Buyer Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register to bid?
Only registered bidders over the age of 18 can participate in The Wendt Group online auctions. To register, select the Login/Register tab on the left hand side of the screen in the navigation bar OR the Register dropdown button displayed at the top right hand side of every auction page. Register for a new account by entering your contact information, email address, desired password, etc. Once you submit the auction registration form, please follow the steps to validate your phone number, and complete your user profile to 100% complete.
Please keep your user information (email address and password) in a secure place as you can use the same account login for all online auctions hosted by The Wendt Group.
Click here to view a video tutorial!
How do I get a bidder number for the auctions?
There are no bidder numbers utilized on this new, innovative online auction platform. Each user will have one account under their email address (using the password you set up when you registered) that can be utilized for all auctions, across all species. Please see the question and video tutorial directly above for details on how to create a user account.
Why is a credit card required to bid?
We require each user to post a credit card verification to ensure that each of our bidders is a valid, qualified bidder. This verification method has been implemented for the protection and security of each of our bidders. Each bidder knows that all bidders are valid and that they have met he same requirements that you have to be able to bid online. The credit card verification process is completely secure and PCI complaint. This is the only procedure available to bid online. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
What are the features of My Account?
To view your account select My Account on the left hand side of the screen in the navigation/menu bar OR My Account via the dropdown button displayed at the top of every auction. Within the My Account page, you have the ability to view and edit your profile, password, interests, notification preferences, as well as billing and payment information for your account.
You can make payments via the Billing & Payments tab utilizing the credit/debit card on file and/or a one-time new credit/debit card payment. Select the invoice you would like to pay (under Payment Reason), and then the payment type (a card on file or one-time payment), and the Pay green button, and your payment will be processed immediately.
To view all of your open and/or paid invoices (for all auctions), select the Invoices tab, and filter the information based on the invoices you would like to see. Each invoice can be downloaded into a PDF by clicking on the blue ‘View Invoice’ button to the right of each invoice listed.
To view your payment history, click on Payment History.
How do I add items to my Watchlist and select Favorite Auctions?
A Watchlist and Favorite Auctions listings are similar, but separate.
A Watchlist is comprised of individual lots you would like to ‘watch’ within current and/or upcoming auctions. Your Watchlist can contain items from one auction or across multiple auctions and species. You can add as many or few items as you would like. Once an auction has ended, the items will be automatically removed from your Watchlist.
To add items to your Watchlist, click on the eye icon at the bottom right corner of each lot (on grid view) or on the left side of the screen near the photo (on catalog view). As items are successfully added to your Watchlist, a green box will appear in the right hand corner of your screen with this notification: Lot x has been added to your watchlist.
If you would like to remove an item from your Watchlist, click on the eye icon again, and it will be removed. As items are successfully removed from your Watchlist, a green box will appear in the right hand corner of your screen with this notification: Lot x has been removed from your watchlist.
To view your entire Watchlist, click on Watchlist on the left hand side of the screen in the navigation/menu bar.
Your Favorite Auctions can be selected and added by clicking on the heart icon at the bottom right corner of each auction from the home screen landing page listing of all auctions. Once the auction is added to your favorites, the heart will turn red in color. Favorite auctions can be removed at any time, just like lots on your Watchlist.
To view your entire list of Favorite Auctions, click on Favorite Auctions on the left hand side of the screen in the navigation/menu bar.
Click here to view a video tutorial!
How do I bid?
Select the auction you would like to view. When the bidding for the auction is open, you will have the opportunity to enter your bid (and your maximum bid) for each item. Simply login to your user account and click on the blue Bid button for each lot to submit the bid(s).
How do I know if I am winning if there are no bidder numbers shown?
If you are watching the auction via a computer or via your mobile device, when you are winning the screen will show this message: You are winning! in green on the lot(s) you have the high bid on. If you get outbid, the message will change to: You have been outbid.
How do I know if I got outbid?
If you get outbid on any lot within an auction, you will receive a notification based on the preferences you set up in your user profile registration. There are two outbid notification preferences you could possibly receive – a text alert sent directly to your cell phone, or an email sent to your registered email address, or both!
Click on My Account on the left hand side of the screen in the navigation bar OR My Account via the dropdown button displayed at the top of every auction page, then click on the Notifications tab to manage your notification preferences. You may opt in or out of either of these options at any given time by selecting the options you prefer and Save Settings.
If you are watching the auction via a computer or via your mobile device, when you are outbid, the screen will show this message: You have been outbid. If you could like to bid again on that lot, simply click on the blue Bid button and Place Bid.
How can I make sure I am seeing the most current bidding information on the screen?
During the bidding process you will not need to refresh your page to ensure you are viewing the most current bidding activity. The auction platform auto-refreshes the page, and the bidding is in real time.
How do I find out more about a posted item?
Contact information for the seller can be found at the top of each auction and also underneath each lot on a particular auction. If you have any questions regarding a specific item, please contact the seller.
What is a Maximum Bid?
A maximum bid is the highest dollar amount you are willing to pay for an item. Here is an example of using the maximum bid feature. If you enter a maximum bid the system will automatically bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid amount. For example, let’s assume that you enter a bid of $200 on an item and maximum bid of $400. If no other bids are placed on that item, you will be the winner at your $200 bid. If another bidder places a bid of $225 on the item you will now be winning at $225 plus one increment level, $225 + $25 = $250. Your maximum bid is completely confidential and not revealed to the public or viewed by anyone other than you when selecting this feature.
May I raise my Maximum Bid?
Yes, you have the ability to raise and/or lower your maximum bid at any given time while the auction is open for bidding. However, when lowering your maximum, you can not change the maximum bid price to lower than the current winning bid.
What is a Bid Increment?
The bid increment is the minimum dollar amount that the bid must be raised. Bid increments will typically be in $25.00, $50.00, $100.00, or $250.00 increments. You can bid higher than the minimum bid increment (next required bid), or you may enter a maximum bid, but you may not bid in denominations less than the set bid increment.
How does the auction end?
Each auction will end at a specified time as shown on the individual auction site. Ending time is typically 8 PM ET (7 PM CT, 5 PM PT), but this could change, so please visit the specific consignor’s auction to confirm the closing date and time.
All auctions will utilize an auto-extend, horse race style closing. With this feature, the bidding will remain open on all items in the auction if there has been at least one bid received on any one item in the auction within the last 5 minutes (or the set extended bidding increment at the time). Once 5 minutes has lapsed without any bidding activity, the bidding on all items will be closed. All lots will close simultaneously.
Please see the examples below – this is a sample and may or may not match the actual ending times.
Example #1:
Auction closes at 8 PM. There is no bidding from 7:55 PM to 8 PM. All lots are declared closed and the sale ends at 8 PM.
Example #2:
Auction closes at 8 PM. There is a bid placed at 7:57 PM. Auction is extended by 5 minutes. No more bidding occurs. All lots are declared closed and the sale ends at 8:02 PM.
Example #3:
Auction closes at 8 PM. There is a bid placed at 7:57 PM. Auction is extended by 5 minutes until 8:02 PM. Another bid is placed at 8:01 PM. No more bids are placed. All lots are declared closed and the sale ends at 8:06 PM.
What is the auto-extend time within the horse race style closing?
The auto-extend time goes into effect once the auction reaches its original ending time. The auction will remain open for bidding on all items within the auction if there has been at least one bid received on any one item in the auction within the last 5 minutes, even if the original ending time has been reached. Extended bidding means that the auction is not declared closed until there have been 5 minutes of inactivity on the entire auction. Each time a bid it placed, it resets the clock timer on the auction back to the high water mark auto-extend time that is set.
All auctions will featured the accelerated horse race style closing.
- PRIOR TO 9 PM ET – 5 minutes extended bidding
- AFTER 9 PM ET – 3 minutes extended bidding
- AFTER 10 PM ET – 2 minutes extended bidding
- Auctioneer has the right to change the extended bidding increment to 1 minute – judgment call based on the number of bids per minute.
- PLEASE PLACE YOUR BIDS EARLY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY! EXTENDED BIDDING TIME CHANGE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE AUCTIONEER’S DISCRETION.
How do I know I won?
If you are the high bidder, The Wendt Group online auction staff will email you an invoice to your registered user email address immediately after the auction has ended. This email will have complete instructions regarding payment, and will include a payment link on the emailed invoice as well for quick and easy payment through the auction platform.
If I win, how and when do I pay?
When you win an item you will receive an email with the complete details of your purchase. Acceptable payment forms include: credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), wire transfer, electronic check, money order or cashiers check.
To make a payment utilizing the credit/debit card on file and/or a one-time new credit/debit card payment, click on My Account and go to the Billing & Payments tab. Select the invoice you would like to pay (under Payment Reason), and then the Payment Type (a card on file or one-time payment), and the green Pay button, and your payment will be processed immediately. If you would like to pay for more than one invoice at the same time, please select General Payment (under the Payment Reason), the Payment Type, and the amount you would like to pay.
To make a payment via ACH (electronic check) or Wire Transfer, please contact our office at 614-403-0726 or email at onlineauctions@thewendtgroup.com and our team will assist you to process your payment.
All check payments should be made payable to Kevin Wendt, Auctioneer and sent overnight to:
The Wendt Group, Inc.
PO Box 133
121 Jackson St.
Plain City, OH 43064
Full payment must be received in 3 business days from the close of bidding on all auctions. Late fees are subject to a 12% finance charge after the fourth day. A fee of $50 will be assessed on all returned checks and after 3 days on all late payments and the bidder may be denied access to future auctions. If your credit card is denied more than 3 times a $25 processing fee will be applied. If payment has not been received and/or delivery arrangements not been agreed upon within 7 days post auction, the seller has the right to reclaim property and resell it in any manner deemed necessary. As the original purchaser you will be responsible for paying any and all differences between the original sale price on auction day and the resale price.
What is an eCheck?
An eCheck, or electronic check, is an electronic version of a paper check. It’s just like writing a check, but you send funds electronically instead of mailing the physical check. Contact our office at 614-403-0726 or email us at onlineauctions@thewendtgroup.com to make a payment via eCheck.
What is the BUY NOW Feature?
The buy now feature may be used in conjunction with some items in an auction. A buy now icon or logo will appear on the screen next to lots with this feature. The first bidder to click and submit a winning bid at the buy now listing price will be awarded the high bid and have an opportunity to buy that item at the listed price.
How do I view the auction archives?
To view all previous auctions hosted by The Wendt Group (January 2018 and after), click on Auction Archives on the left hand side of the screen in the navigation/menu bar.
Is the auction platform mobile friendly?
Yes, the auction platform and entire site is mobile friendly. So, no matter the device (computer, cell phone, tablet, etc) you are utilizing to view and/or bid on an auction, the site is responsive to your screen so you have the most optimum viewing and bidding experience.