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Blind Bidding: What It Is and How to Use It

TL;DR

Blind bidding hides the current highest bid from participants, so bidders must submit their best offer without knowing others’ bids. This feature can increase competition and drive higher winning amounts.

Author: Tom Kelly 3 min reads

What Is Blind Bidding?

Blind bidding is an auction feature where participants place bids without seeing other bidders’ amounts.
Instead of bidding incrementally, each bidder submits what they’re willing to pay—and only the highest bidder wins at the end of the auction.

This feature is commonly used for:

  • High-value or exclusive items
  • Private auctions
  • One-time experiences
  • Fundraising campaigns focused on maximizing individual bids

How Blind Bidding Works

  1. A bidder views the item but does not see any current bid amount.
  2. They submit the maximum amount they’re willing to pay.
  3. The system records all bids privately.
  4. When the auction closes, the highest bidder automatically wins.
  5. The winner is notified, and payment can be processed.

Because bidders can’t see the competition, they often bid their true maximum amount from the start.

Step 1: Log In to Your Auction Dashboard

  1. Log in to your CharityAuctionsToday admin account.
  2. Open the event where you want to enable blind bidding.
  3. Go to the Items tab.

Step 2: Select the Item

  • Click on the item you want to set as blind bidding.
  • Open the Bidding Settings or Item Settings.

Step 3: Enable Blind Bidding

  • Find the Blind Bidding toggle or checkbox.
  • Turn it ON to hide bid amounts from other bidders.
  • Save your settings.

You can enable blind bidding on one or multiple items depending on your event strategy.

Step 4: Communicate the Rules to Bidders

Since blind bidding works differently from standard auctions, let bidders know:

  • The highest bid wins (not necessarily by increments).
  • They won’t see any other bid amounts.
  • Their first bid should be their best offer.
  • The system will notify them if they’ve won after the auction ends.

Step 5: Manage Bids and Winners

  • After the auction ends, view all submitted bids in your admin dashboard.
  • The system automatically determines the winner based on the highest amount.
  • You can manually review or export blind bidding results as needed.

Step 6: Collect Payment

  • Winners receive an automatic notification with a payment link.
  • If credit card pre-registration is required, their card may be charged automatically.
  • If manual payment is enabled, follow your usual invoice workflow.

Pro Tips for Using Blind Bidding

  • Use blind bidding for unique or high-demand items to encourage bigger offers.
  • Clearly communicate rules to avoid confusion.
  • Combine blind bidding with popcorn bidding for certain hybrid events.
  • Consider setting a minimum bid or reserve price to protect item value.
  • Highlight these items in marketing to build anticipation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is blind bidding?

Blind bidding is when bidders place their bids without seeing what others have bid. The highest bid wins when the auction ends.

When should I use blind bidding?

Use blind bidding for exclusive or high-value items to encourage donors to submit their best offer right away.

Can bidders see any bids during blind bidding?

No. All bids are hidden until the auction closes, and only the winner is notified.

Can I enable blind bidding on select items only?

Yes. You can enable blind bidding on individual items while leaving other items with standard bidding.

Can bidders change their bid during blind bidding?

Yes. Bidders can update their bid amount anytime before the item closes, but they still won’t see other bids.

Can I set a minimum bid amount for blind bidding?

Yes. Setting a minimum bid ensures bids start at a value that reflects the item’s worth.

Will bidders get notified if they don’t win?

Yes. Once the auction closes, bidders who didn’t win are notified via email or text, depending on their settings.

Can I disable blind bidding after enabling it?

Yes. You can turn blind bidding on or off at any time before bids are placed on the item.

Does blind bidding work with Buy It Now?

No. Blind bidding does not display current bids, so Buy It Now should be used on separate listings if needed.

Can I use blind bidding with popcorn bidding?

Yes. Blind bidding can be used on select items while popcorn bidding remains active on others to fit your event strategy.

💡 Try this in ChatGPT

  • Summarize the article "Blind Bidding: What It Is and How to Use It" from https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/blind-bidding-and-how-do-i-use-it/ in 3 bullet points for a board update.
  • Turn the article "Blind Bidding: What It Is and How to Use It" (https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/blind-bidding-and-how-do-i-use-it/) into a 60-second talking script with one example and one CTA.
  • Extract 5 SEO keywords and 3 internal link ideas from "Blind Bidding: What It Is and How to Use It": https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/blind-bidding-and-how-do-i-use-it/.
  • Create 3 tweet ideas and a LinkedIn post that expand on this help topic using the article at https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/blind-bidding-and-how-do-i-use-it/.

Tip: Paste the whole prompt (with the URL) so the AI can fetch context.

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly, TEDx speaker and CEO of CharityAuctions.com, helps nonprofits raise millions through auctions and AI. He hosts The Million Dollar Nonprofit podcast and inspires leaders to live their legacy, not just leave it.

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