Winning an item and completing payment

With the Auctions app, bidders save a payment method to their auction profile before or during the auction. When an item closes and they are the highest bidder, payment is collected using that method. How and when charges are processed depends on how the auction administrator has set the auction up.

Payment timing

The auction administrator chooses when winning bids are charged:

• After each item is won — payment is collected as each item closes and a winner is determined
• After entire auction closes — all charges are collected together once the auction ends

Bidders do not control this setting. For a description of the options, see Creating and managing an Auction.

Adding a payment method

Bidders manage the card used for an auction from the My Preferences page.

1. Sign in to the auction.
2. Click the account menu in the auction header.
3. Click My Preferences.
4. Under Payment Method for This Auction, click Add new payment method.
5. In the Add Payment Method window, enter the card details in the payment form.
6. For Name on card, enter the cardholder's name.
7. For Card nickname, enter an optional label such as "My Visa" to tell saved cards apart.
8. Under Billing address, select the Country, then enter the street address, city, state, and postal code.
9. Save the payment method.

Important: Bidders can save a payment method only on sites that take payments through Stripe.

Note: On devices and browsers that support them, Apple Pay and Google Pay appear as options within the payment form. The billing address list covers the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The section heading confirms the scope of these settings: a payment method saved here applies only to the auction the bidder is currently viewing. A bidder taking part in more than one auction saves a card for each.

Choosing which card is used

Saved cards are listed with their card type, last four digits, and expiry date.

When more than one card is saved, each card that is not currently the default shows a Set as Default button. Click it to make that card the one used for winning bids and purchases in this auction. The card in use is labelled Default.

A bidder can change the default at any point before checkout.

Other settings on the My Preferences page

The same page also holds the bidder's Mobile Phone and Mobile notifications settings, their Shipping Address for items won, and preferences to Appear anonymous in bid history and to Cover transaction fees.

When a bidder wins

When a silent bidding item closes and a bidder has won it, they receive an email confirming the win, and a text message if they opted in to text alerts. Bidders who purchase a fixed price item receive an order confirmation the same way.

For the full list of what is sent and when, see Auction notifications and alerts.

Related articles:

• Registering and signing in as a bidder
• Placing a bid
• Auction notifications and alerts
• Creating and managing an Auction