www.bidnsave.co.za

So that BidnSave can contact you at the close of bidding if you are a winning bidder. But also because you can easily pay and get your proof of purchase and collect your item you bid on and won. Please read our Privacy Policy for information about how your personal information is protected.

What are the benefits of registration?

By registering and providing correct contact information, including an email address, you will receive:

Email confirmation of your registration.
Email confirmation of all bids you place, for your records.
Email notification if you are outbid by another bidder, to give you an opportunity to place another, higher bid, and remain an active bidder.
Special offers and promotions from vendors whose items you bid on and/or The Mercury and Sunday Tribune, if when registering, you have checked the box that indicates you are interested receiving such information.
Email and/or telephone notification if you are a winning bidder as soon as the bidding closes.
Option to pay online for your winning bid.
To print out personalized proof of purchase for items you win directly on the auction site, for quick and easy redemption.

Can I register more than once?

No, you can only register once per email address. You log in with your email address (login name) and the password you provided at the registration.

If you have forgotten your password, click on the link under the password field and fill in your email address (the same as you provided during registration). A new password will be sent to this email address. You can change the password later to something which is easier to remember.

I have moved. How do I change my registration information?

Log in and click on "My page". Under the tab My registered information you will find the address information that you provided when you registered. When you have approved the change, an email confirmation will be sent to your email address.

I registered but didn't receive any confirmation email. Why not?

You may have given an incorrect email address when you registered. When you have filled out your registration form an email confirmation will be sent to the email adddress you provided at registration. NOTE! You also use your email address as your login name to log in at www.bidnsave.co.za

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

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I'm having problems viewing pages. What's wrong?

www.bidnsave.co.za is designed for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or 7 (not Internet Explorer 8), Firefox 2 or later and Safari 3 or later. If you have an earlier version of these browsers, you should upgrade to the most recent version.

Cookies and JavaScript must be accepted too if the page is going to be displayed correctly.

How do I search for and sort items?

You can search for items in different ways:

You can browse through the categories to view all items in selected categories.
You can search for a specific item by Item Number.
You can perform a keyword search by item name, item description and vendor name.

Then you can sort the items as follows:

By popularity
By retail price
Alphabetically
By the time there is left before the item closes.

How can I get more information about items?

You can visit the participating vendors to view and learn more about the item(s) you are interested in. You can find their addresses and links to respective homepages at www.bidnsave.co.za.

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Can I place bids before the bidding starts?

No, bids are not accepted until bidding starts. However, you may pre-register on BidnSave before the auction starts. You may also browse the items and visit the participating vendors to view and learn more about the items.

Can I bid on more than one item?

Yes, you can bid on as many items as you wish. Each item is sold separately from every other item, so you have the opportunity to win each item you bid on. You can track your bids by clicking on "My page" and the "Watch List" after logging in.

Why do I have to bid on a quantity of an item?

Some items are available in multiple quantities. If there are additional quantities of the same item available, you can bid on all quantities up to the quantity available. For example, you can bid one, two or three of an item of which there are three. The quantity you will be assigned through your placed bid can be as many as the quantity you specified or fewer (but never more), depending on whether there are bids placed before you from other bidders on the same amount or subsequent bids for a higher amount.

The given quantity can also change during the auction if someone placed a bid that's higher than yours. It is therefore not certain that you will win the quantity you bid on. NOTE! The value indicated is per item.

For example: if there are three of an item available, and if the highest bidder requested only one of the items, and if you are the second highest bidder and requested two of the items, the highest bidder would receive one of the item and you would receive the remaining two. However, if you are the third highest bidder, and the first and second place bidders each requested one of the items, you would be offered only one of your two requested items.

Can I bid more than once on an item?

Yes. An increase in your secret maximum bid will not affect your status in the bidding unless your previous bid is in between two steps in the available bidding ladder.

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Can I change or cancel my bid or quantity?

A placed secret maximum bid can not be changed or cancelled. On the other hand you can increase your secret maximum bid. The same applies to the quantity of an item - you can only add a new bid for the same quantity as a bid you have already placed, or higher.

Why is the amount entered as my bid not the same as the amount I submitted?

BidnSave accepts your secret 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 R500 and you place a secret maximum bid of R600. BidnSave will place a bid of R510 on your behalf if the value of the item is between R100 - R4,999.99 (R10 over the current leading bid).

How do I place a proxy bid?

All bids you place on BidnSave are proxy bids. By placing a secret maximum bid, you tell the Proxy Bidding the most you are willing to pay for the item you want. The Proxy Bidding then places real bids on your behalf, in competition with other bidders, to try to win the item for you at the lowest possible price.

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What is the Minimum Bid?

The Minimum Bid is the minimum amount the auction system will accept on the item at the time of your bid. Placing a bid for the minimum amount required DOES NOT ensure you will be a winning bidder. You must both meet or beat the reserve price on the item, and you must remain a leading bidder when the auction closes, in order to win the item. 

How do I know if I'm in the lead?

Throughout the auction, you will see "Leading Bidder" and a username. If you see your personal username which you received at the registration stage, you know you're in the lead. You can also go to under the heading "My page" and "Watch list" to see if you are the leading bidder. If you aren't leading and if the current Leading Bid is greater than your secret maximum bid, you may want to consider placing another, higher secret maximum bid, to still try to win that item.

How will I know if I've won?

BidnSave will email you as soon as possible after the auction closes, if you are the winning bidder. You can also log in to www.bidnsave.co.za after the bidding ends and check if you are the winning bidder on any items - simply click on the Bid Payment link in the menu to both check and pay online for items you've won within 72 hours after the auction closes.

If I've won, how do I pay for and receive the item?

If you have won the bidding on an item after the auction ends, you pay for your winning bid online at www.bidnsave.co.za. NOTE! You must pay your item within 72 hours after the auction ends. Once you have paid, the proof of purchase and receipt will appear under the heading "My page". You give the proof of purchase to the shop that participates in the auction and collect your item. You will recieve an winning bid email with payment instructions after the auction closes.

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What are the advantages of paying for my bid online?

By paying for your bid online with your credit card, you can simply print out your proof of purchase immediately at the auction's website. You'll find this under the heading "My page" when you log in.

I am the winning bidder on several items. Can I pay for them all at once?

No, you must pay for each item as a separate transaction in order to receive a proof of purchase for each item. However, if you have won more than one quantity of the same item, these can be paid together.

What methods of payment are accepted online?

You can only pay by credit card online.

Why are some items not available for payment online?

The vendors who participate in BidnSave, may require that payment be made in person for some or all items, particularly automobiles and real estate, where additional information is required from you or where the item must be registered or licensed.

Is VAT included in my bid or purchase price?

Yes.

I need a receipt for accounting purposes. Will I receive one?

Yes. After your credit card payment is processed and verified online, you will recieve a receipt with the amount per email. If you need a receipt with specified VAT you can get it from the shop / company when you collect your item. The receipt's amount should be the retail price with deduction discount equivalent to the difference between retail price and the amount you paid.

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What do I do with the proof of purchase?

You should take the proof of purchase to the vendor indicated on the proof of purchase to collect your item. Please wait at least one day after your payment to allow time for the vendor to be notified and authorized to release the item to you. Please contact the person who is the contact person on your proof of purchase.

I can't collect my item in person. What should I do?

After receiving your proof of purchase, you may contact the vendor for information about alternative collection options, such as a delivery service. Any costs incurred are your responsibility.

If someone else will pick up the item for you, make sure that this person can produce identification from both of you. This is a precaution because the item has already been paid for.

I misplaced my proof of purchase. Can I reprint it?

Yes, you can log into the auction website and reprint your receipt under the heading "My page".

How do I know that my credit card information is secure?

Your credit card information (name, card number, expiry date) is secured through encryption during transmission from your web browser to the auction bid payment website and server, and no credit card information is transmitted back to your web browser. Your credit card information is processed online through Setcom and is also secured through encryption during the whole transmission. Your payment is processed in real-time. Afterwards your credit card information is not stored in the auction bid payment system.

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FAQ

FAQ

Why do I have to register?