Seller & Bidder Guide
Everything you need to know about participating in a Quorum Games Auction.
The Virtual Pre-Auction
Before the live event, a selection of lower-priced items are available to bid on online. This reduces the number of items that need to be called at the live event, keeping things moving faster on the day.
- Items priced at the virtual auction threshold or below are eligible for online bidding.
- You need a paddle number and PIN to place bids. These are assigned by the organizer.
- The virtual auction closes a couple of days before the live event.
- If you win items virtually, you pay and collect them at the live event.
- Items that don't sell virtually may be bundled or relisted at the live event.
Auction Types
American Bidding
The standard ascending auction most people are familiar with.
- The caller announces the starting bid.
- Bidders raise their paddles to indicate they are in.
- The price rises in increments as long as at least two paddles are raised.
- Bidding stops when one paddle remains.
- Going Once... Going Twice... SOLD!
Dutch Bidding
A descending auction — the price starts high and drops until someone accepts.
- The caller announces the starting (high) bid.
- Bidders raise their paddles if they are willing to pay the current price.
- The price drops as long as at least two paddles are raised.
- The auction ends when one paddle remains — that bidder wins at the current price.
- There is a secret minimum price. If the price reaches the minimum with no takers, the item does not sell.
- Dutch auctions are live event only — they are not available in the virtual pre-auction.
Buy It Now
A fixed price — first person to claim it wins.
- The item has a set price. No bidding, no increments.
- In the virtual pre-auction, click the Buy It Now button to claim the item immediately.
- At the live event, the caller announces the price and the first paddle raised wins.
How Virtual Bidding Works
In the virtual pre-auction, bids must meet a minimum increment above the current bid:
- Under $50: Bids must go up by at least $1.
- $50 and above: Bids must go up by at least $5.
Bids must be whole dollar amounts. No cents. You can bid any valid amount above the minimum — you are not locked into exact increments.
Once placed, bids cannot be withdrawn. The highest bid when the auction closes wins.
Remote Bidding
Remote bidding allows people who cannot attend the live event to participate in the virtual pre-auction. Not all items are available to remote bidders — sellers opt in per item.
If you win an item as a remote bidder, you will arrange payment and shipping with the organizer. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the bidder. Before bidding remotely, please be aware of shipping cost differences:
- Continental US — Standard shipping rates apply. Generally reasonable.
- Alaska, Hawaii, and US Territories — Shipping costs are significantly higher than the continental US.
- International — International shipping can be very expensive and is subject to the seller's discretion.
If you are concerned that the shipping cost may be higher than expected, contact the organizer before bidding to confirm with the item's owner.
Lots & Bundles
A lot is a group of items sold together under a single bid. Instead of bidding on each game individually, you bid on the whole bundle and win everything in it.
- Lots have a single starting bid and a single winning bid.
- You can expand a lot on the auction page to see what individual items it contains, including each item's condition and notes.
- All items in a lot must be from the same seller.
Item Condition Grades
| Grade | Description |
|---|
| New | Sealed or unplayed. All components present and in original condition. |
| Like New | Played once or twice. No visible wear. All components present. |
| Good | Normal play wear. Minor shelf wear possible. All components present. |
| Fair | Noticeable wear or marks. May have minor cosmetic damage. All components present unless noted. |
| Poor | Heavy wear, damage, or missing components. Details in condition notes. |
Anti-Snipe Rule
To prevent last-second sniping, the virtual auction has an automatic closing time extension rule:
- If a bid is placed within 60 minutes of an item's closing time, the closing time is extended by 20 minutes.
- This continues as long as bids keep coming in within the window.
- The item only closes once 60 minutes pass with no new bids.
The countdown clock on each item always shows the current true closing time.
For Sellers
To sell items at the auction, you need to be registered as a seller. Contact the organizer to get set up with a paddle number and PIN.
Submitting Items
- Log in with your paddle number and PIN.
- Go to My Items and click Submit Items, or go directly to the submission page.
- Add each item with its name, category, condition, and starting bid.
- You can search BoardGameGeek to automatically populate the game details.
- Choose an auction type for each item: American, Buy It Now, or Dutch (live event only).
- For Dutch items, set a secret minimum bid — only you, the facilitator, and the organizer can see it.
- You can also upload a spreadsheet if you have many items — download the template from the submission page.
After the Virtual Auction
- Check My Items to see which of your items sold and at what price.
- For unsold items, you can create bundles or choose a different auction type for the live event, or remove the item(s) from your list so that you don't have to pack or bring them.
- Bring your items to the live event. Print your item tags from My Items and attach them with painter's tape — do not use regular tape or stickers on game boxes.
Seller Fees
The organizer takes a small fee per item sold. The fee is deducted from your proceeds — you do not pay anything upfront. Ask the organizer for current fee details.
At the Live Event
- Claim your paddle when you arrive — it will be ready for you at the door.
- If you won items in the virtual pre-auction, collect them and settle payment when you arrive or during breaks.
- With limited exceptions, items will be auctioned by category.
- If you want to bid, raise your paddle, and keep it raised as new amounts are called out, and lower your paddle when you want to stop bidding.
- When you win an item, the facilitator records your paddle number and winning bid on the item tag.
- You can settle up (pay for your wins) at any time during breaks. You do not have to wait until the end.
- Payment is collected by the organizer. Cash, card, or agreed payment method.
Clips & Challenges
Throughout the auction, you can earn clips — colored clothespins that unlock bonus prizes and opportunities.
Earning Clips
- When the caller reveals a game during bingo, raise your hand if you know what it is.
- If you are called on and answer correctly, you earn the right to challenge the host.
- Win the challenge: earn one colored clip AND one value clip.
- Lose the challenge: earn one clip of your choice.
Challenge Games
Challenges are quick 1v1 games — rock paper scissors, high card, dice rolls, and more. You choose which type of challenge to attempt each time.
Redeeming Clips
- Colored clips: at random points during the event, a color is drawn. Everyone holding that color turns in their clip for a random draw from the expansion box.
- Value clips: collect enough to reach a total of 15 or more and turn them in to pick from the expansion box instead of drawing blind. Reach exactly 21 for a special prize. Go over 21 and you bust — back to a random draw only.
- Face cards (J, Q, K) count as 10. Aces count as 11.
- At the end of the event, leftover clips will be collected for some kind of prizes.
