Blind bids, bid donations, and Paddle Raise for auctions

Auctions just got a lot more fun, and a lot more profitable. Three new tools help you raise more at your event, and you can run them all from the auction you already have.

Blind bidding. When you add or edit an item, choose Open or Blind bidding. On a blind item, each bidder places one private bid. They can change it up or down (never below the starting bid) until the auction closes. Nobody sees anyone else’s bid while it’s live, though everyone can see how many bids have come in. After close, the winning amount is revealed, and the winner pays exactly what they bid. Blind items don’t have Buy It Now.

Donate your bid. Lost a blind item? After your review window, every losing bidder gets an email and a text with a Donate button for each item they lost. One tap gives the amount they bid to your school, using the card they already saved. The offer is good for 14 days, and they get a donation receipt. Think of all the generous bids that used to just walk away.

Paddle Raise. Open your auction and click the new Paddle Raise tab. Set the amounts your auctioneer will call, like $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000. During the event, type a paddle number next to an amount and press Enter, or enter any custom amount. Only registered paddles work, and a paddle can pledge at several amounts, but just once per amount. Bidders get a confirmation text and email a couple of minutes later. Press Present for a full-screen running total with goal progress, perfect for the projector. You can run more than one Paddle Raise in the same auction.

Pledges are charged together with anything the bidder won, in one charge after the review window. They count toward your auction’s raised total, follow your setting for who pays the fee, and show up on the bidder’s new Your paddle page. Bidders find it by clicking their paddle number in the top bar of the auction.