Can I set a start date for my online auction?

Managing When Bidding Begins

While you cannot set an automatic start date, here's how you can control when bidding begins:

1. Close Sales Temporarily

   • In your Zeffy dashboard, go to "Fundraising" then "Campaigns"

   • Click on the three dots next to your auction form

   • Select "Close sales"

When sales are closed:

• Supporters can still view your auction items and form

• No bids can be placed until you reopen sales

• You can share your auction form link to give supporters a preview

Opening Your Auction for Bidding

When you're ready to begin accepting bids:

1. Go to "Fundraising" then "Campaigns"

2. Click on the three dots next to your auction form

3. Select "Open sales"

Important Notes

• Only an end date and time can be configured for your auction. If a bid is placed within the last 3 minutes of an item's close time, the close time for that item is automatically extended by 3 minutes, up to a maximum of 30 minutes total.

• When the end date is reached, the auction automatically closes and winning bids are processed

• Make sure to communicate your intended start time clearly to your supporters, since there's no automatic start date feature