After your Auction

Q: How do I start my own auction?

A: Before you can begin selling your items, you will need to become a registered user. To register, go to the Registration Page and follow the instructions. If you are already a registered user and are ready to sell your item, click here.

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Q: What category should I list my item under?

A: There are over 30 main categories and sub-categories to choose from on ePier.com. First try to determine which main category your item would best be placed under. Second, find the sub-category that would best suit your item. For Example: If you wanted to sell an old Camera, you would first choose the category “Photo and Electronics”, and then the sub-category Vintage Cameras. If you would like to view a complete list of all available categories, simply click here. If you do not see a category that suits your needs, or would like to see us add an additional category to our list, we welcome your suggestions. Please submit your request to support@epier.com

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Q: Can I list the same item in more than one category?

A: You may not list the same item in more than one category at a time. However, you may Change the Category in which your item is listed in at any time during your auction.

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Q: What should I include in the description of my item?

A: When listing your item, it is important to provide an honest and detailed description. You should include as much information about the item as you have. Be sure to describe the items physical condition (new, mint, used, re-built, etc.), its shape, size, what it is made of, how old it is, etc. Make sure you include the shipping terms (who pays shipping and how much) as well as what methods of payment you are willing to accept from the buyer (money order, personal check, credit card, escrow service). The more information you provide in your description, the less chance that there will be any misunderstandings at the end of the Auction.

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Q: How do I include a picture of my item with my ad?

A: A picture is worth a thousand words. Buyers like to see what they are bidding on. Visit the Help with HTML and Images section of our site. Here you will find several tutorials that offer easy to follow instructions on how to learn the process of adding images to your ads.

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Q: How do I add colored or enhanced text when describing my item?

A: By using a few basic HTML (hypertext markup language) tags, you can make your listing look much more appealing, and receive more bids. Please visit our Help with HTML and Images tutorial.

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Q: At what price should I start my Auction? (Minimum Bid)

A: We recommend that you set your starting price (minimum bid) at the absolute lowest price you would be willing to sell your item for. By keeping this number as low as possible you will encourage more bidding activity on your auction. Setting your minimum bid too high, may discourage buyers from bidding on your auction. Keep in mind, that you are obligated to sell your item to the highest successful bidder at the end of the Auction.

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Q: How is the Bid Increment determined for my auction?

A: The bid increment is based on the current bid of your auction. If no bids have been made then the starting price (Minimum Bid) is used to determine the Bid Increment.

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Q: What is a Reserve Auction?

A: As a seller, you may specify a reserve price if you are unsure of the real value of the item. This will give you the option to refuse to sell the item, if the market value is below a certain price, and that price has not been met by the highest bidder at the close of Auction.

The seller specifies the reserve price when they list an item. This price should be set above the minimum bid price. The auction begins at the minimum bid price.

The reserve price you set indicates the lowest price at which you are willing to sell an item. The reserve price you set, is not disclosed to bidders. During an auction where the seller has set a reserve price on an item, an annotation will be displayed in the item information screen indicating the seller has set a reserve price on that auction.

The words (Reserve not met) will appear on the listing page, next to the current price of the item, until a bidder’s maximum bid is equal to or greater than the reserve price, at which time the item’s current price is raised to the reserve price. At this time, the words (Reserve met) will appear next to the current high bid. The bidder is also notified that their bid has met the reserve. Sellers are only obligated to sell the item, if the highest bid at the end of the Auction has met the reserve price. Reserve pricing is not available for Dutch Auctions.

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Q: What is a Dutch Auction?

A: Dutch Auctions are a specific auction format where a seller has multiple, identical items they wish to sell. The seller specifies the minimum price (the starting bid) and the number (quantity) of items they are offering. Bidders bid at or above that minimum for the quantity they are interested in purchasing. At the close of the auction, the highest bidders purchase the items at the lowest successful bid. To see an example of the Dutch Auction bidding process click here.

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Q: What is a Private Auction?

A: When listing an item, you may choose to run your auction as a private auction. This means bidders’ e-mail addresses will not be available for public view on the item screen or bidding history screen. Only the seller and the high-bidder will be notified via e-mail when the auction is over. This option is used when a seller feels that bidders might prefer not to have their identities visible to the public. We suggest only using this option in exceptional circumstances, as it may discourage users from bidding on your auction.

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Q: Can I edit the description of my item after the auction starts?

A: You will not be able to make changes to the original description of your item once the Auction has started. However, you may Add to your item Description or Change Your Item Category at any time during the Auction. Any additions will be noted at the bottom of your listing and visible to anyone viewing your auction. These additions will be date and time stamped as well.

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Q: Can I change my auction's starting bid or quantity available?

A: Once your auction has started, you will not be able to change your starting price (minimum bid) or your available quantity. When listing your item, please review this information carefully before you submit the Sell an Item form. If you have already started an auction, and feel you must change this information, you may Close Your Auction Early and re-list it again. Please keep in mind that you may be obligated to sell your item(s) to any bidders that may have placed a qualifying bid. You should cancel all bids placed on your Auction before ending your Auction early. Bidders may require an explanation for this.

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Q: I started an Auction, but I can’t find it?

A: Simply go to the ePier.com Search Page, and select Seller Search. In the space provided, enter your User ID or e-mail address, and click on submit. You will then be shown a list of any auctions which you are currently running. You can even search for previous auctions you have run, which have ended. If you would like to do this now click here. It is always a good idea to write down the item number and description of any auction that you have started.

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Q: Can I close my Auction early?

A: Yes. You can end your auction at any time after it starts, by going to the SiteMap and choosing Close Auction Early located under Seller Services. Please note that you will need to cancel any bids that have been placed on your auction, before you close it early. Bidders that have placed a bid on your auction, may request an explanation of why the auction was ended early.

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Q: My auction is not receiving many bids. What can I do about it?

A: We suggest adding one or more of our low cost Optional Listing Enhancements to your auction, such as Boldface Title, Featured Category, or Front Page Featured to bring more attention to your listing. You might also try moving your item into a different category. You can do this at any time during your auction, by clicking on the words Change Item Category on the SiteMap. For some helpful tips and tricks for Sellers click here.

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Q: What should I do at the end of my Auction?

A: At the end of every Auction, our system automatically sends an e-mail message to both the seller and the winning bidder(s), notifying both parties that the auction has ended. If you are the seller, you should contact the winning bidder(s) immediately, just in case your buyer does not receive that e-mail for any reason.

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Q: What should I do if I cannot contact the winning bidder via e-mail?

A: Remember, a lot of people are unable to check their e-mail every day, or may experience computer problems. If you do not hear back from someone through e-mail within 3-days, try giving them a call before you begin to worry. A phone call is an easy way to resolve any misunderstandings. You may request additional contact information about another registered user by emailing us at support@epier.com.

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Q: What if my Reserve Price is not met?

A: If your auction has ended, and the amount of the highest bid has not met your reserve price, you are not obligated to sell your item. You may also re-list your item again for free if your reserve price was not met. You may want to lower your reserve price, and accept a little less for the item.

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Q: What if my winning bidder(s) backs out after the Auction?

A: Because ePier.com serves only as a venue in which buyers and sellers trade between each other, we cannot force a bidder to follow through at the end of the auction. However, if a winning bidder has backed out after your auction, you should try and offer the item to the next highest bidder. You should also file a complaint with our Consumer Security Department. Bidders that receive multiple complaints will be issued a warning, and may be suspended. If you have had this problem more than once with the same Bidder, you can use the Block Bidder feature available on the main login page, to prevent that user from bidding on your future Auctions.

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Q: Can I re-list my item for free?

A: Yes you can. If your item received no bids, or your reserve price was not met, you may re-list your item for Free!! There are two ways you can do this: 1.) The easiest way is by selecting the Auto Free-Relist option on the sell your item form, when creating your listing. By selecting this option, our system will automatically re-list your item when your auction ends, if your item has received no bids, or your reserve price was not met. 2.) You can go to the SiteMap and select Free Re-listing under the Sellers menu, and enter the item number of the auction you wish to relist.

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A: There are no cost to listing an item. Only a small Final Value Fee (when an item sells).

                  1)   No listing insertion fee
                  2)   Low cost Final Value Fee. To view the fee schedule and how it compares with others,                         please click here.

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