Creating and configuring an auction page on Zeffy

You can view a full tutorial of how to set up an auction form, what the bidding experience looks like and how to track bids and payments in Zeffy here:

Zeffy's auction form

With our auction forms, your supporters can effortlessly place bids on one or multiple auction items. Each bid is instantly recorded and displayed on your dashboard, allowing you to track your bids in real time.

Users don't have to sign up or sign in to make their bid, all they need is their contact and payment information. 

Once your auction close date & time passes and the auction concludes, winning bids are automatically processed for payment, with the transactions appearing in your dashboard. You won't have to run after your bidders – they will be charged automatically if they win.

The winning bidder will automatically receive a confirmation of their win and a receipt via email. You can customize the email they receive beforehand.

All bidders who did not win the item(s) they bid on will receive a personalized email as well, thanking them for their participation. This is a great opportunity to re-engage your supporters and invite them to donate to your organization, even if they didn't win. 

Just like the rest of our platform, our auction tool is 100% free. We even cover credit card fees meaning you will keep every single dollar that you raise.

Other Features offered by our silent auction forms

• 📅 Set an automatic end date for your auction. Bids will open at the pre-configured open date and bids will close once your close date passes.
• 🖼️ Add multiple items with associated images
• 📍 Set a pick-up location so that your supporters automatically know where their items can be picked up (if applicable)
• 💰 Set a starting bid. This is the minimum amount that can be bid by participants.
• ➕ Set a minimum bid increment. This is the smallest amount by which a bid must increase in order to be accepted. 
  
• ❓Ask your supporters custom questions to collect additional information during their bidding process.
• 📧 Customize the emails sent to your winners as well as supporters that did not win any items.
• 🔔 Configure and automate a reminder email to remind your supports to place their final bids
• 📧 Automatic email notifications to bidders when they are outbid 
• ➡️ Coming soon:
  • Having the option for bidders to pay in cash

Create your auction:

• Log into your Zeffy dashboard on a computer. 
• Click on "My Forms" in the menu bar on the left. 
• Click on "+ New form" and select the Auction option. 

Describe your auction and set an open and end date

• On this same page, add the name of your auction form, choose your language, and add a description.

• At the bottom of the page, set an end date of your auction. Once the end date and time pass, your form will no longer accept bids. 
• Payments for the winning bid(s) for each item will automatically be processed at the auction end date and time.

• You'll also be able to add a pickup location (if applicable). 

• Click on "Next" in the top right once you're happy with this.

Add your Items

• On the second page, you'll be able to add the different items being auctioned off. 
• You'll be able to name the item, define the starting bid, and define the minimum bid increment. 
  • The starting bid is the price at which bidding will start. No supporter will be able to bid below the starting bid.
  • The minimum bid increment is the smallest amount by which a bid must increase in order to be accepted. If left blank, the minimum increment will be 1$.
• You can add as many items as you want by clicking "+ Add another item type" in the bottom right.

• In the custom questions section, you have the option to ask two types of questions.
  • Questions for the bidder will be asked once per purchase. 

• In the third step of your auction form, you can change the color of your form, you can add your logo (1:1 ratio recommended), and add a form banner (16:9 ratio recommended).

• Further down, edit the thank you emails. You will be asked to configure two different types of emails: 
• 1) Winner thank you email - this is the email sent to the winning bidder after the auction has closed. This email will also include their receipt(s) for their purchase(s).

• 2) Regular thank you email - this is the email sent to the bidders that did not win once the auction is closed. All details about the items they bid on but did not win will be included in the email.

Advanced Settings

In your advanced settings, you'll be able to: