Tips and Strategies

Placing your first bid is easy. Winning auctions week after week takes planning, timing, and a little patience. Here is how experienced bidders approach PCH Deals.

Beginner tips

🤖 Use Booked Bids

Book a batch of bids in advance and we place them for you whenever it is your turn, so you never miss a countdown. Most auctions are won with Booked Bids, and they are the best way to stay in an auction while you get on with your day.

📢 Follow the auction feed and alerts

The feed shows you what is live right now and what is coming up next. Turn on alerts for the brands and categories you care about so you know the moment an auction you want is about to start.

🎁 Earn free points with Time as Highest Bidder

Every second you spend as the highest bidder fills your progress bar. Complete a level and you collect free points, so simply staying in the running pays off. Read more on the Time as Highest Bidder page.

🛡️ Know the No Jumper limit

Once an auction price passes the No Jumper limit (usually $5.00), nobody new can join. If you want a shot at an item, make sure you have placed a bid or have Booked Bids in place before the price gets there.

Advanced approaches

📝 Study auction behavior

Watching how other bidders act pays off. Many seasoned bidders keep notes on which items attract crowds, how long popular auctions tend to run, and when the field thins out.

🔄 Use Buy It Now and Exchange

If you do not win, Buy It Now lets you purchase the item at its listed price and every point you spent in that auction comes back to your account. If you win something you do not need, exchange it for points instead of having it shipped.

⏰ Try different times and items

Auctions feel different depending on the time of day, the category, and the price point. Experiment with off-peak hours, higher-value items, and budget-friendly ones to find what works for you.

⭐ Look for special auctions

Win-Win, Spoils, Runner-Up, and other special auction types change the rules in your favor. The Promotions page explains every one of them.