This article provides information necessary to running the Clerking Console for Live Auctions held on LiveAuctioneers.
Need Training? Click here to access our Live Auction Clerking seminar, or to request a practice clerking session.
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This article contains the following sections:
Clerking Console Features
- Auction progression status
- Current lot number
- Can be used to move forward in the sale and back (assuming you have clicked the 'unsold' button on a lot)
- Lot title
- Lot image
- Lot description
- Lot low estimate and high estimate
- Upcoming lot list
- Auction settings window
- Bid history for the current lot
- Total number of online LiveAuctioneers' bidders
- The console shows anyone on LiveAuctioneers with the bidding window for your auction open on their computer or device.
- Auction information displays bid activity and messages sent from the clerk.
- Message field to type in custom messages to bidders. Will also display paddle number of winning bidders.
- 3 Quick Message buttons
- Current bid increment
- Can be manually adjusted during sale
- Current ask price
- Double-click to manually change the asking price. After typing an amount, press Enter on your keyboard to change the asking price or click on the Competing Bid button to jump the bid.
- Action keys
- Bid buttons
Auto Accept Bids
You may also see an Auto Accept Bids checkbox in the Auction Settings window. Checking this box enables the system to automatically accept all internet bids from the LiveAuctioneers platform.
Please note, this feature should be only used for online auctions only.
Sending Messages
Quick Message Buttons
Prior to starting the auction, you will see the Auction Settings window in the lower left corner of the console. Here you will be able to customize 3 Quick Message buttons that will then appear on the right side of the console.
You can use these messages throughout your auction to alert your bidders to whether bidding on an item will be closing soon.
To set up Quick Message buttons, enter a name for the button into the Name column, and type the message into the Message Text column.
Examples:
- Fair Warning = Fair Warning!!!
- Last Call = Last Call!!!!
- Going Once = Going Once... Going Twice...
Custom Messages
While the Clerking Console only allows you to set up 3 Quick Message buttons, you can send custom messages any time after the auction starts.
To do so, type your message into the Message Text field in the lower right corner of the console and then click the Send Message button. You must click the Send Message button after typing in a custom message for it to send.
Starting an Auction
Click the Start button in the center of the page to begin the auction.
Pausing an Auction
Our Auction Paused feature keeps bidders informed of what's happening live when you need to take a break.
If you need to pause the auction, click on the Pause button located under the End Auction tab in the Auction Settings window.
While your auction is paused, bidders will see an "Auction Paused" messages across LiveAuctioneers - whether they're watching live or looking at items in your catalog on the website or app. While paused, bidders will still be able to place absentee bids, browse the catalog, and register as usual - but they will not be able to place bids on the item you were on when you paused.
- We'll also show bidders this "Auction Paused" messaging if there are any technical issues during your auction.
You should also use the custom messaging feature in the console to notify bidders that a break will be taken and that staff will be taking a short pause.
Using both of these features together will publish the auction status in more places, making it more visible to bidders.
Resuming an Auction
To resume, click the OK button from the pop-up prompt window.