Auction rules

Last updated November 6, 2026

Auction basics

• Every auction starts at $0.01.
• Each bid costs one bid credit and raises the price by exactly $0.01.
• The person who placed the most recent bid is the leading bidder. Their display name is shown on the auction page.
• Auctions open for bidding one hour before their scheduled end time. Before that, you can view and track them, but not bid.
• You need at least one credit to bid. Credits are deducted the moment your bid is accepted and are not returned if you're outbid.

The timer

Each auction shows a countdown to its end time. If a bid is placed when fewer than 15 seconds remain, the timer resets to 15 seconds. This gives everyone a fair chance to respond and prevents last-millisecond sniping.

Timers are calculated on our server. The countdown you see in your browser is a display of the server's end time and refreshes every few seconds.

Winning

When the timer reaches zero, the leading bidder at that moment wins the auction. If an auction ends with no bids, it is rescheduled.

Prizes are brand-new, unopened retail products unless the listing clearly says otherwise. We ship to addresses in the United States only.

Power-ups

Power-ups are optional extras available during an auction's final hour. They cost additional credits, which are spent whether or not you win. The exact price — and any per-auction limit — is shown on the auction page and in a confirmation prompt before anything is charged.

Pricing tests: we sometimes test different power-up prices and per-auction limits to keep auctions balanced. As a result, two members may see different power-up prices for the same auction. Bid credits and bid prices are never part of these tests — one bid always costs one credit for everyone.

Claw game

Some auctions offer a claw game as an alternative way to win the same prize.

• Each attempt costs the number of credits shown on the start button, charged when the attempt starts.
• You have 30 seconds to position the claw and grab. A prize is won only by grabbing one of the few gold balls in the machine.
• It is a game of skill and chance. Most attempts do not win. Moving slowly and positioning precisely improves your odds, but never guarantees a win.
• The machine layout and the result of every grab are determined on our server, not in your browser, so they can't be altered.
• There may be a limit on attempts per auction. Claw game wins are claimed and shipped under our delivery promise.

Fair play

• One account per person. Multiple accounts, shared accounts, or automated bidding tools are not allowed and may lead to account closure.
• Staff and their households may not bid on or play for prizes.
• When real payments are enabled, automated "house" bidders are switched off in our code — every bid in a live-money auction comes from a member.
• We may cancel an auction if a technical fault affects the outcome. If that happens, credits spent on that auction are returned to every affected member.

Spending guidance

Penny auctions can be exciting, and it's easy to spend more than you planned. Please:

• Set a credit budget for each auction before it opens, and stick to it.
• Remember that credits spent on losing bids are not refunded.
• Take a break if you notice you're chasing losses.

If you'd like us to limit or close your account — temporarily or permanently — contact support and we'll do it promptly, no questions asked. You must be 18 or older to buy credits.

Questions & disputes

If you believe an auction didn't follow these rules, open a support request with the auction name and approximate time. A person will reply within 24 hours and investigate. Please contact us within 24 hours of the auction ending, while the details are fresh.