Managing your auction bids and payment method
When you bid on an auction item on Zeffy, the payment method you enter is locked to that bid. You can also set a maximum bid to enable auto-bidding, which automatically places bids on your behalf up to your chosen limit. This article explains how bids work, what to do if you encounter errors, and your options if you need to change your payment method.
How bidding works
After you place your first bid on an auction form, Zeffy saves your contact and payment information. You'll receive an email with a private link to your personal bidder page where you can:
View your current bids
Place additional bids if you've been outbid
Set a maximum bid for auto-bidding
The payment method you entered with your first bid is the one that will be charged if you win—this cannot be changed from your bidder page.
Anti-sniping is automatically enabled on all auctions. If a bid is placed within the last 3 minutes of an item's close time, the close time for that item is extended by 3 minutes, up to a maximum total extension of 30 minutes. This gives you time to respond if you are outbid at the last minute.
Auto-bidding with a maximum bid
Instead of returning to place a new bid every time you are outbid, you can set a maximum bid on an item. Zeffy will then automatically bid on your behalf up to that limit, using the minimum bid increment needed to keep you as the highest bidder.
If another bidder exceeds your maximum bid, you will receive an outbid notification and can choose to raise your maximum or place a new bid manually.
Supported payment methods for auctions
When placing a bid on an auction form, you can pay with:
Credit cards or debit cards
Cheque / Cash (if enabled by the nonprofit)
Note: Apple Pay and Google Pay are not currently available for auction campaigns. If you'd like to see this feature added, you can vote for this feature request.
Can I change my payment method after bidding?
No. Once you've placed a bid, the payment method associated with it cannot be updated. This applies whether you're placing a new bid manually, being automatically re-bid, or using auto-bid with a maximum bid.
If you need to use a different payment method for an active bid—or if you've already won and need to pay differently—contact the organization hosting the auction directly.
To reach the organization, reply to the original bid confirmation email you received. Your message will go directly to the auction organizers.
Can I cancel my bid?
No. Bidders cannot cancel their own bids once placed. If you need to stop participating in an auction, contact the organization to discuss options—they can cancel the bid from their dashboard.
I'm getting an "Invalid Bidder Token" error
This error can occur when trying to place a new bid from your personal bidder link—the system is temporarily unable to retrieve your bidder profile.
What to do
Return to the main auction form (the original link provided by the organizer)
Enter your information again and place your new bid
Your previous bids are not lost. They remain active in the auction.
Will I still get outbid notifications?
Yes. You'll continue to receive outbid notifications by email, and you can return to the main auction form to place a new bid at any time.