Running A Live Auction

Live Auctions let you run real-time auctions during a CommentSold live show through your mobile app and webstore. You can start an auction during a live sale, accept bids in real time, extend or end the auction, and automatically charge the winning shopper when the auction ends.

Before you start an auction, here is some important information about auctions you must know.

Use the table of contents below to navigate to specific sections of this article:

• Before You Start
• Auction Restrictions
• Launch an Auction During a Live Show
• Manage a Live Auction
• FAQs

Before You Start

Before running a live auction, make sure you:

• Have an active live running
• Have published a product with inventory available for auction
• Grant the Manage Auctions permission to any team members who need access

Auction Restrictions

Keep the following limitations in mind when using Live Auctions:

• Only one auction can run at a time
• Other products cannot be scanned or shown in the overlay while an auction is active
• Auctions are only available in the mobile app and webstore
• Auctions are not visible on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram
• Auctions are not available on live replays. In a live replay:
  • Auction product overlays do not appear.
  • Bid comments and auction-related chat messages remain visible in the comment feed.
  • Shoppers can watch the replay experience, but auction participation is disabled.
• Products that are not marked as Final Sale are automatically marked Final Sale when shown in an auction unless you manually uncheck the Final Sale option before starting the auction

Launch an Auction During a Live Show

Live Overview

1. Select Live from the side menu of your CommentSold dashboard.
2. Select Live Overview or Multi-Source from the options listed at the top.
3. Once you go Live, scan or select the inventory variant you want to auction under Product Selection. You can launch an auction for any available inventory item. No pre-configuration or special product setup is required.
4. Select Start Auction in the auction panel at the right corner. If your shop uses Mixed Mode, a confirmation pop-up appears asking whether the selected item should be shown as an auction item.
5. CommentSold automatically suggests a starting bid based on the product price (typically around half the list price). You can:
   • Accept the suggested bid
   • Enter a custom starting amount
   • Choose how long the auction should run. You can also extend the time frame to increase participation and resolve timing issues. 
6. If desired, set a minimum bid increment. (This determines the amount customers must add each time they increase their bids.)
7. Once configured, click Start to begin the auction.
8. As shoppers place bids, your dashboard updates in real time with:
   • Current high bid
   • High bidder name
   • Total number of bids
   • Remaining auction time

The auction automatically closes when the timer reaches zero. You can also manually end the auction early at any time by selecting End Auction.

When the auction closes:

• The winning shopper's saved payment method is charged automatically
• The shopper receives an order confirmation
• No manual checkout is required

The recap automatically dismisses after a short countdown, and the most recent auction summary remains visible at the top for quick reference.

Manage a Live Auction

While an auction is active, you can manage it directly from the auction panel during your live sale.

Extend a Live Auction

If you need additional bidding time, you can extend an active auction without creating a new one.

1. Locate the active auction in the auction panel.
2. Select either +1 Minute or +5 Minutes.
3. The auction timer will immediately update to reflect the additional time.

You can extend an auction multiple times as needed while it is still active.

End or Cancel an Auction

Shops can manually end or cancel an auction at any time. Selecting End Auction opens a pop-up with available actions.

End Auction

Ending the auction:

• Declares the current highest bidder as the winner
• Charges the bidder's saved payment method automatically

Cancel Auction

Cancelling the auction:

• Clears all existing bids
• Releases the reserved inventory
• Ends the auction without a winner

FAQs

What do I need before running a live auction?

Before starting a live auction, make sure you:

• Have an active live show running.
• Have a published product with available inventory.
• Give team members the Manage Auctions permission if they need to manage auctions.

What app version supports Live Auctions?

Live Auctions require mobile app version 4.7.0 or newer. Update your app to the latest version to access all available auction functionality.

Where are Live Auctions available?

Live Auctions are available in the CommentSold mobile app and webstore.

Auctions are not visible or available for participation on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram.

Can I run an auction during an existing live show?

Yes. You can launch an auction while your live show is running. Select an available inventory item, configure the auction, and select Start.

You do not need to pre-configure a product specifically for an auction.

Can I run more than one auction during a live show?

Yes. Only one auction can run at a time, but you can run multiple auctions during the same live show. After one auction ends or is canceled, you can select another item and start a new auction.

Can I auction any product?

You can launch an auction for an available inventory item that is published and has inventory available.

Products that are not already marked Final Sale are automatically marked Final Sale when shown in an auction unless you manually uncheck the Final Sale option before starting the auction.

Can I change the auction starting bid?

Yes. CommentSold automatically suggests a starting bid, but you can enter a custom starting amount before starting the auction.

Can I extend an active auction?

Yes. While an auction is active, select +1 Minute or +5 Minutes from the auction panel.

You can extend the auction multiple times while it is still active.

What information can I see while an auction is running?

The auction panel updates in real time with:

• Current high bid
• High bidder name
• Total number of bids
• Remaining auction time

Can I end an auction before the timer expires?

Yes. Select End Auction to end an active auction immediately.

Ending the auction awards the item to the current highest bidder and automatically charges their saved payment method.

What happens when an auction ends automatically?

When the timer reaches zero:

• The current highest bidder wins.
• The winning shopper's saved payment method is charged automatically.
• The shopper receives an order confirmation.
• No manual checkout is required.

What happens if I cancel an auction?

Canceling an auction:

• Clears all existing bids.
• Releases the reserved inventory.
• Ends the auction without a winner.

Unlike ending an auction, canceling does not award the item to the current highest bidder.

Can shoppers participate in auctions during live replays?

No. Auction participation is disabled during live replays.

During a replay:

• Auction product overlays do not appear.
• Bid comments and auction-related chat messages remain visible in the comment feed.
• Shoppers can watch the replay but cannot participate in the auction.

Can I show or scan other products while an auction is active?

No. While an auction is active, other products cannot be scanned or shown in the overlay.

Do I need special product setup before starting an auction?

No. You can auction an available inventory item directly during a live show. No pre-configuration or special product setup is required.

How does the minimum bid increment setting work?

This sets the minimum amount customers can add to their bids.