What is BidFire?

BidFire is a unique new auction platform that allows you to buy premium products at steep discounts. We strive to provide our customers with a fun and exciting environment where you can find the best deals.  BidFire auctions just became more rewarding with the introduction of Fireballs, the virtual currency non-winners on BidFire earn for bidding.

 

How does BidFire work?

Registered BidFire users compete against each other to win items anywhere between 80% and 99% off retail price. A BidFire auction starts like any other.  The price of the item starts at $0.00 and the auction clock starts counting down.  Each time a bid is placed, the price of the item increases by a set amount and the auction clock is reset.  Once you place a bid, you’re in the lead until the auction clock runs out or someone else places a bid.  When the auction clock reaches 0:00 and no more bids are received, the auction is over and the last person who bid wins.  Want to see BidFire in action, watch the How-to-BidFire video.  And be sure to read below to learn all about Fireballs, the virtual reward currency you earn whenever you bid and don’t win.

 

Getting Started

 

How do I get started?

Getting started is easy as 1-2-3.  First, create an account by clicking on the Register button.  Then, purchase a BidPack by clicking on the Buy Bids button.  Finally, join an auction by clicking on the Bid button.

 

How much do bids cost?

Bids cost between $1 and $0.83 depending on how many are purchased.  Bids can be purchased and earned in a variety of ways.

·                To purchase bids, log in to your account and click “Buy Bids” and select a BidPack.  There are several BidPacks available – the more bids you buy, the more you save.

·                To earn free bids, log in to your account and click “Earn Bids.”  There are several ways you can earn free bids.

 

How can I get FREE Bids?

There are several ways to earn free bids on BidFire:

1)    Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/bidfire then send your Twitter username and BidFire username to twitter@bidfire.com and we’ll add 3 free bids to your account.

2)    Send a photo and video of you with your win to winner@bidfire.com. We'll post it in the Winner's Circle and add 25 free bids to your account

3)    Send a photo of you with your win to winner@bidfire.com. We'll post it in the Winner's Circle and add 10 free bids to your account.

4)    Win our "Guess the End Price" game on Twitter and receive 25 free bids

5)    Edit your BidFire profile to include your picture and receive 1 free bid.

6)    Invite your friends to join BidFire and you will receive 5 free bids for each friend that tries Bidfire.

 

What are Fireballs?

Fireballs are the virtual reward currency you earn whenever you bid in a BidFire auction, but don’t win.  The more you bid, the more Fireballs you earn, and the Fireballs add up fast.  The goal of Fireballs is to limit the losses for our customers, and make it easier than ever before to win –whether you’re winning auctions or not.  Feel free to bid away, now everyone is a winner on BidFire!

 

What can I do with the Fireballs I earn?

Redeem them at the Fireball Store.  Let's go shopping!

 

What items does the Fireball Store carry?

The Fireball Store offers many of the same items available in our auctions.  Be sure to check back often, as our selection changes from time to time.  Products are subject to availability.  If you have specific requests for products in the Fireball Store, let us know by emailing support@bidfire.com.

 

What is the Campfire?

The Campfire displays the avatars for the most recent bidders within a given auction.  The avatar for the lead bidder is shown at the center of the Campfire.  As bidding progresses and a new lead bidder emerges, the Campfire is updated to display the avatar for the current leader.  Beneath the Campfire you can also view the biggest bidders for each auction. 

 

How do I personalize my avatar?

You can personalize your avatar by going to My BidFire and editing your profile.  Simply click “Edit” under Profile Pic and upload your photo or select from one of our BidFire Avatars.  If you choose to upload your photo, images must be larger than 180x180 pixels with a file size less than 500kb.

 

How does BidFire work with Facebook Connect?

The Facebook Connect button allows registered Facebook users to login to BidFire using their existing Facebook profile and credentials.  Once your BidFire and Facebook accounts are linked, you can interact with your friends on BidFire and share your wins on Facebook.

 

How can I stay up-to-date with BidFire auctions?

Follow us on Twitter or friend us on Facebook!

 

Winning on BidFire

How do I know if I won?

If you are the last person to place a bid and the auction clock runs out, you are a winner.  Your screen name and avatar will be displayed along with the winning bid amount.

 

How many auctions can I win?

BidFire users are eligible to win up to 3 auctions in a 7 day period. The 7 day period begins the day of the first win.

BidFire "Bid Packs" do NOT count towards this 3 win limit.

 
Example Scenario One: If a User wins three times on Tuesday, the user would not be eligible to participate again till the following Tuesday;

Example Scenario Two: If a User wins one auction on Monday, a second win on Tuesday and a third win on Wednesday, the user would not be eligible to participate again till the following Monday.

 

How long will it take for me to receive my shipment?

Shipping typically takes 5-9 days to reach its destination and on some rare occasions can take up to 14 days.

 

Where is my tracking shipment number?

Currently we do not automatically provide tracking information but if you open a help ticket then we will provide you with this information.

 

 

More about BidFire Auctions

 

How do I know that I’m bidding against real people?

Check out the Winner’s Circle, our Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/bidfire) and our Twitter page (www.twitter.com/bidfire) to see BidFire auction winners.

 

How long does a BidFire auction last?

There is no predetermined end time for BidFire auctions.  An auction closes after the last person has bid and the auction clock runs out.

 

Does each auction have the same reset time?

No, depending on the auction, some will have 15-, 30-, 45-, or 60-second reset times. 

 

Do I get my bids back after the auction ends?

No, bids placed during the auction are not redistributed back to your account.  

However, if you don't win an auction, you will earn Fireballs for those bids you've placed.  Fireballs are Bidfire's virtual reward currency, awarded for bids you place in an auction that you don't win, read above for more info.  When logged in, you can view your Fireball account balance in the Control Panel on the right side of the page.  Visit the Fireball Store to view all of the items you can buy with Fireballs.

 

Sometimes the auction clock reaches "0:00" for a brief moment, but resets when a new bid comes in.  It seems like it stays there longer than 1 second. Why is this?

Not all users have the same Internet connection speed. In order to level the playing field and allow for everyone to have an opportunity to bid, we must display "0:00" for a moment to sync your computer with our server's internal clock. (note that Bidfire 1.0 used to display "Loading..." instead of "0:00", but the behavior is the same.)  Our users have found that the clock is remarkably accurate and we are constantly improving the precision of BidFire.

 

Can I get a refund for the bids I bought?

Our Terms & Conditions clearly state that we do not issue refunds for bids.  Unused bids will remain in your account and can be used on future BidFire auctions.

 

Does BidFire use shill bidders?

No, BidFire has never and will never use shill bidders.

 

Are BidFire employees allowed to bid?

No, BidFire employees are forbidden to bid on the auctions.

 

How does BidFire make money selling items for so cheap?

BidFire makes money from the bids you purchase rather than the end price of the auctioned item.