Live Auctions allows you to run real-time auctions directly inside your CommentSold mobile app and webstore during a live show. You can launch auctions mid-stream, accept bids in real time, 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.
| Note: This feature is available on mobile app version 4.7.0 and above. Make sure your app is updated to the latest version to access all functionality. |
Before You Start
Before running a live auction, make sure you:
- Use Stripe or CS Payments
- 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
| Note: Shops using Square Pay are not eligible for Live Auctions and will not see auction functionality in their account. |
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 the shop manually unchecks the Final Sale option before starting the auction
Launch an Auction During a Live Show
Live Overview
- Select Live from the side menu of your CommentSold dashboard.
- Select Live Overview from the options listed at the top.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Once configured, click Start to begin the auction.
- 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.
| Note: Selecting End Auction immediately awards the item to the current highest bidder and charges their saved payment method. |
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.
| Tip! You can run multiple auctions during a single live show. Once one auction ends, simply select another item and start the next auction to keep your stream moving. |
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