Buying FAQs

1. What is Shill Bidding?
2. Why Are Shipping Charges So Expensive Or Excessive?
3. I Have Not Received My Items, What Do I Do?
4. What Is an Automatic Or Auto Bid Limit ?
5. What Is the Delivery Time And How Trustworthy Are the Senders?
6. Can I See the Items Before Buying?
7. I Cannot Get Hold Of the Seller Or After Paying the Seller Still Has Not Shipped My Goods, Now What?
8. I Entered the Incorrect Bid Amount, How Do I Change It Or Can I Delete My Bid?
9. How Do I Buy Something?
10. Why Was My Bid Not Accepted?
11. Does bidorbuy Sell Goods Or Products?
12. What Does It Mean When Stated - Extends with Late Bids?
13. How Do I Appeal SNC's?
14. How Do I Pay the Seller?
15. Finding the Sellers Details?
16. What Is the Reserve Price?

1. What is Shill Bidding?

Shill Bidding is when Sellers place bids (whether blatantly or under a disguise) on their own listings with the intent to raise the bid price in the hope that other bidders would feel forced to bid for that item at a higher price, thereby artificially inflating the perceived market value or desirability of the product that is on auction.

Often a family member or roommate may bid on the Seller’s item because they really want to win the item. The reality however, is that these bidders are in a situation where they are usually able to communicate directly with the Seller, thereby creating a unique scenario that is unfair to other bidders that do not have direct contact with the Seller. For this reason it is regarded as unfair practice for these bidders to bid on the Seller’s item in the traditional auction-style listing. Should a family member or friend genuinely be interested in purchasing the product, the Seller should resort to listing the item as a straight-forward sale with a fixed price i.e. a Buy Now. This removes the risk of misleading other potential Buyers about the market value of the product, as the price is specified and can therefore not be inflated at any point in time.

It is regarded by most online auction websites including bidorbuy as a deceitful and underhanded tactic used mostly by conniving scam artists and therefore bidorbuy has a strict policy against this sort of behaviour and would usually blacklist any Seller participating in this practice from using the site in the future. In some countries, shill bidders have been criminally prosecuted for shill bidding where such prosecutions have resulted in both misdemeanor and felony convictions and large penalties including fines and restitution of damages.

If you suspect shill bidding on an item or auction, please use the "Spot a Problem" link under the Description box to alert us to this or email communitywatch@bidorbuy.co.ke. We do monitor the site on a daily basis for this practice and if users are found to be shill bidding, a range of actions can be taken against them.

2. Why Are Shipping Charges So Expensive Or Excessive?

We generally discourage Sellers from listing or charging excessive or high shipping charges, as this may be a deterrent to many potential Buyers.

As there are many different types of shipping and delivery methods, the costs and methods may vary from Seller to Seller. Some Sellers include handling fees (which are allowed within reason), these generally cover the Seller's petrol costs, packaging costs and other ancillary costs attached to shipping the item. There are no standard fees or methods prescribed by bidorbuy, this is entirely at the discretion of the Seller. We generally advise the Seller to keep these costs to a minimum and to keep them realistic and fair.

Should you feel the Seller has charged excessive or high shipping/postage charges you may report this to hello@bidorbuy.co.ke. If we find that the fees or charges are excessive, we can request the Seller to amend or reduce them or possibly even warn the Seller for contravening our listing policy.

As a Buyer, we also advise you to use the Q&A facility on the item page to ask the Seller about delivery options and costs if these are not displayed, to avoid any unpleasant surprises once a purchase has already been made. Pay particular attention to the Shipping & Other Charges section located under the item description, many Sellers will list the options and costs here. Please note, you will need to add these shipping costs on to the final selling price of the item when you complete your order. Shipping costs are for the Buyers account unless otherwise stated.

3. I Have Not Received My Items, What Do I Do?

We generally allow 7 days for a transaction to be finalised, this takes into account things like payment delays, shipping or delivery times etc. We recommend that you attempt to contact the Seller again (via email and telephonically), should you not get a response or the Seller continues to avoid you, we suggest you contact us at hello@bidorbuy.co.ke, informing us of the situation and we will advise you accordingly.

We at bidorbuy recommend that you familiarise yourself with our safety tips for trading online

4. What Is an Automatic Or Auto Bid Limit ?

An Automatic Bid allows the auction system to bid on your behalf up to the maximum amount that you specified, if necessary. This amount is the maximum amount that you, the buyer, are willing to pay for an item. It is kept confidential and will only automatically increase (up to the maximum that you set) if it is required to do so for you to win the auction.

To activate the Automatic Bid, just enter your maximum bid amount in the "Amount you bid" box. The system will NOT bid on your behalf higher than the bid amount placed in this box.

Automatic Bid is an optional facility. If you activate Automatic Bid, you do not need to be online to bid for and win an item you desire. The system will bid for you if necessary by the specified bid increment amount to the limit of your Automatic Bid. Please note that the Automatic Bid system will only bid for you when you have been outbid or to meet the reserve price at the end of the auction. You will receive an email notification every time the Automatic Bid bids for you.

Following is an example of how the Automatic Bid feature works:

Lets say the starting price is KSh100

• Bid Increment Amount - KSh10
• Reserve price (not visible to you) - KSh150
• Current Bid Amount placed by you - KSh110
• Automatic Bid placed by you at KSh200

In case you are outbid, i.e. someone bids higher than you, Automatic Bid will bid for you matching the bid that outbid you (provided it is below the limit you set) making you the current winning bidder. Therefore if someone bids KSh120 on the item, Automatic Bid will automatically increase your bid to KSh120 making you the winning bidder. Assuming nobody else bids more than you now and the auction is closing with the reserve price not met, then Automatic Bid will bid KSh150 to meet the reserve price (because this is still below the KSh200 limit that you set).

Note that bids are ranked in the following order, first amount, then quantity, then time. This means that if you use an automatic bid and some one outbids you, you will be the winning bidder at the same amount and quantity because your Automatic Bid would have been placed before their bid ( i.e. you would win on time).

You can now sit back and let the Automatic Bid feature do the bidding for you.

5. What Is the Delivery Time And How Trustworthy Are the Senders?

Due to the fact that there are many different methods for delivery or shipping an item, the time lines will also vary depending on the options selected by the Seller. An item posted via regular post will take longer to arrive than an item shipped via a courier service which may only take a day or two. Always check the Shipping Options offered by the Seller on the item description page. Should there not be enough information regarding delivery or shipping options available, we suggest you make use of the Q&A facility to pose questions to the Seller about shipping costs, delivery methods, insurance, tracking etc.

We recommend to Sellers to advertise all the necessary details before hand, making it easier for the Buyer to see what options are available and at what cost, this avoids any disputes after the sale is completed on the site. We also recommend that both Buyer and Seller utilise a service that has parcel tracking and insurance included, this ensures the item can be tracked at all times and should there be any damage or loss to the parcel that it can be covered by the insurance, especially when sending high value items or breakable goods.

In order to ascertain the trustworthiness of a Seller, we advise you to read our safe buying tips. This will help you in making an informed decision when purchasing an item, pay particular attention to the Seller's rating score, feedback left by other Buyers, what shipping methods are offered and if they supply tracking numbers and insurance, as well as if any warranties or guarantees are offered by the Seller.

Although the vast majority of bidorbuy transactions are trouble-free, in the unlikely event of fraud, you will need to contact the local authorities or police to open a criminal case of theft against the seller.

6. Can I See the Items Before Buying?

bidorbuy provides an online marketplace where items are listed for sale. As such all sales and transactions take place online via the bidorbuy website. Unfortunately we do not allow items to be viewed before bidding or buying takes place for a number of reasons (seller location, security risks, logistical issues etc.). The Seller will generally list an item with images and a description. Most Sellers will include additional pictures and text in the description field outlining the product or item features, specifications and condition.

We do allow limited contact via the Q&A facility on the item page. Interested Buyers or bidders may ask the Seller additional questions relating to the listing, like terms of sale, technical information, shipping costs etc. We do not allow personal details or contact information to be included in the Q&A section. If you are not sure about the item and have questions we strongly recommend that you use the Q&A facility to communicate with the Seller.

It is important to view the images and read the description, including payment and shipping options before purchasing or bidding on an item, as once you bid on an item or click on the Buy Now, it becomes binding. It is also strongly recommended that you review the Seller's ratings before deciding whether to make a purchase from that Seller. If you are uncertain about purchasing the item or bidding on it, we always suggest that you do not place a bid or purchase the item.

7. I Cannot Get Hold Of the Seller Or After Paying the Seller Still Has Not Shipped My Goods, Now What?

bidorbuy guidelines are that transactions should be completed within 7 days of the original transaction date. If you have been unable to contact the Seller after the 7 day period, you would need to contact our online security department via e-mail communitywatch@bidorbuy.co.ke and explain what transpired. If you believe fraud has taken place it would be advisable to lay a charge against the Seller at your local police station and to get a case number. Only once this has been done can bidorbuy release additional information on the Seller, if available, to the police. The Seller will then also be disabled or even blacklisted as a fraudulent trader. If you have not paid for the item as yet, we suggest you refrain from making a payment until you are sure the transaction will proceed without any problems. Please ensure you keep all records of correspondence, including dates, times and when attempts to contact the Seller were made.

We do however suggest you first wait for the initial 7 day period to pass as the Seller could have a valid reason for not being contactable. Once that period is over you may also rate the Seller negatively, which can prompt them into action either refunding the payment or sending you the item purchased.

Please remember to familiarise yourself with our safety tips for trading online.

8. I Entered the Incorrect Bid Amount, How Do I Change It Or Can I Delete My Bid?

Unfortunately you cannot change your bid amount once it is entered, you would need to contact the Seller via the Q&A facility requesting that your bid be deleted and provide the reason for the request. It is at the Seller's discretion whether to remove your bid. If the bid is deleted you would need to re-bid on the item with the correct amount. Always ensure you take the necessary care when placing your bid as this can lead to disputes and problems after the close of the auction.

9. How Do I Buy Something?

Step 1: Register Yourself

In order to buy you will first need to register as a Buyer. This is a quick and easy process and should take you no longer than 60 seconds to complete. You will need to choose a username and password, which you will use to log on to the site with. After registering you will need to enable your account by clicking on a link in an email we send you before you can log in. Find out more about registering as a buyer.

Step 2: Find an Item

Search for your item using the 'Keyword Search' box or 'Advanced Search' link, or browse the categories and sub-categories to find your item. You can activate a list of items in their category by clicking on the 'Category map' link.

Step 3: Read the Item Description

Once you have found your item, click on the title to reach the 'Item' page. Read this page carefully. Take note of the item, transaction and Seller's details. Know the 'Warranties', 'Guarantees', 'Payment Methods' offered and the 'Shipping Charges'.

Step 4: Place And Confirm Your Order / Bid

Once you have read the 'Item Page', click on 'Buy Now' or 'Bid Now' to place your order/bid. If you have not logged in yet, you will be prompted to do so at this point. Select the 'Payment Method', specify the 'Shipping Details' and confirm your order/bid.

Note: If you have not given your contact details when you registered, you will be asked to do so before the 'Order/Bid Confirmation'.

Step 5: Review And Submit Your Order/Bid

Post Ordering Process

• 'Auctions': Once you have placed your bid, you will be informed of this bid by e-mail. If another user outbids you, you will also receive an email informing you of this. If you wish, you may bid higher on the same item. If you win the auction, you will also receive an e-mail displaying the 'Pay Now' button. Click on this button to select the 'Payment Method' and specify the 'Shipping Details'. Once you have chosen how you will pay, contact the Seller, if required, and arrange for the delivery.
• 'Buy Now': Once you have placed your order, you will receive the order and Seller's details via email. Once you have chosen a 'Payment Method', contact the Seller, if required, and arrange for shipping of the purchase.
• 'Classifieds': Once you have responded to a 'Classified', you will receive the Seller's contact details via e-mail. The Seller will also receive an e-mail containing your response to the 'Classified', and your contact details. You should contact the Seller to complete the sale.

Note: Please remember to keep proof of your payments, such as proof of payment from your bank.

10. Why Was My Bid Not Accepted?

There can be a number of reasons why a bid fails or is unsuccessful. The main reasons would be that you have been out bid or you have entered an amount lower than the next required bid. Check the next bid amount on the bid page. You will also be prompted by the system to revisit the bid page if your bid was unsuccessful. Note, bidders with autobids may out bid you should their auto bid limit be higher than your current bid. Also note on auctions with a reserve price, you will not win the auction if the reserve price is not met, the system will inform you of this but will not display the reserve price.

It is important to remember to refresh your page (press the Ctrl and F5 buttons on your keyboard) to ensure you are keeping updated on the current bids. Do not rely on being notified via email as this may take some time to reach your mailbox.

There may also be technical reasons why your bid was not accepted, this could be due to your internet connection (speed and access), traffic load on the site, server response time etc. Although we endeavour to make the bidding process as real time as possible, there may be technical or system limitations that affect the placement of a bid timeously.

11. Does bidorbuy Sell Goods Or Products?

bidorbuy merely provides the platform for individuals and companies to advertise items they have for sale. bidorbuy does not manufacture, sell, supply or provide any of the items advertised on the site, nor do we purchase stock or hold stock of any of the products listed on the site. Buyers and Sellers interact directly with each other and use bidorbuy as a trading platform.

You would need to search for the item you require on our site either using the search facility or by simply browsing the items advertised, then register to become a buyer by selecting Join Now from our home page. Once this has been done you may bid for an item or place an order on a buy now. Once the sale is completed (and you are the winning bidder/buyer), only then will you receive the Seller's contact details via e-mail.

12. What Does It Mean When Stated - Extends with Late Bids?

Basically, the auction will have a scheduled close time - for example 3pm. If there are no bids in the last 3 minutes before 3pm, the auction will close as normal. If however someone places a bid at 2.59pm, the auction is automatically extended by 3 minutes, until 3.02pm. If there are no further bids then the auction closes at 3.02pm. If someone bids at 3.01pm, then the auction automatically extends until 3.04pm, etc. i.e another 3 minutes. This simulates the "Going, going ... gone" nature of traditional live auctions.

The Seller selects this option when creating their listing, so if this option is selected, it will be indicated on the item page next to the closing time with the following wording - "Extends with late bids".

13. How Do I Appeal SNC's?

The Sale Not Completed (SNC) system is a process for Sellers to send automated notifications to Buyers who have not concluded a transaction within 7 days of winning an auction or placing an order. After the Seller files an SNC, the Buyer has a further 7 days to complete the transaction. If the Buyer fails to do so, a non-fulfillment warning will be placed against the Buyer. Multiple offences will result in the Buyer being blacklisted from the bidorbuy web site. SNCs are primarily used by Sellers to recoup success fees charged for unsuccessful sales.

Once a Seller files an SNC, you will be notified via email. You will be given the opportunity to respond or appeal. You may explain the reasons for not concluding the transaction or you may give your version of events. Please note, bidorbuy does not investigate appeals or SNCs for accuracy and honesty. However, we may, at our discretion, request documentation and proof to substantiate claims.

You can appeal by following the link contained in the email notification OR you can log into your bidorbuy account, select the Buying tab and then click on All Items Bought or Won. Here you will find the option to respond to the SNC filed. Alternatively, go to the SNC section under the Buying tab, at the bottom right hand corner of the page. There you will find a list of all your pending and completed SNCs.

Kindly be advised, should the SNC be finalised, you would not be able to respond. When the SNC has been completed, no option to respond will be available.

Read more about the Sale Not Competed procedure.

14. How Do I Pay the Seller?

bidorbuy merely provides the platform for individuals and businesses to advertise items they have for sale. bidorbuy does not manufacture or supply any products or items listed on our site, nor are we responsible for the payment, delivery or shipment of these items.

The payment methods or options are determined or selected by the Seller, you will have to make payment via one of these methods as advertised by the Seller - for example - Inter Bank Transfer, direct deposit, cash deposit, credit card, wire transfer, PayPal etc. The Seller will generally include this under the payment section on the item page. Should the Seller not list payment options, you can use the Q&A facility on the item page to ask the Seller how to make payment or what methods are accepted. Ensure you comply with the Seller's accepted payment methods, this does form part of the terms of the sale, and cannot be altered or changed without agreement or consent from the Seller.

View all the payment options Sellers can offer Buyers.

15. Finding the Sellers Details?

16. What Is the Reserve Price?

When listing their items on Auction, Sellers can optionally set a reserve price, which is the minimum price that they are willing to accept for the item. The starting bid amount cannot be less than 80% of the reserve price. The reserve price is set before the Auction starts and is never disclosed. In order to win an Auction with a reserve price, your bid has to be equal to or higher than the reserve price.