How to Bid in an Auction

Every PCH Deals auction follows the same four rules. Learn them once and you are ready for any auction on the site.

The rules

Starts at $0.00

Every auction opens at zero with no reserve price. The price only moves when someone bids.

One cent per bid

Each bid raises the auction price by exactly one cent and uses one point from your balance.

9-second clock

Every bid resets the countdown to 9 seconds. As long as people keep bidding, the auction keeps going.

Last bidder wins

When the clock hits zero with no new bids, the highest bidder wins and pays the final auction price. That is the whole price, and shipping is free.

Browse live auctions

Before you bid

You need points in your account to bid. Points are sold in Point Packs and are currently 14¢ each. Your balance is always shown in the app, and you can top up in a few taps.

Two things to check on the auction page before you jump in:

• No Jumper limit. Most auctions lock to the current bidders once the price passes a limit, usually $5.00. If you want in, bid before the limit.
• Special labels. Auctions can carry labels like One Per User, No Re-Entry, Early Bird, Duel, or Overload. Each one tweaks the rules a little. See what every label means.

Booked Bids

You do not have to sit at your screen tapping the button. Book points on an auction and PCH Deals bids for you, waiting until the final seconds of the clock before each bid. Booked Bids take turns with everyone else's in a fair round robin, so nobody gets to cut the line.

• You choose how many points to book, and you can add more or cancel at any time.
• Any points that were not used go straight back to your balance.
• Most auctions are won with Booked Bids. Read our tips for how to use them well.

Won the auction? Here is what happens next

1. Pay the final price. Head to My Deals and complete your order within 14 days. Sales tax is added where required. See accepted payment methods.
2. Or exchange it. Instead of paying, you can exchange most wins for points to use in future auctions. The offer is shown on the win page.
3. We ship it free. Every order ships free with tracking. Shipping details.

Did not win? Buy It Now

Every auction has a Buy It Now price, which is the product's regular retail price. If someone else wins, you can buy the product at that price and every point you spent in the auction is returned to your balance. You get the product, you keep your points, and shipping is still free.

Buy It Now is available on the auction page for a limited time after the auction ends, so check back soon after you lose.

Earn while you bid

• Time as Highest Bidder. Every second you spend as the highest bidder fills a progress bar. Fill it and you unlock free points and other rewards. How it works.
• Daily Rewards, Challenges, and Badges. Log in daily, complete bidding challenges, and collect badges for milestones. Everything lives on the Rewards page.
• Royalty Program. Buy points during the month and climb the Hero, Noble, and Monarch tiers for exclusive auctions and boosted rewards. Tier details.

What you can win

Brand new, brand name products. The same products and brands you see in big box stores, plus designer pieces, artisan goods, gift cards, and even vehicles. Every product page lists the retail price, so you always know what your win is worth.