FAQ
Registering
The March Mania site is not pre-populated with PDS parent accounts, however accounts from last year are still active.
When registering you will be asked to complete a short form which includes standard information such as your contact details, preferred login credentials etc.
Mandatory fields include:
- Name
- City
- State/Province/county
- Zip/Post Code
- Phone Number
- Birthday
- Username & Password
- E-Mail address
Once registered you will receive an email confirmation.
Should you encounter any registration difficulties please contact us.
Restricted Items
Some items are only available for members of the PDS community: PDS current and former parents, grandparents, faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and alumni.
Bidding Increments
After the initial bid on an item, bids increase automatically with the following rules:
| Range | Increment |
|---|---|
| Under $10 | $2 |
| $10 - $100 | $5 |
| $100 - $1000 | $10 |
| Over $1000 | $50 |
All About Bidding - Proxy Bids/Automatic Bidding/Maximum Bids
When you place a bid, you enter the maximum amount you’re willing to pay for the item. The other bidders don’t know your proxy/maximum bid.
The auction software will place bids on your behalf using the automatic bid increment amount, which is based on the current high bid. It will automatically bid only as much as necessary to make sure that you remain the high bidder, up to your maximum amount.
If another bidder places the same maximum bid or higher, we’ll notify you via email so you can place another bid. Your maximum bid is kept confidential until it is exceeded by another bidder.
Check out this video explanation:
Am I notified if I am outbid?
If you have been outbid you will be notified by email, however keep in mind that email deliverability is often an issue. Notifications may end up in your spam folder.
In the last few moments of an auction, bids will often come in more quickly than the email notifications would even allow, so make sure to review all of your bids to see if you're still the winner.
To quickly review your bids and see if you have won you can utilize the “Current Bids” or “Won Items” feature by logging into the auction website.
Overtime
No more getting sniped at the last minute!
If a bid is placed on an auction item with two minutes or less on the clock, the item automatically goes into overtime and the clock is reset to two minutes.
HOWEVER...this only occurs if you have beaten the original bidder's proxy bid.
This repeats until there are no more bids placed.
Can I raise my bid, even if I am the highest bidder?
Yes, you can. Simply return to the auction item’s page, and place a new bid.
Your proxy bid will be increased, but your existing bid will not increase unless you are outbid by another participant.
Why is another bidder able to outbid me at the exact same time?
If you enter a bid and are IMMEDIATELY outbid, it's because you haven't beaten the high bidder's proxy bid.
Example:
The high bidder has a proxy bid of $100 (this is a secret bid).
The current high bid is $50.
You bid $55. The auction software will bid $60 on the high bidder's behalf, because their proxy bid is $100.
How can I view all bids I’ve submitted?
To quickly review your bids:
- Login to the website
- Click on Members Area
- You will see a group of tabs below your dashboard with a list of current bids.
Should I bid while the auction is closing?
Many of our bidders begin bidding actively as items are closing. However, to assure you do not get caught up in the frenzy of last minute bidding, consider using the bidding the maximum you are willing to bid. The site will bid on your behalf-using only what it needs to keep you the “winner.”
Picking Up Items
Please pay for your item by accessing the Purchases page in the Members Area of the auction website.
Please pick up all items and pay for unpaid items from the Campbell Board Room (conference room next to Reception desk at the PDS main entrance) Wednesday, March 23, 2022 8am-4pm.
It is the winner’s responsibility to pick up their winning items during the scheduled pick-up times or email Kim Bridgforth at kbridgforth@pdsmemphis.org to make other arrangements.
Most opportunities expire by March 2023 unless specified by the donor. Please make every effort to redeem and utilize your win as it may be impossible to extend the redemption deadline.