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Registering
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(Q) How do I register?
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(A) To register click on the "register" link found on both the header and footer navigation sections. |
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(Q) I'm under 16 and can't signup?
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(A) In accordance with standard law under 16's cannot participate in auctions as they legal binding contracts. |
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(Q) Why do you want my credit card details?
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(A) We ask all new members to submit card details for verification. Credit card verification is one method used by Totalbids to protect our members from scams and fraudulent activity.
Please note that we will not charge your card and no details of the card will be stored. |
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(Q) I'm not from the UK, can I still register?
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(A) Totalbids.co.uk welcomes sellers and buyers from a variety of countries. If your country is listed on the Country drop down menu of the Registration form then you are more than welcome to join. |
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Finding What I Want
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(Q) How do I find an item?
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(A) You can find items for sale by using the search box or by following the category links. |
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(Q) How do I find a seller?
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(A) If the seller you are looking for has a Totalbids store you can find it by clicking on the Stores link. |
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(Q) How do I find all the items offered by a seller?
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(A) From any of the seller's auctions click on the “Other Items from this Seller” link under Seller Information. |
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(Q) What is Auction Watch?
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(A) Auction watch alerts you by email to new auctions that match your search terms. Login to My Totalbids, click on Auction Watch and enter a search term. When an item is listed that contains that term in the title or description the Totalbids system will send you an automated email. You can delete an Auction Watch at any time. |
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(Q) What is Item Watch?
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(A) When you find an item you are interested in you can either bid on it or add it to your Item Watch list. If you have items in your Item Watch list you can easily view them all from the My Totalbids panel. This is ideal if you find several similar items that you wish to compare before choosing which to bid on. |
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Bidding and Buying
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(Q) How can I place a bid?
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(A) To place a bid on an item first login to your account. Once logged in a bidding box will be displayed when you view a live auction. Use this box to place your bid. |
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(Q) Does Totalbids offer proxy or auto bidding?
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(A) Yes, the Totabids system can bid for you. Simply enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the item. The Totalbids system will automatically bid against other members on your behalf incrementally up to your maximum bid. |
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(Q) How can I keep track of items I'm bidding on?
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(A) You can keep an eye on everything you are bidding on by logging in to My Totalbids and selecting the "bidding" page. |
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(Q) How do I know if I am outbid on an item?
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(A) Our auction system will automatically notify you via email if you are outbid or you can view the status on My Totalbids. |
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(Q) How do I know if I am the winner?
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(A) Our auction system will automatically notify you via email if you are the winner or you can view the items you have won using My Totalbids. |
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(Q) Can I retract a bid?
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(A) Totalbids does not allow bid retraction. In rare circumstances you may contact the seller directly. Note that sellers will very rarely allow bid retractions unless it is for a typographical error (i.e.: you accidentally bid £990 instead of £9.90). If the seller does not agree to the bid retraction and you default on payment they will leave negative feedback for you. |
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Paying for an Auction I Have Won
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(Q) I won my auction, what now?
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(A) Now you have to pay the seller the winning amount plus any postage and packaging, insurance and other additional fees listed in the auction description. If you are unsure as to the total amount contact the seller directly using the “Ask Seller a Question” link on the auction page. |
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(Q) How do I pay the seller?
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(A) The auction description will have specified the payment methods accepted by the seller. You should choose one of them, i.e.: PayPal or personal cheque, and pay the seller the total amount owing. If you are unsure contact the seller directly using the “Ask Seller a Question” link on the auction page. |
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(Q) Can’t I pay Totalbids?
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(A) Totalbids does not offer an escrow service. All auction payments must be settled directly between the winning bidder and seller. |
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(Q) Can’t I wait until I see the item and then pay the seller?
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(A) By bidding on the item you agreed to pay the seller for it based solely on the description and photos on the auction page and any correspondence you had with the seller. You are legally bound to pay the seller before receiving the item. |
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Receiving an Item I Have Won
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(Q) I’ve paid, how long will it be before I receive my item?
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(A) That will depend on the payment method and method of delivery. You should contact the seller directly for specific delivery information. |
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Selling
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(Q) How can I keep track of items I'm selling?
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(A) You can keep an eye on everything you are selling by logging in to My Totalbids and clicking on the Selling link. |
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(Q) Can I use HTML when listing an item?
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(A) Yes you can, however we recommend that you use only basic tags as complex HTML descriptions may not display correctly. |
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(Q) How can I list an item?
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(A) Selling on Totalbids is very easy. First of all register as a user. Then click on the Sell link at the top of any Totalbids page. Then simply follow the steps as the system prompts you. For further information please see the Help page. |
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(Q) How much does it cost to sell an item on Totalbids?
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(A) Selling on Totalbids is completely free, please see the Site Fees link for more information. |
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(Q) Can I sell anything I want on Totalbids?
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(A) Totalbids welcomes sellers of most items, however there are specific items we will not allow to be sold on the website. Additionally, Totalbids has policies regarding words used in auction titles and descriptions as well as photographs. Please see the Help section for full details. |
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(Q) What if the item doesn't sell?
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(A) If the item hasn't sold it will appear in your My Totalbids under Selling / Closed Auctions. If you wish to relist the item without making any changes simply tick the box and then click "Make Changes". If you want to edit the auction details before relisting it simply click "Relist Similar" and make your changes. NOTE for IE Users: Please be careful when relisting not to press the refresh icon or F5 immediately after relisting as this will cause a PostData error and cause your auction to be relisted twice. If this happens simply delete the duplicate auction. |
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(Q) How can I list a lot of similar items?
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(A) If you are listing a lot of items that are similar (same category, same price, same type) you can use the "Sell Similar" link. Create the first auction and then once the first one's up simply go back to My Totalbids, click on the Selling tab, find the auction you've just listed and click "Sell Similar". You can make any changes you need to for the next item such as title, price, etc... This way you only have to change what you need to rather than having to set up each auction from scratch. |
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(Q) How do I create a shop?
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(A) All Totalbids sellers are welcome to create a Shop. Totalbids Shops are currently free and a link to the Shop page is prominently displayed from every page on Totalbids. To create your Shop login to My Totalbids and click on the About Me tab. Tick the "Shop Front" option and then click the "Create Shop Front URL" button. Now you can add content to your shop by providing information about yourself, what type of items you sell, your refund policies and so on in the "Shop Front Main Page" box. This is what is seen when someone clicks on the "Other items from this seller" link on your auctions. You can use the same content to populate the "About Me page content" section which is what is displayed when someone clicks on your Shop from the Shop link. You can even upload a logo or photo. |
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Feedback
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(Q) Why do I need to leave feedback?
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(A) Leaving feedback is a way of ranking your experience with the buyer/seller. It helps others know whether the buyer/seller is trustworthy, reliable and honest. Remember, the buyer/seller will be leaving feedback for you as well. |
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(Q) How do I leave feedback?
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(A) Login to My Totalbids and go to the Bidding section. Under Items I’ve Won / Sold you will find a list of everything you’ve won / sold in the last 90 days. Click on "View Won / Sold Item(s) Details" and then click on Leave Feedback to leave feedback for that item.
Alternatively, you can leave feedback by logging in to My Totalbids and then clicking on the Feedback tab. |
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(Q) How do I check what feedback others have left for me?
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(A) Login to My Totalbids and go to the Feedback section. |
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(Q) How do I check the feedback of another user?
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(A) On the auction page under Seller Information follow the View Feedback link. |
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(Q) Can I retract feedback or erase negative feedback left for me?
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(A) Once the submit button has been pushed all feedback is final, there can be no retractions. So please be careful that what you write is truthful. |
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(Q) Does negative feedback actually have any affect?
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(A) If a user receives too much negative feedback in a row and/or as a percentage of the total then the Totalbids Admin team reserve the right to suspend or delete that user’s Totalbids account so that they can no longer sell or buy on the Totalbids auction website. |
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My TotalBids Account
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(Q) I have forgotten my password?
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(A) Simply click My Totalbids and then select the “Forgot your password” link. The system will send your password to the email address we have on file for you. |
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(Q) How do I change my password?
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(A) You can change your password, email address and various other information by logging on to My Totalbids and clicking on Details. |
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(Q) I signed up as a buyer but now I want to start selling?
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(A) Moving from buyer to seller is simple on Totalbids. Simply login to My Totalbids and then click on the Sell link at the top of the page. |
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(Q) What’s the About Me page for?
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(A) The About Me page allows you to provide a write up about yourself or your shop for Totalbids website users to view. This is visible from a link on any auction you set up as well as on your Store should you choose to have one. |
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Problems
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(Q) The auction is finished but the buyer/seller hasn’t contacted me to pay for/send the item?
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(A) Most buyers/sellers will be in touch soon after the auction ends but people do go on holiday, fall ill and have busy periods that may cause delay. If you do not hear from the buyer/seller within a few days you should contact them directly by email. If after several attempts over several weeks you still do not hear from them you are free to leave negative feedback but please do give them at least 3 weeks to respond first. |
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(Q) I have a problem with a buyer/seller, what should I do?
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(A) As per the Totalbids Terms and Conditions, all transactions must be dealt with by the buyer/seller involved. Totalbids Admin will not advise or mediate beyond what is written in the FAQ and Help pages nor will we respond to emails regarding transaction disputes. |
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(Q) But he/she has tons of negative feedback?
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(A) Totalbids Admin reserve the right to suspend or delete the account of any member with a large percentage of negative feedback or several negative feedbacks in a row. All decisions by the Totalbids Admin team in this regard are final and no correspondence will be entered into. |
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(Q) Does Totalbids offer insurance or protection for auctions?
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(A) Like all online auctions Totalbids do not offer insurance. However, if the auction payment was made through PayPal or other credit card payment there may be a measure of protection. You should contact PayPal or the credit card company directly to find out what protection is offered. |
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(Q) I've received an email from PayPal, how do I know it's genuine?
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(A) PayPal will email you when someone has paid into your account or if you change your registered email address, password, etc... These emails can always be verified by logging into your PayPal account. Be sure to open a new browser and type in www.paypal.com - do NOT follow links in an email unless you are 100% sure it's genuine.
PayPal will NEVER email you telling you to post goods or re-enter credit card details or passwords, etc... Hundreds of scam emails go out every day from fraudsters proporting to be PayPal so be careful and always verify the email by logging into PayPal manually, not by following a link. |
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(Q) What do I do about scam emails?
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(A) In order to send a question you have to be a registered member. Unfortunately, scammers do take the trouble to sign up. If you receive any emails through "Ask Seller a Question" that are scams or seem fishy in any way please DO NOT reply to them, contact us or use the Report Abuse form on My Totalbids. Please be sure to include both the sender's user name and email address so we can ban them from Totalbids. |
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