Silent Auction, Bidders, and Text Bidding

Do silent auction bidders have to install the app?  https://www.auctria.com/blog/mobilebidding-strategy/ 
No, bidders do not have to install the app. There are several ways to participate in online bidding:

• Use the mobile-friendly auction website through any web browser: https://academy.auctria.com/auctions/online_auctions 
• Install the mobile app for iOS or Android (optional) https://academy.auctria.com/online_experience/mobile_bidding 
• Use text messaging to bid (works on any phone with texting capability) https://academy.auctria.com/auctions/online_auctions 
• Use kiosk mode devices set up at the event location 

For bidders who choose not to download the app, they can still:

• Access the auction website through their mobile browser https://www.auctria.com/blog/mobilebidding-strategy   
• Use kiosk stations at the event 
• Receive outbid notifications via email if they provide an email address 
• Get text notifications if text messaging is enabled and they provide a phone number 

How does the silent auction texting work?
https://academy.auctria.com/auctions/online_auctions/#online-bidding-with-auctria
https://academy.auctria.com/auctions/online_auctions/ 
The text messaging feature in Auctria allows bidders to participate in online auctions using any phone that can send and receive text messages – no smartphone or data connection required 1.

Key aspects of the texting system:

• Bidders can request details on specific items via text
• The system provides outbid notifications by text
• Text-to-register, donate, and pay features help save time for organizations and bidders 2

Limitation: Bidders cannot browse the full catalog via text – they need item numbers to request specific item details.

Best practices:

• Clearly mark item numbers so bidders can easily request bid details
• Consider using texting alongside mobile bidding when you want to minimize distractions but still provide important alerts 2

The texting feature works as a complementary bidding channel, particularly useful when you want to keep notifications minimal while still enabling participation .

To text bid, participants need to first be registered in the system with a cell phone number. 

There are several ways to do this:

• Manual registration: Their cell phone number can be entered during check-in1
• Self-registration: Participants can text “register ” to the event phone number
• Automatic registration: With automatic registration enabled, participants can immediately start bidding without prior registration – they just text their bid and the system creates a new participant record

To place a bid, participants text “bid for <item#>” to the event phone number

Important notes:

• Text messaging requires a paid license and is only available in North America2
• Each participant must have a unique cell phone number
• Text messages use credits – both sent and received messages count (2 credits for a bid and acknowledgment)
• Credits come in bundles of 1000 messages for $25

Identifying Bidders
A Bidder Record is tied to the use of the texting features using the Cell Phone Number as shown on the bidder details page. See Participant Details for more information on this record.When a text message is received, the number will be matched to the Cell Phone Number value on the appropriate bidder record.

IMPORTANT
If the Cell Phone Number is used on more than one record it will not be matched and the texting function will fail. Each bidder should have a unique cell phone number.

You can either enter this information manually at check-in, or bidders can enter it during online registration. With Text Messages enabled, you can also Enable Registration By Text allowing bidders to register themselves or Enable Bidders To Claim Their Bidder Number you have assigned.

See Participants & Phone Numbers for additional information.

Texting Commands
There are a number of Texting Commands bidders can send to the auction number in order to participate in the auction. See Text Commands for more information.