How To...
Click to read more about the following:- How it works?
- How is it different?
- How to Buy
- How to Bid
- How to Pay
- Goods Classification
- Postage
- Overseas Buyers
- Returns
- Refunds Policy
HOW IT WORKS
Online Auctions are the easy way to buy fantastic products and high-street brands at a fraction of their recommended retail price (RRP). You get all the excitement of a real auction without ever leaving the comfort of your computer chair.
Bid4lots brings you a wide variety of new and used products in the UK's first collective online Auction site.
Auctions generate great excitement because prices are not fixed and outrageous bargains can often be found. Bid4lots brings together many different products that you can purchase with complete confidence and in an exciting and fun way. Nobody knows the final price at the hammer and many lots have no reserves - that's the beauty of auctions, always surprising you and remaining mysterious. Take your time and check comparable high-street and internet prices and then once armed with your information, simply login and Click...Bid....Buy....
Registration is very simple, and it takes less than a minute to get a password. Use your password to login and start making bids. Registered users have access to their bidding history and My Account (personal details and notification options).
You can change your password and username whenever you like. Once registered it is important to recognise that you are bound by the terms and conditions.
Successful bidders will be contacted for delivery details and your preferred method of payment (online, bank transfer or post). Goods are dispatched within 7 days and subject to conditions of sale, any faulty goods that fall under the returns policy will be dealt with immediately.
Max is your helpful virtual assistant, he is there to keep an eye on your bids and let you know when someone has out-bid you. He can also place a bid on your behalf (see How To Bid) and will send you e-mails to let you know about new auctions and other useful information (you can control which e-mails you wish to receive in My Account after logging-in).
Prior to the Auction Sale commencing you can login and preview the items coming up for sale, the preview time varies. The banner across the top of the website will tell you when the auction will end. This gives you sufficient time to check prices elsewhere, either on the internet or in your local retail outlets.
HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?
Many on-line auctions sell second-hand goods.
You buy directly from the seller and run the risk of not knowing who you are buying from, whether the goods are legal, what condition the goods are in or whether they will ever turn-up!
Bid4lots hold all the products in their own warehouse and you buy directly from them so you are completely safe at all times and don't have any worries, sellers ratings or feedback to concern you (although we love receiving your testimonials).
Nearly all the goods are brand new or have never been used and many come with a manufacturer's warranty.
Each lot is given a classification code to describe its condition and the terms under which it's sold (see Classifications).
On-line auctions have different finishing times for each item.
All the lots in a Bid4lots auction close at the same time. just like a real auction. This creates more bargains for you and is less complicated - you don't have to sit up half the night trying to monitor several closing bids.
Where Do The Goods Come From?
Bid4Lots are agents for many well-known and leading UK wholesalers, distributors and mail order companies. You can buy an extensive selection of branded, unused and graded stock at a fraction of the RRP in a genuine auction sale environment. Many lots are placed for auction with no reserve. All suppliers are reputable companies placing surplus, discontinued and graded Stock into a safe environment.
Bid4lots is the online trading arm of Asset Management Services (UK) Ltd (AMS) which has operated from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire since 1990 as an established commercial auction saleroom. AMS provide a complete service ranging from Asset Valuation through to Disposals and act on behalf of many major Finance Houses, Liquidators, Insolvency Practitioners and Private Clients.
HOW TO BUY
The Power Search facility allows you to simply type in the product name, model number or bid identification number of any item you are looking for. If you can't find the product you want, make sure you have registered and Max will contact you when a new auction, full of products, is about to start.
Once you have searched the catalogue and found a 'lot' item you want to bid for, simply click on the bid button next to the item and follow the on-screen instructions (see How To Bid). If you are new to the site you will need to get a password and login before you can bid. Follow the on-screen instructions to register and get a password - then please login, find your lot and Click...Bid...Buy...
HOW TO BID
There are two ways to bid
- Individual Bids (manual increments)
- Maximum Bids (automatic increments)
1. Individual Bids
The first method allows you to increment any bid in the auction simply by clicking the Bid Now button. The starting bid or minimum increase required is clearly stated against each item and displayed in the Maximum Bid box. If you're immediately out bid you will NOT be displayed as the 'Current top Bid' and you will also receive an e-mail from Max letting you know.
You can be instantly out-bid if another bidder has placed a MAXIMUM bid against this item!
That means they have entered a higher amount for this item and Max is automatically increasing their current bid by the minimum amount to stay top bidder. You can continue bidding by minimal increments until you beat their MAXIMUM bid, or you can place a higher MAXIMUM bid of your own and see if you become the highest bidder.
Why Use MAXIMUM Bids?
Max - Your friendly virtual assistant can help you get the item you really want by automatically bidding on your behalf. You decide on the maximum price you would like to pay for a particular item, enter your limit in the 'Maximum Bid' box and 'Max' will enter the minimum starting bid on your behalf through bid4lots absentee bidding system. Max will only increment your bid by the minimum amount require for that particular item, to ensure that you remain the highest bidder. If your limit is reached then Max will drop out and inform you by email that he did his best!
E.g. you place a MAXIMUM BID of £ 20 for a CD player.
| Max enters your Starting bid | £ 1.00 |
| Another bidder enters | £ 12.00 |
| Max increases your bid to | £ 13.00 |
| Another bidder enters | £ 14.00 |
| Max increases your bid to | £ 15.00 |
The auction closes and you pay £15.00 (+ £2.95 post and packing)
Let Max do the work for you and make sure you get what you want at the best possible price!
In the exciting closing stages you may want to stay logged-on or check your e-mail regularly. Remember there are no hidden extras; all you pay is the "hammer" price plus a nominal charge for postage and packing (and any bank charges where applicable - see Payment).
HOW TO PAY
After a successful bid you will receive an e-mail congratulating you and informing you what to do next.
You will be directed to the My Account area of the site where you will see a new notification that states. You have 1 outstanding item(s). Click on the link and you will be presented with an option to pay online by credit or debit card
Follow the on-screen instructions and you goods will be despatched once payment has been received.
Payments are completely secure and safe using SSL (secure socket layer) encryption (see security for more details). All goods are fully covered under Bid4Lots comprehensive returns policy and manufacturers warranty where applicable (see Return Policy for more information).
No item(s) purchased will be released from the Auctioneer until cleared funds have been received (in full) within the given time constraints as detailed in the terms and conditions. Subject to the above, each Lot purchased by the Buyer shall be despatched via nominated carrier within 5 working days.
GOODS CLASSIFICATION
A. Class Goods
means goods which are supplied unused / boxed and in working order, with the manufacturer's or suppliers warranty where stated.
B. Class Goods
means goods which are supplied unused / boxed and in working order. Further classified as mail-order return / ex-display or ex-demo goods, where packaging may display delivery labels or be slightly damaged.
C. Class Goods
means goods which are supplied used and in working order. Further classified as solely used or refurbished or repackaged goods.
POSTAGE
Bid4lots will deliver your goods anywhere in mainland UK via our nominated carrier Parcel Force.
You will be charged just £ 2.95 per lot for post and packaging (unless otherwise stated on the lot), this amount will be added to your bill.
Standard delivery takes typically 5 working days from despatch.
Overseas Buyers
Post and packaging charges other than mainland UK will be subject to additional cost and will be quoted at time of payment.
The buyer has the right to arrange collection if they so wish.
RETURNS
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Bid4lots can only accept the return of opened items if they are deemed to be faulty. The item(s) must be returned in its original condition within 5 days of the date you received the item(s) (with seals and packaging intact) and a full refund will be issued for the price you paid for the item(s). Items will not be exchanged that are not damaged, defective or incorrect. Class C items are purchased at your own risk as stated in the Terms and Conditions and do NOT carry a returns policy.
REFUNDS POLICY
Item(s) returned within 5 days of receipt because they are damaged, defective or incorrectly described will be replaced or refunded with the complete purchase price (including the delivery charge). Items reported as incorrectly described are subject to Bid4lots discretion and should be reported in writing or by using the e-mail facility on the Contact Us page of this website, within 2 days of receipt and a returns number granted BEFORE shipping goods back.
Goods damaged in transit can also be returned to Bid4lots within 5 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange. Class A item(s) sold with a manufacturer's or suppliers warranty should be returned to the manufacturer/supplier. Please follow the manufacturers/suppliers own policy in this event.
IMPORTANT: Bid4lots will not issue replacement goods or refunds until the defective or faulty item(s) has been returned to Bid4lots.com Limited. Replacement goods and refunds will be issued within 7 days of the return condition being agreed by Bid4lots.
See Terms and Conditions for more details.