of a Live Auction. You will then be able to see the details of your BidBot for that particular auction.
All Active BidBots
To see all your active BidBots, go to the “My BidBots” page after logging in to your Account. You will then be able to see all your currently active BidBots.
How can I see how much I have spent in an auction?
You can see the amount and the number of bids spent in an auction by viewing the “Savings” section on the auction page. The “Saving” section will show you the number of bids placed and the amount it cost you to place those bids in that particular auction.
How can I see the active bidders of a live auction?
Active bidders of a Live Auction can be seen by viewing the “Bid History” section on the auction page.
The “Bid History” panel will show you the last 10 bidders and their bidding details. It also shows you the price, and the type of bid placed – Single Bid, or via BidBot.
I\'ve placed a bid. Why am I presently not the highest bidder?
Once a bid is placed, it automatically becomes the highest bid. However, chances are that it will get out-bid fast, especially if there are many bidders or a competitor has activated their BidBot to place bids in that particular auction. This may not be noticeable immediately simply because competing bids may be placed within a few seconds of each other, and at other times, within the same second.
Use the tips below, to make your bidding more effective: - Refer to the bid history and see the number of competing bidders for that particular auction, as well as the types of bid placed. In the event that there are only single bids, activate your BidBot, which will not only save on the number of bids you have to place, but also help you to become the highest bidder.
Search for a similar auction, but one which has fewer bidders. It is likely that you will find a similar item on auction at the same time, which also has fewer bidders. This will enable you to get a great deal without having to place too many bids.
I’ve just won an auction. How do I proceed?
First of all - congratulations are in order so…Congratulations!
How to confirm your win
At the end of an auction, go to the “Won Auctions” page in the “My Account Panel” where you may either accept or reject to pay for the item. At this point the winner has the opportunity to redeem any unused vouchers and is also informed on how to pay the final amount. You will also be contacted via e-mail with more information on how to do all this. It is important to confirm that you still wish to purchase the item within 7 days of the end of the auction. If we still haven’t received confirmation within 7 days, we will assume that you have changed your mind and no longer wish to buy the item.
How to pay for the item you’ve won
Winners may pay for their won item directly via their PayPal Account balance or by credit or debit card (through PayPal). Please ensure that you facilitate payment within 14 days of the end of the auction. Your payment will be confirmed via e-mail, and we will thereafter arrange for the item to be shipped to you. Please contact us in the event that the item has not reached you within 25 days (due to worldwide delivery) of our confirmation of our payment.
How can I redeem my vouchers?
We give away free vouchers to our customers from time to time. The vouchers that we distribute are of 2 types – Bid Vouchers, or Cash Vouchers.As you might have guessed, bid vouchers are those which credit free bids to your account; while cash vouchers give you a cash discount while paying for your won item.
Redeeming Vouchers
If you are amongst the lucky few who has received a free voucher from us, you can redeem it while paying for your won auction. Both the bid and cash vouchers can only be redeemed if you have won an item and want to pay for it.
If you have an active voucher credited in your account, and you click on the “Make Payment” button to pay for the won item, after which you will be taken to the voucher page. You can then choose whether or not you wish to use a voucher at this time, and can then proceed with the payment.
If you choose to use a voucher while making payment, you need to note the following:
If the voucher is a cash voucher, you can use it to get a cash discount while paying for the item.
If the voucher is a bid voucher, using it while making payment will get free bids credited to your account after the payment is made.
What are the different types of auction?
Penny Auction
The price increases by just one cent with each subsequent bid placed in a penny auction.
3 cent Auction
The price increases by three cents with each subsequent bid placed in a 3 cent auction.
5 cent Auction
The price increases by five cents with each subsequent bid placed in a 5 cent auction.
7 cent Auction
The price increases by seven cents with each subsequent bid placed in a 7 cent auction.
NailBiter Auction
In a NailBiter Auction, BidBots may not be used. Bidders are only allowed to place single bids by calling or manually clicking. Do not walk away or you might just miss out on the next great bargain!
Fixed Price Auction
Winners in a Fixed Price Auction only pay the price indicated in the heading of the auction (including delivery costs if any), regardless of the bidding level at the close of the auction.
100% off
In an auction which is marked “100% off”, the winner does not have to pay the final price. That’s right: they get to walk away with their win at no charge whatsoever. All they need to pay are the delivery charges, if any.
How can I watch an auction?
You can watch an auction by clicking on the text “Add Auction to Watchlist” on the auction page.
You can keep record of your watched auctions by going to the “Watched Auctions” page after logging in to your account.
How do I locate the different auctions available on BidMuseum?
There are various ways in which users may find items for auction on BidMuseum. These are:
Live auctions
Users may click the “All Auctions” button in the top menu and all live auctions with their countdown will be displayed.
Ended auctions
In order to view all auctions that have been concluded, please click the “Ended Auctions” button in the top menu and a list of all the auctions that have ended, along with their closing price, will be displayed.
Search
Users may also perform a search for any type of item or auction by simply typing it in the search bar, and then clicking on the search button.
Auction ID
Each auction on BidMuseum has its own unique auction ID. This ID is located at the top of the auction header (just above the image of the item), on the auction detail page. This is the auction ID that you should refer to in the event that you have a question regarding a particular auction.
When and how does an auction end?
An auction is concluded once the timer reaches zero. An auction may also be concluded when it reaches the date and time mentioned on the auction page.
What\'s the difference between the auction end price and the actual price?
Auction end price
Auction end price is the price at which the auction ended. Only the winner of the auction may purchase the item at the auction end price. In some instances, there are special offers available on an auction such as "100% off", “Fixed price", etc. - again, these may only be enjoyed by the winner of the auction.
Actual price
Actual price is an indicator of the price at which this item may be purchased elsewhere along with the shipping costs associated with the product to ship it worldwide.
Substitute Items
In the rare event that we are no longer able to source the specific item detailed in the auction, you will be contacted and we will offer to send you an equivalent item of at least equal value. Most of our auction items are high-technology items which have a short life-cycle, which often translates to an upgrade to a newer version of the product.
Delivery Time
Different items have different delivery times. Most of our items are shipped directly from our suppliers they arrive within 10-20 days of payment; however, it may take longer due to international delivery. You will be informed as soon as your item has been dispatched.
Delivery Charges
We are one of the only auction websites on the internet who offer free shipping on all purchases.
Why haven\'t I recieved my product yet?
If after 25 days from payment you still haven’t received your item, please contact our customer service team. Majority of our products are shipped directly from our suppliers and are sent soon after you have facilitated payment.
Which country users are allowed to allowed to participate on BidMuseum?
One fact that distinguishes us from other penny auction websites is that we allow users from all over the world to participate in the BidMuseum auctions.
We accept users from the following countries: Albania American Samoa Andorra Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Belize Bermuda Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guyana Haiti Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Israel Jamaica Japan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Pakistan Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Thailand Timor-Leste Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zimbabwe
What should I do, if the won item I received is faulty?
First of all, we apologize for your receiving an item that you are not pleased with. Majority of our winners have not experienced any problems with their products, but once in a while an item might not work or may be damaged during transit. In such a case, we endeavor to fix this problem as fast as is possible.
Sometimes it might be useful to check the manufacturer’s website or call their helpline, as many of the most common problems are easily sorted out without your having to return the item.
In case you receive a faulty item, please contact us and we’ll inform you on what to do next. Please, inform us of the auction ID, as well as the serial number of the product, in order to help us to sort out your problem faster.
We are affiliated to a number of different suppliers who are always eager to solve any problems you may have, as well as to replace faulty items, if necessary.
Please contact us first before sending back the item to us, as this will increase the period it takes to replace your item. In the event that your product needs to be replaced, we’ll contact you and inform you on how to proceed.
Do you offer a standard guarantee on the auctioned items?
Our warranties on products may vary depending on the type of item won. Please contact our customer service team with any queries about our warranties or guarantees which apply to a won item.
Can I return an item that I have won?
We would prefer it if you were pleased with the item you won, but in the event that you do not wish to keep the item, please contact our customer service team and you will be informed on how to proceed. When you contact us, please indicate: - Your user name
- The auction ID of the won item
- Your reasons for wishing to return the item
Please note that we only offer refunds on the final auction price of the won item, as well as shipping costs. However, we do not offer refunds on the cost of the bids placed during that auction.
Do you offer refunds on won items?
In the event that, within 7 days of delivery, you no longer want the item you had won, we will refund the final auction price paid, as well as the costs of delivery. However, ensure that the item is still in its original packaging and is not damaged.
To proceed with the refund, please get in touch with our customer service team for information on how to proceed, ensuring that you include the auction ID and your user name. However, please remember that we do not offer refunds on the cost of the bids placed during that auction, nor the return shipping cost.
How do I change my password?
You can change your password by going to the "Change Password" page under the "Details" panel, after logging in to your account.
You will then be able to enter a new password and confirm it.
What to do if I have forgotten my username/password?
If, by any chance, you have forgotten your username or password, please click on the “Forgot Password” text just below the login panel in the header of the site.
You can then enter your email address and we will happily send your login details to you.
How can I subscribe/unsubscribe from the BidMuseum newsletter?
To subscribe/unsubscribe from the BidMuseum newsletter, please login in to your BidMuseum Account and click on the “Newsletter” tab in the “Details” panel of your account.
You will then have the option of subscribing/unsubscribing from the BidMuseum newsletter.
Is it possible to change my user name?
No, you may not change your user name. Upon registration, ensure that you do not select a user name that may offend or violate the rights of third parties. If you come across such a user name on BidMuseum, please contact our customer service.
How do I add or change my address?
You can add or change your address by going to the "My Addresses" page under the "Details” panel after logging into your account.
You will then have the option of adding a new address or changing the current one.
How do I change my first name and surname?
If your first name or surname has changed since you registered, please contact our customer support team.
How can I check the available bids in my account?
To check the available no. of bids in your BidMuseum account, please login to your account and you will then be able to see the available no. of bids instead of the login panel in the header.
Where can I check the vouchers available in my account?
You can see the vouchers available in your account by going to the “Vouchers” page by clicking on the “Vouchers” tab under the “Account” panel after logging in to your account.
Where can I see how many auctions I have won?
To view your won auctions, you will first need to login to your account. After login, click on the “Vouchers” tab, under the “Auctions” panel. You will then be taken to the “Won Auction” page, where you can see all the auctions you have won.
How can I close my account?
After logging in to your account, click on the “Close Account” tab, under the “Details” panel, and follow the instructions to get your account deleted from BidMuseum.
How can I accept a won auction?
To accept a won auction, login to your account and go to the “Won Auctions” page by clicking on the “Won Auctions” tab under the “Auctions” panel.
You can then accept or deny to pay for any auction that you may have won.
What is my customer ID?
To know your customer ID, login to your account and click on the “My Details” tab under the “Details” panel. You will then be taken to a page showing your account information. Your customer ID will also be shown on this page.
How can I change my email address?
To change your email address, you will need to contact our customer support team with the following information of your account (so that we know it’s you) – Full Name, Address, Current Email Address, Customer ID, Date of Birth, Mobile No., Username, and the new email address. If all the information provided by you is correct, our customer support team will change your email address for you.
How do I pay for my bids?
You may pay for your BidPacks via your PayPal Account balance or by credit or debit card (through PayPal). We accept the following major credit cards - Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Diners, American Express and Discover Card.
How can I pay for my won auctions?
Winners may pay for won items via their PayPal Account balance or by credit or debit card (through PayPal). We accept the following major credit cards - Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Diners, American Express and Discover Card.
How secure are your payment methods?
The security and privacy of your information is important to us. BidMuseum uses high-security encoding (SSL) to protect your payment Information during processing of your online payments.
Why hasn\'t my bid been registered on an auction?
On rare occasions, bidders may complain that even though they placed bids before the countdown reached zero, their bids were not placed before the auction ended. Such instances are normally due to the so-called "Internet lag times", which are time-delays experienced during data transfer between our servers and your PC. Such delays (lags) normally occur because of overloads on single parts of the internet connection.
Unfortunately, this is a normal internet problem over which we have no control.
However, you may minimize this problem by: - Avoiding the downloading of large data such as video or audio files from the internet while using BidMuseum.
- Avoiding sending emails with large attachments while bidding on BidMuseum.
- Ensuring that no other users such as family members, etc. are using the internet at the same time that you are bidding on BidMuseum.
It is unfortunate that your bid wasn't registered by the BidMuseum servers in time. In order to avoid the problem of "Internet lag times", use your BidBot to bid on your behalf or avoid leaving your bidding until the last second.
Why can’t I bid through my AOL web browser?
Unfortunately, you cannot use an AOL browser to bid on BidMuseum. As a standard setting, AOL doesn’t allow cookies to be stored in the browser. This means that bidders are unable to see the countdown timers or place their bids. It is advisable to use a different browser, such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome or Opera and make sure that cookies are enabled in this browser.
Very Important Security Notice!
Please note very carefully that no BidMuseum employee will ever ask you for details such as your password, whether via emails or over the phone. As such, please do not give out your password to anyone and immediately inform our customer service in the event that you receive such a request.
What danger do fake emails (Spoof und Phishing) pose?
"Phishing" or "Spoofing" emails are fake emails which are sent in order to illegally obtain confidential information from you such as passwords or credit card details. Email requests for such confidential information should be regarded with due suspicion.
How do I recognize a fake email requesting for payment?
You can only make payments to BidMuseum via the www.BidMuseum.com website. Please ignore any emails that request you to transfer money through direct debit or Western Union.
How do I proceed after receiving a suspicious email?
• DO NOT click on any link included in a suspicious email; as such links may lead to websites which are designed to illegally access your personal data or to commit other related crimes.
• Please forward such emails to our customer service through the contact page. We will check such emails and confirm whether or not they were sent by BidMuseum.
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