LocalBuy Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to register?
What can I expect by providing my contact information?
I registered and bid but didn't receive any confirmation emails. Why not?

How do I search for and sort items?
Can I bid more than once on an item?
Can I decrease or cancel my bid?
Why is the amount showing as my bid not the same as the amount I submitted?
How do I place a proxy bid?
What is the starting bid price?
How will I know if I'm the current leading bidder?
How will I know if I've won?

How do I view or edit all my auctions that I have listed on LocalBuy?
How do I access all my bids that I have placed on LocalBuy?
How do I add feed back after successfully completing a trade?

How can I get my own MarketPlace?

Why do I have to register?
You must register to participate in online auctions on LocalBuy.com.au. You only need to register once to be able to buy or sell.

What can I expect when providing my contact information?
Registering and providing correct contact information, including an email address ensures LocalBuy.com.au can:

• Confirm by email that your registration has been received.
• Confirm by email, for your records, receipt of all bids you place.
• Enable you to use the in-built messaging system on LocalBuy
• Notify you by email if you are outbid by another bidder. This gives you the opportunity to place a higher Maximum Proxy Bid in order to remain an active bidder.
• Notify you by email if you are a Winning Bidder as soon as the bidding closes.
• Notify you by email if you are an unsuccessful bidder.

I registered and bid but didn't receive any confirmation emails. Why not?
In this case it is important you check that you have given the correct email address on your registration. You can do this by selecting the 'My Account' tab and then clicking the 'Edit Your Registration' link to verify the information in the Email Address field is correct.

If you use a web-based email service such as GMail, Hotmail or Yahoo, or any other email client, some emails may automatically be placed in folders other than your 'Inbox' by automatic filters you may have in place. Look in all your folders for emails from LocalBuy.com.au.

• All items can be viewed by browsing through 'Browse Categories' section.
• You can do a quick search with the 'Title and Description' search box at the top right of every page..
• You can perform more advanced searches by going to the 'Search Auctions' page and using any of the listed criteria to find what you want.
• You can sort your search results by clicking on the column titles, 'Item', 'Current Bid' or 'Closes'.

Can I bid more than once on an item?
With the Proxy Bidding system, there is no need to place repeat bids once you have placed your 'Maximum Bid'. LocalBuy will place bids on your behalf to keep you in the lead, until your 'Maximum Bid' is reached. However, if another bidder places a higher 'Maximum Bid', causing you to be outbid or you wish to increase your 'Maximum Bid', you have the opportunity to place another bid on the item. You can track bids on an item by viewing the item and clicking on the 'View Bid History' tab.

Can I decrease or cancel my bid?
No, once you have placed your bid it cannot be decreased or cancelled. If you wish to increase your 'Maximum Bid', you may place another, higher bid, which supercedes your original 'Maximum Bid'. If you are outbid, you have the opportunity to place another, higher 'Maximum Bid'.

Why is the amount showing as my bid not the same as the amount I submitted?
The online auction accepts your 'Maximum Bid' as a Proxy Bid, then places a bid on your behalf at the lowest amount required to make you the leading bidder. For example, if the current leading bid is $150 and you place a maximum Secret Bid of $200, the online auction system will place a bid of $155 on your behalf, assuming the bidding increments for the auction are $5.00.

How do I place a proxy bid?
By placing a 'Maximum Bid', you tell the online auction the most you are willing to pay for the item on which you bid. LocalBuy then places Proxy Bids on your behalf, in competition with other bidders, to try to win the item for you at the lowest possible price. The bidding form is always located at the bottom of the item page where you enter your bid into the 'Your Maximum Bid' field and click the 'Place Bid' button. You need to be logged in to place a bid.

What is the starting bid price?
The Starting Bid Price is the minimum amount the auction system will accept on the item to begin the auction. Placing a bid for the minimum amount required does not ensure you will be a winning bidder. You must at least meet, or beat the Reserve Price (if there is one) on the item, and you must remain the Leading Bidder until the close of bidding, in order to win this item.

How will I know if I'm the current leading bidder?
At the time of registration you will choose a unique personal User Name and Password. On all auctions that have received at least one bid, you will see "High Bidder" and a User Name (eg "Leading Bidder: freddo") next to items. If your personal User Name is displayed, you know you're in the lead. If not, and if the current Leading Bid is greater than your 'Maximum Bid', you then have the opportunity to place another, higher 'Maximum Bid', if you still want to try to win that item.

How will I know if I've won?
If you hold a Winning Bid for any item in the online auction at the close of bidding, LocalBuy.com.au will email you after the auction has closed. You can also log in to the online auction website after the bidding ends and check if you are the Winning Bidder on any items.

How do I view or edit all my auctions that I have listed on LocalBuy?
First click on the 'My Auctions' link in the left hand side menu under the 'My LocalBuy' heading.
This will open up the 'My Auctions' page where you can see all of the auctions you have posted on LocalBuy.com.au
They are separated into the following categories:
- Open Auctions
- Successful Closed Auctions
- Unsuccessful Closed Auctions
which you can access via the pull down menu near the top of the page. Here you can edit or close any of your open auctions.

How do I access all my bids that I have placed on LocalBuy?
These can also be found in the 'My Auctions' section by clicking the 'My Bids' tab at the top of the page.
They are separated into the following categories:
- Open Bids
- Winning Bids
- Unsuccessful Bids
which you can access via the pull down menu near the top of the page.

The 'My Auctions' section also contains an 'Additional Features' page where you can access the following:
- Memorized Auctions
- Manage Auction Watches
- My Active Auction Watches
- Items Needing Feedback

How do I add feed back after successfully completing a trade?
You can click on the relevant feedback link in the original email from LocalBuy sent to the auction seller and auction winner.
Or you can go to your 'My Auctions' on LocalBuy and add feedback via the additional features page.

How can I get my own MarketPlace?
All you need to do is click the 'Contact Us' link at the bottom of all pages and fill out the contact form.
Make sure you select 'MarketPlace Request' as the subject and provide some detail about what you sell etc.
If approved, we will add you to the MarketPlace users group and you can then create your MarketPlace by clicking on the 'My Marketplace' link under the 'My Localbuy' menu.

If you require anymore information then please feel free to contact us.