FAQ
Asked at the planning meeting
Straight answers before you commit a gala to it.
Do guests need to download anything?
No. They scan the card on the table or type the short link, give a name and email, and get a paddle number. Bidding happens in the phone's browser.
How do we get paid?
The way you already do. When bidding closes, the checkout list shows what every paddle owes for items and gifts. Take card, cash or check at the table and tap Mark paid. We never touch the money, so there's no fee on what you raise.
What if a guest doesn't have a phone?
Register them at the door from your laptop, or use the paper lines on the printed table card. Each card has a QR code on top and space for written bids underneath.
What stops a last-second sniper?
Soft close. A bid in the final minutes adds time to that item (two minutes unless you change it), so whoever wants it most gets a fair shot.
Can someone bid as a fake person?
Every bidder agrees to pay before they get a number, and you see every name and email. If something looks wrong, remove that paddle. Their bids drop out and each item falls back to the next real bid.
What about the live auction and the paddle raise?
Mark an item Live and it shows in the catalog without a bid button. When the auctioneer sells it, type the paddle and hammer price. For the paddle raise, a volunteer types paddle numbers as hands go up, and guests can also tap a give button on their phone.
Your first bidder is number 101.
Set up tonight, publish when the items are in, and hand the room a link.