How do I bid?

Bidding on Yahoo! Auctions is easy. Just follow the steps below:
  1. Register.
    First, register with Yahoo! Auctions.

  2. Confirm your email address.
    After you register, a confirmation message with directions on how to sign in to Yahoo! Auctions will be emailed to the email address you entered. Click on the link in the confirmation email to sign in to Yahoo! Auctions.

  3. Verify your credit card.
    To help ensure a safer environment for all Yahoo! Auctions users, we require all users to enter a credit card so that we can verify all user registration information. You can verify your credit card by simple verification or by signing up for a Yahoo! Wallet account. Your credit card will not be charged.

    If you do not have a credit card, you may use a debit card back by Visa or Mastercard. (available in the U.S. only)

  4. Agree to our Terms of Service.
    Please review and agree to our Terms of Service.

  5. Find an auction to bid on.
    After signing in to Yahoo! Auctions, search or browse the various auctions categories. When you find something that you want, look for the bid box (titled \"Place a Bid\") on that item's auction page.

    Enter the following information:

  6. Preview your bid.
    Click on \"Preview Bid.\" Once you've previewed your bid and confirmed that everything is in order, click on \"Place this Bid.\" This is the final step to submitting your bid.

  7. Bid confirmation.
    Once you have submitted your bid, you'll get one of the following confirmation messages:

    • High Bid confirmation: If your bid is the highest, you will be notified of this fact. If you wish to cancel your bid, you must do so now from this preview page. Bids cannot be retracted once confirmed.

    • Outbid confirmation.: Another bidder might have placed a bid using automatic bidding, in which case an updated bid was placed on their behalf and you were automatically outbid. If this does happen and you want to bid again, return to the auction page and enter a higher amount.

    • Bid is below reserve price confirmation: In some cases, a seller may set a reserve price, which is the lowest price the seller is willing to accept. Any bid less than the reserve price will not win the auction. If this happens and you want to bid again, return to the auction page and enter a higher amount.

    • Not allowed to bid: You may not be allowed to bid if a previous bid on the auction was cancelled by the seller, you have been added to the seller's blacklist, or you are a seller who has an overdue balance on your featured auctions account. Also, if your rating is below the minimum bidder rating set by the seller, you will not be allowed to bid on the auction until your rating is increased. The minimum bidder rating option determines the minimum rating that bidders must meet before bidding on an auction.

  8. Monitor the auction.
    As you wait for the auction to close, you will receive notifications if you have been outbid. You can always return to the auction and enter a higher bid. You can monitor all your auctions activity by clicking on the \"My Auctions\" link on the upper right hand corner on any auctions page.

  9. Contact the seller.
    When the auction closes and you are the high bidder, you will get an email at the end of the auction. Included in this email is the seller's email address. You should email the seller to arrange for payment and shipping of the item.

  10. Rate the seller.
    Once you receive your item, be sure to rate the buyer. It's a great way to voice an opinion on how a seller participates in the auction process.

Was this article helpful?

Yes   No
Click to contact Customer Care for further assistance.
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Canada Co. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy - Terms of Service