Stamporama Online Auctions Tutorial

Welcome to Stamporama's perpetual auction. This document is intended as a quick tutorial to introduce the process of Registration, Buying Items, and Selling Items in the auction. This page may be used together with the Auction Rules and the Auction FAQ for a full understanding of the auction process.

Registration
1. Anyone may look at our lots, but only Stamporama members may post lots or bid. If you like what you see and you are not currently a Stamporama Member, see the "Join" link at the top of the page. Please allow a couple of days for the Stamporama Secretary to process your application. Already a member? Excellent, enjoy yourself, but please read on about Auction Registration.

2. To participate in the auction, you must be registered in the auction software, even if you are currently a Stamporama member. Our Registration form will allow you to register to post lots or bid. Please make sure that all information is accurate when you enter it. This data will be sent to the buyer/seller at the end of an auction. You will need to enter a Username or Alias; your E-Mail Address; your name, mailing address, etc. All information should match information already on file with our membership. Please note that addresses will be given out only to the buyer or seller at the end of the auction.

3. You will need to read and agree to abide by the "Rules of the Stamporama Auction," which are posted on the Auction Rules Page. Please read these rules carefully. They provide the basis for conducting auctions with integrity and the kind of gentlewomanly and gentlemanly esteem that we hope you will find appealing, and a safe haven from the uncertainties of the outside world. If uncertain of a rule or its interpretation, please contact our auctioneer at teisler@aabt.org.

4. A new personal password will be e-mailed to you automatically after submitting your information. If you do not receive an email with your new randomly generated password within a few minutes, please contact the Webmaster at webmaster@stamporama.com, stating the Alias or Username that you used.

5. You may update your registration information by using the Change Registration link on the auction menu at any time. We recommend that you change your password to something easier to remember as soon as you receive your new password from the system.

6. Enter the auction at any time by using the link in the menu at the top of every page.


Bidding
7. The auction is divided into categories to make finding interesting lots easier. Start searching for lots to bid on by selecting a category.

8. Finding Items: You may also locate items in several categories by typing a keyword or partial word, that match what you are looking to find. The search engine cannot use logic ("and/or"), nor will it match phrases unless that phrase is used exactly in the description. The best searches are accomplished with partial words (i.e. use "cens" instead of "censored" since that will return "censored," "censor," "censorship," etc.) You can also search by username (helpful to find anything you've bid on, or lots from a specific seller). You don't have to be in the specific category for successful searches. Please note that not everyone is a careful typist and things are occasionally misspelled; be careful in your own searches and don't be too surprised if the seller didn't get it right; you may also try alternative spellings (for instance, Netherlands and Nederlands).

9. You can find material you bid on after the auction closed by using "View your closed auctions" link. All other material disappears immediately after the auction's close.

10. Bidding increments are managed by the sytem and increase as the bid goes higher. The next available bid will be shown for each lot.

11. Please note that your bid is your bond. Don't bid if you don't really want it.

12. Our auctions work on proxy bids. A proxy bid and a maximum bid are the same thing. To place a proxy bid, just enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay. The system will use only as much of your bid as necessary to give you high bidder position. It will then automatically bid on your behalf, up to your maximum amount, if competing bids are placed. In this way, you can win the item at the lowest possible price. Your maximum bid is only placed when a competing bidder also bids up to that same amount. This is a great advantage for bidders, especially early bidders. Ties go to the earlier bidder. Nobody can see your maximum bid until the system needs to use it to beat another bid. Sellers may not bid on their own lots (the system will not allow it).

13. Last minute bidding. Our auction automatically eliminates "sniping," bids placed in the last second with hopes of beating all competition. Our auction automatically extends the auction by 8 hours any time the top bidder changes. This means that anyone who beats the high bidder will automatically extend the life of that lot for another 8 hours, even if that takes the close past the stated end time. This gives the previous high bidder (and anyone else) a chance to respond. However, if your bid is below the high bid and changes only the price, but not the high bidder, the auction closes at its scheduled time. The lesson in this, is "There is no advantage to bidding at the last second!"

14. Congratulations, you won a lot! What now? The auction system will send you an e-mail with the auction closing results. This email will appear to come from the seller of the lot. Simply reply to the e-mail and make arrangements directly with the seller for shipping and payment. Your transaction is completed exclusively with the seller. Stamporama does not get involved in payment or delivery of a lot. Stamporama acts as a listing venue only. If you win several lots from different sellers, you will be dealing with each of them individually upon the close of the auctions.


Question not answered?
First, read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to see if we've already covered it there. If not, contact the auctioneer.

Selling

15. Sellers are given a step-by-step series of boxes to fill. The following information will be required after you click on "Post A New Item": Title/Item Name: for instance "US Scott 65" or "Czech collection". You are limited to 50 characters (HTML is not allowed). Avoid unusual characters like apostrophes, asterisks, etc., as these can interfere with searches.

16. Choose one Category

17. You can add an image URL (optional): enter the complete URL to a picture (starting with "http://") . The picture must be hosted somewhere on the internet. Note that some free picture-hosting services will not allow pictures hosted on their sites to be served to another site like Stamporama. Check the rules of your hosting service if you are uncertain. The Stamporama webmaster has reserved some space on the Stamporama server for members who wish to store pictures for the Stamporama auction. See "Upload Pics". Please note that pictures wider than 400 pixels may distort the display page.

18. Choose the length of the auction. You may enter any number from 1 to 14 days (10 is the default).

19. Provide a Description: This may include HTML. Please be careful with your entry. Our system does not have an editing facility. Errors in HTML may make your lot unreadable. Your description should include any relevant notes about the condition of the item, its centering (or grade, especially if not pictured), and any faults, whether visible in the picture or not, catalogue value (and catalogue used), payment and shipping information, and any other information the buyer should know. Note carefully: Unless shipping cost terms are specified, the Stamporama Standard Shipping Cost Rule will apply to your auction. This rule specifies that only actual postage cost may be charged to the buyer. You may specify your own terms, but it is your responsibility as a seller to clearly state any different terms in the description of each and every one of your auctions.

20. By placing an item up for bid you are making a contract between you and the buyer. Once you place an item, you may not retract it except for extraordinary circumstances and you must sell it for the highest bid. In other words, if you don't want to sell it, don't place it up for bid!

21. Registration is required to post or bid! You will need your Handle/Alias and your Password.

22. Enter Your Starting Bid: Do not use dollar signs ($) or commas (,).

23. Hit Preview. Make sure everything is ok, and press "Start Auction". Your auction is immediately available for bidding!

24. Selling Commission. There are no fees of any kind for using the Stamporama auction. Selling is absolutely free!

25. You may have a maximum of 50 lots active at any one time.

26. Please be sure you have read the Stamporama Auction Rules!

Good Luck!

Roy Lingen, Stamporama Webmaster, and David Teisler, Stamporama Auctioneer