Bidding & Buying on Trade Away can be lots of fun and an easy way to pick up a great bargain, or that unique special something you have been searching for..
It's a good idea to check a few things before you make your move, like if you're happy with the item you’re bidding on and the amount you're going to bid. Read the description of the item thoroughly, look closely at images and ask the seller as many questions as you need so you can bid with confidence.
Get the Bidding Buzz!
Only Trade Away members can place bids. To place your bid, 'Sign In', find the item you’re interested in, enter the amount you wish to bid and click 'Place Bid' and then confirm. When you enter a bid your trading nickname will be visible in the listing. Your bid will also be automatically registered in your 'My Account' page in 'My Bids'.
The first bid must not be less than the starting price which is displayed in the listing. Subsequent bids are subject to a minimum bid increment, which depends on the reserve price and subsequent prices of the item. The minimum bid increments are shown next to 'Place Bid', on the listing page. If you bid on an item it is with intention to win and winning bidders are legally obligated to purchase the item.
The reserve price is the lowest price that the seller will sell; buyers cannot see this price, it is only known to the seller. Your bid may exceed the minimum bid increment, but not be less than, our system will automatically reject this.
If you’re the highest bidder at the close of the auction, and the reserve price has been met, then you will win the auction! Your contact details will be sent to the seller and he/she should contact you within a few days.
Minimum Bid Increments
A minimum bid increment is the next minimum bid amount allowed. Bidders may bid more than the minimum bid increment, but not less. The minimum bid increments depends on the reserve price of the item and the current price. (as follows):
Minimum Increments:
Up to $0.00 - 20.00 $0.50
Between $20 and $200 $1.00
Between $200 and $1,000 $5.00
Between $1,000 and $5,000 $10.00
Between $5,000 and $25,000 $50.00
Over $25,000 - $100.00
We advise to watch the bidding closely in the last hour of an auction, make sure you refresh your browser frequently for accurate and timely updates.
Q&A
The Question & Answer facility is there for you to find out more information about items you’re interested in. For example you may need more information about the height weight, color or length? You may wish to ask about the authenticity of the item, its location, postage cost, delivery options, and payment terms. Basically do your research.
Read what other members have posted, as sellers may reveal additional information through the Q&A that maybe of use to you. If you have not received the answers to your questions maybe save the item in your ‘My Watchlist’ until the answers to your questions arrive? Then you can possibly place a bid on the item armed with the knowledge you need to bid with confidence.
Out Bid
The team at Trade Away send bidder's out-bid notice emails to keep you up to date! You can choose to watch the item or increase your bids at this point. Buyers can place bids at anytime, in fact right up until the closing minutes of an auction. If you're not sure if you have been outbid and you want to try and win the item, just at the last second try again anyway, the system will accept it, if it makes it in time.
Sometimes it really does come down to the wire like that. Another method of securing the items you want is to bid your maximum amount in one hit and see if that wins the auction?
Reserves & Bids
Items auctioned on Trade Away are all listed with a reserve price. When you bid certain amounts this will trigger two different colored flags to display next to items. If a bid meets the reserve, a small 'green flag' will show, this also means the item will be sold to the highest bidder.
If the start price of an item is listed as the same as the reserve then a 'blue flag' will appear next to the listing. This indicates that the reserve and start price are the same and essentially there is no reserve and again the item will be selling to the highest bidder. This method of auctioning shows potential buyers that there is no reserve price to protect the selling price, and that the item displayed is up for grabs for the start price and upwards.
Items that have either of these flag showing are items to watch, as there maybe a bargain to be had! Also any item that receives five or more bids will automatically feature in our 'Hot' section.
If the reserve is not met, the listing won't display a 'green flag', and remember there are no reserves on Fixed Price items.
BuyNow
Bidding on a BuyNow item is possible. If you wish to bid on a BuyNow auction, make sure you're happy with the item, do your research. If you're good to go, click on the 'BuyNow' button in the listing and then click to 'confirm'. If you're not sure hit the back button on the confirm page. If you accept the purchase price the sale is made and the item is yours.
However there is another way to secure BuyNow items. If a bid is made above the reserve price ( which members cannot see, you may have to bid a few times to get the reserve price) set by the seller the BuyNow option is lost and the listing will run as a regular auction and be sold to the highest bidder.
Please note: Only Address Verified members can select to sell and buy with the a BuyNow option. BuyNow auctions are identified by 
this icon.
Buyers can only purchase items using the BuyNow option ten times within a 24-hour period. Buyers who have registered in the last week are limited to two purchases using BuyNow within 24 hours.
Fixed Price Bids
If you wish to bid on a Fixed Price item, you can. This style of listing is essentially a classified ad and all members can bid/buy them. Simply click on the BuyNow button in the top right hand corner of the listing to secure your purchase. It will ask you to confirm, and if you're happy click 'confirm'. By doing so you are agreeing to pay the price shown in the listing. We notify both parties of the purchase, we advise making contact as quickly as possible to arrange payment and delivery.
Do your homework; ask the seller all the questions you need to bid/buy confidently. Note: Fixed price sellers can offer their contact details in their ads to make buying these items easier, as they do not have go through the auction process.
Removing Bids
Accidentally placed a bid on an item? No worries. Or did you add one zero too many? Don’t panic, everyone makes mistakes! Just get in touch with one of the friendly Trade Away team theteam@tradeaway.com.au to request the removal of the bid.
Buying
Once you’re the confirmed buyer at the end of an auction or sale both buyer and seller receive each others contact details from Trade Away. We suggest making contact as soon as possible to arrange payment and delivery.
We do not get involved with this part of the transaction, it is up to the individuals to decide what suits. We suggest only deliver the item after payment has cleared. Package items adequatly if you’re posting. Only charge reasonable postage amounts and a nice touch after the trade would be to thank one another and then 'Place Feedback'.
Rules
Members who wish to bid on items above $150.00 MUST BE Address Verified. This is for the benefit of both buyers and sellers and supports our ethical trading practice.
You cannot bid on your own item, by using another user name, or by asking other members to make false bids on your item with no intent to buy, this is called ‘shill bidding’ and is not allowed on Trade Away.
Sellers are under no obligation to reveal their reserve price to buyers. You may, ask a seller to reduce his/her starting price and you can also ask what the reserve price is, however the seller is under no obligation to reveal his/her reserve.
Buyers are legally obligated to purchase any items they bid on, if they are the winning bidder for an auction, or if they have agreed to the Fixed Price or BuyNow price.
Questions and Answers are not there to negotiate prices outside of the auction process, or to offer your personal details or contact details at any time. Personal details must not feature on the site unless in a Fixed Price Q & A. All questions and answers are visible at some point during the auction on the live site.
We do not allow profanities or bad language, or any kind of harassment through this service. Members must use this communication tool in accordance with our Terms and Conditions. Members who do not follow these rules will have their membership suspended or terminated.
Any of the above actions could result in membership termination, so be good!
Please report any activity you believe that is not adhering to our Terms & Conditions to our Communitywatch Sheriff
