What Is Blind Bidding?
Blind bidding is a sealed-bid auction feature that hides all competing bids. Bidders can only enter their best offer without seeing what others have placed. This is useful for:
- High-value or exclusive items
- Auctions where privacy is important
- Driving competitive bidding through uncertainty
- Preventing incremental “bidding wars”
H2: How Blind Bidding Works
- Enabled: Bidders enter their offer without seeing current bids. The highest bid at closing wins.
- Disabled: All bids are visible, and participants can outbid one another in real time.
- Admins can still view every bid through the dashboard, even when bidders cannot.
Step 1: Log In to Your Dashboard
- Log in to your auction dashboard.
- Select the event where you want to manage blind bidding.
- Go to Event Settings or Bidding Settings.
Step 2: Locate the Blind Bidding Setting
- Scroll to the Bidding Options section.
- Look for the “Blind Bidding” or “Sealed Bids” toggle.
- This setting applies to all items in your event unless overridden at the item level.
Step 3: Turn Blind Bidding On or Off
- To turn it on: Toggle the setting to Enable.
- To turn it off: Toggle the setting to Disable.
- Click Save Changes to apply your selection.
Once turned on, bidders will not see other bid amounts, only their own.
Step 4: Optional — Set Blind Bidding Per Item
- Go to your Items tab.
- Select the item you want to modify.
- Find the Bidding Type setting.
- Choose Blind Bidding or Standard Bidding.
- Save your changes.
This gives you flexibility to run a mixed auction with some blind and some open-bid items.
Step 5: Preview the Bidding Experience
- Use demo mode to test how blind bidding looks to participants.
- Place a test bid on a blind bidding item.
- Confirm that no competing bids are visible.
Step 6: Turn It Off When Needed
- You can disable blind bidding at any time.
- Any existing bids remain valid.
- New bids will follow the updated (open) bidding format.
Pro Tips for Blind Bidding
- Clearly note “Blind Bidding” in the item description so participants understand the format.
- Use for high-demand items to maximize revenue.
- Consider using minimum bids or reserves to protect item value.
- Remind bidders they won’t see what others bid, so their best offer matters.
Related Guides
- Adding Custom Bid Increments
- What Is Popcorn Bidding
- Test Your Auction in Demo Mode
- Adding Auction Items
- Do I Need to Register for an Account Before I Can Bid?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is blind bidding?
Blind bidding hides all current bid amounts and bidder names so participants can’t see what others have offered.
Where do I enable blind bidding?
You can enable it under Event Settings → Bidding Settings by toggling “Enable Blind Bidding.”
Can I turn blind bidding off during the auction?
Yes. You can toggle it off anytime, but bidders may see all previous bids once it’s disabled.
Will bidders be notified if blind bidding is active?
Yes. The auction page displays a notice explaining that bid amounts are hidden to ensure fairness.
Can I use blind bidding on selected items only?
Depending on your plan, you can enable blind bidding globally or for individual items in their edit settings.
Does blind bidding affect auto-bidding?
No. Auto-bidding still works, but bidders won’t see current bids or know when they’ve been outbid until notified.
Can blind bidding be combined with popcorn bidding?
Yes. Popcorn bidding extensions will still occur, even if bidders can’t see who placed the latest bid.
Is blind bidding available on all plans?
Blind bidding is included in most standard and premium plans. Check your plan features to confirm availability.
Will enabling blind bidding hide bid history?
Yes. While active, bidders won’t see the bid history until blind bidding is turned off or the auction ends.
When should I use blind bidding?
Use blind bidding for exclusive or high-value items where sealed bids can drive stronger offers.
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