Welcome to the wonderful world of online auctions. We hope that charitybuzz is easy to navigate and we continually strive to improve upon the user experience. We designed the charitybuzz site to duplicate the excitement of the live experience enjoyed at the best auction houses. With our ever expanding giftKIOSK and charityBLOG, we hope that charitybuzz becomes your headquarters to be informed, get incredible experiences and merchandise — and make a difference. We believe that you can doGOOD and liveWELL at the same time!
We have tried to address common questions based on our extensive auction experience but welcome your input via phone or email if anything is not clear. We want your charitybuzz experience to be both fun and productive and strive to continue to improve what we do based on your feedback. Contact us by phone at 203.226.8306 or via email at info@charitybuzz.com.
- Login and Registration
- Browsing and Searching
- Bidding on & paying for auction lots
- Redeeming your winnings
- Other information
Login and Registration
Do I have to register to place a bid on an item?
Yes. We have organized our registration process to be simple and intuitive. Once you registered at charitybuzz you will not need to register ever again. If you have any questions, feel free to email or call us at 203.226.8306 / info@charitybuzz.com.
Why do I have to include my credit card information to register?
We collect credit card information when you register so that you can bid on items. Only registered users can bid. Your credit card will not be processed until you have successfully bid on and won an item.
What if I can't remember my password?
Send an email to info@charitybuzz.com. We will reset your account with a temporary password and send it to your registered email address. Log on using the temporary password, and then change your password to one of your choosing.
How do I choose my screen name?
You may choose any screen name you wish, as long as it isn’t already in use by another registered user. Your screen name will be displayed as the winning bidder and in the bidding history so you should choose a screen name that does not reveal your identity.
Can I change my screen name?
Yes. If you want to change your screen name, contact us at info@charitybuzz.comor by phone at 203.226.8306. We will change your screen name for you.
Will other users be able to see my information?
The only information that is displayed on the website is your screen name. Choose a screen name that does not reveal your identity.
What security measures does charitybuzz use to keep my personal and credit card information safe?
Safeguarding your personal information is of the utmost importance to us. To that end, all transactions are conducted via a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypted channel. Your credit card information and other personally identifiable information (PII) is never sent in plain unencrypted text; in addition, transaction information is stored in a secure and encrypted manner. From a physical security standpoint, our servers are maintained in a secured, limited-access hosting center. In order for us to contact you, our employees do have access to your name and contact information. However, no employee has access to your credit card information.
How can I update my credit card information?
Log onto your charitybuzz account, then click on “Add a new or change my credit card on file” on the Account Information page. You can edit credit card information there.
Can I alternate charges between credit cards?
Yes, just make sure you have the card that you want to use marked as your “Primary Credit Card” in your charitybuzz account. You can make any card on file your primary card, and that is the card we will automatically charge.
Browsing and Searching
Because we offer such a wide variety of auction items, we encourage browsing at charitybuzz. You can browse by charity using the “Charity auctions” tab on the upper navigation bar or you can browse by category using the “Browse auctions by category” tab.
Searches can be conducted using the “Search” field located at the top of the page. More detailed searches can be conducted using the “Advanced search” feature. We also regularly send out notification email to all registered bidders to alert them as to what is hot and happening.
Can I search by celebrity name?
Yes, simply type the name into the search field and you will be directed to a results page that displays all of auction lots related to that celebrity. You may also search using auction lot numbers, charity, restaurant name, destination name or any relevant reference that might be included in the description of the auction lot.
Bidding on & Paying for Auction Lots
How do I place a bid?
Once you are registered, you are ready to place bids. To place a bid on an auction lot, click the “bid now” button. The current bid and the next minimum bid are displayed. Type in the amount you wish to bid and click the “bid now” button. You will be asked to confirm your bid on the following page.
Max Bid
Max bidding allows you to bid the maximum amount you wish to bid for an auction lot. Your maximum bid won't be displayed to other bidders, but will be displayed as the current bid based on the bidding increment. The following example illustrates max bidding:
- Auction Lot 1000 has a current bid of $0. The minimum bid is $250.
- Juan places and confirms a maximum bid of $500. Juan's bid is displayed as $250.
- Sally places a bid of $300 and is notified that the bid was not accepted because it did not exceed the maximum bid.
- Juan's next bid is automatically increased to the next bidding increment of $350.
- If no other bids are placed, Juan is the winner at $350.
- If Juan's $500 max bid is overtaken by another bidder, he will receive an outbid notice.
Reviewing the bid activity for any given lot and our published bid increments for specific bid amount categories will assist you in determining appropriate max bid amounts. Your periodic review of these details might allow you to adjust an earlier placed max bid to avoid your disappointment in instances where it appears to you that a winning or high bidder was able to secure that position at an amount that you might have bid.
How do I know if I'm a winning bidder on an item?
Your screen name will be displayed along with the winning bid amount.
Will I get notified if I am outbid?
Yes, you will receive an email once you have been outbid.
What does “liveBID” mean in the auction lot description?
In addition to an online auction, charities frequently conduct a live gala and feature a live auction at the event. For the auction lots that are included in the online auction and the live auction, we note them with "liveBID" in the lot description, and we close the online bidding the day of the live auction. We contact the highest bidder on those liveBID lots by phone to see if they want us to continue bidding on their behalf at the live auction. We can bid for you one of two ways:
- You can fill out your maximum bid online and we will bid UP TO this amount for you during the live auction. We will stop bidding for you when your maximum bid is reached.
- You can give us your contact phone number for the live event and one of our personable charitybuzz staff will stay on the phone with you while the bidding takes place. You must be registered of course to be part of liveBID. We will contact you if you are the winning bidder immediately after the auction. Please email info@charitybuzz.com with any questions.
How do I pay for an item?
The credit card you have on file with your registration will automatically be billed for the final bid amount, including shipping and handling and any applicable taxes. For auction lots that are of a very high value, we can accept wire transfers or bank checks. If you are interested in paying via alternate methods, please contact us at info@charitybuzz.com or at 203.336.8306. charitybuzz does not accept personal checks.
How do I see how much an item closed for?
At the request of a significant number of our donors and winners, we do not disclose the final auction price of closed lots.
Is the amount I paid for an auction lot tax-deductible?
Typically, the amount paid above the estimated value of the item is tax deductible. However, we recommend consulting with a tax professional regarding tax deductions.
Can I have items that I win shipped to a different address?
Yes. Log into your account, then click on “View my shipping address on file.” You can edit your shipping address there.
Can I retract a bid?
No. All bids placed on the charitybuzz® Auctions website are legally binding. If you are the successful bidder, you will enter into a legal contract to purchase the item and will be considered the buyer of the lot. Please consider your bids carefully before placing them.
Redeeming your winnings
When will I receive my item?
If you’ve won a physical item, such as tickets, a travel certificate, or merchandise, we make every effort to ship your item to you as quickly as possible after your credit card payment has been authorized. In some cases, items are shipped directly from the donor. For celebrity experiences and other items, you will receive a letter with contact information for making the arrangements. If you have any questions about the status of your item, please contact us at info@charitybuzz.com or via phone at 203.226.8306.
How do I make arrangements with the celebrity once I've won?
You will receive instructions from the auction specialist assigned to the auction via letter or email.
Other information
How does the charity organization benefit from the proceeds of an auction?
By using charitybuzz, charities vastly increase the number of bidders they would typically have exposure to, thereby increasing the amount of money raised for their cause.