Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Bidz.com ("the Platform"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. If you do not agree to abide by these terms, please do not use this service. These terms apply to all users, including buyers, sellers, and administrators.

2. Registration and Account

To participate in auctions, you must register for an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate. Account verification may require submission of identification documents for KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.

3. User Roles and Permissions

The Platform supports multiple user roles with varying permissions:

• Buyers: Can browse auctions, place bids, and purchase items
• Sellers: Can create listings and consign items for auction
• Admin: Platform operators with full system access

Role assignments are determined during registration and account verification.

4. Bidding Terms

All bids are binding contracts to purchase the item at the bid price plus applicable buyer's premium, taxes, and fees. By placing a bid, you agree to pay for the item if you are the winning bidder.

Our advanced bidding engine includes:

• Real-time bid processing and validation
• Soft close extensions (auctions extend when bids placed in final minutes)
• Proxy bidding (automatic bid increments up to your maximum)
• Live bid monitoring and notifications
• Bid audit trail for transparency

Bid retractions are only permitted in exceptional circumstances and at our sole discretion. Repeated bid retractions may result in account suspension.

5. Buyer's Premium and Fees

A buyer's premium is added to the hammer price of each lot. The buyer's premium percentage is listed on each auction page and forms part of the total purchase price.

Additional fees may include sales tax (where applicable), shipping and handling, insurance, and payment processing fees. All fees are disclosed before final payment confirmation.

6. Payment Terms

Payment is due within 7 days of the auction closing unless otherwise specified. We accept major credit cards through Stripe payment processing. Late payment may result in additional fees, account restrictions, and potential legal action.

All payment transactions are secured using industry-standard encryption and PCI-DSS compliant processing.

7. Escrow Protection

All payments are held in escrow until delivery is verified through our comprehensive fulfillment tracking system:

• Buyers' funds are protected until items are received and confirmed
• Sellers receive payment only after successful delivery documentation
• Photo verification and signature confirmation required
• Escrow holds funds for inspection periods where applicable
• Dispute resolution process available if issues arise

Escrow protection ensures both parties are protected throughout the transaction.

8. Listing Creation and AI Assistant

Sellers can create listings through our platform, with optional AI assistance:

• AI-powered listing quality suggestions and improvements
• Photo analysis and description enhancement
• Category recommendations and tagging
• Pricing guidance based on market data
• Listing change management and version history

Sellers are responsible for ensuring all information provided is accurate, regardless of AI assistance. Misrepresentation may result in listing removal and account penalties.

9. Item Descriptions and Condition

We make every effort to accurately describe items. However, all items are sold "as is" unless explicitly stated otherwise. Buyers are encouraged to review all available information, images, and condition reports before bidding.

Sellers must provide truthful and complete descriptions. Failure to accurately describe items may result in transaction cancellation, refund obligations, and account termination.

10. Fulfillment and Logistics

We partner with verified logistics providers to ensure safe delivery:

• Pickup and shipping arranged through vetted fulfillment partners
• Real-time tracking and status updates
• Photo documentation at pickup and delivery
• Signature confirmation required
• Insurance options available for high-value items

Items must be collected within 14 days of payment. Storage fees may apply to items not collected within this period. Buyers are responsible for all shipping and handling costs unless otherwise specified.

11. Disputes and Returns

Our dispute resolution process includes:

• Formal dispute filing with evidence submission
• Investigation by our compliance team
• Mediation between buyer and seller
• Escrow hold during dispute resolution
• Binding decision by platform administrators

Returns are only accepted in cases of significant misrepresentation or undisclosed damage. Return shipping costs are determined based on dispute findings.

12. Fraud Detection and Security

We employ comprehensive security measures:

• Real-time fraud detection and pattern analysis
• Rate limiting to prevent abuse
• KYC verification for high-value transactions
• Multi-factor authentication options
• Continuous security monitoring and alerts

Suspicious activity may result in immediate account suspension pending investigation.

13. Data Collection and Telemetry

We collect telemetry data to improve platform performance and user experience:

• User activity tracking for analytics
• Bidding patterns and engagement metrics
• Performance monitoring and error tracking
• Search behavior and feature usage

All data collection complies with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

14. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of Bidz.com or its content suppliers and is protected by international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without explicit written permission.

15. Prohibited Activities

Users may not:

• Engage in bid manipulation or shill bidding
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions
• Interfere with platform operations or security
• List stolen, counterfeit, or illegal items
• Harass or defraud other users
• Attempt to bypass escrow or payment systems

Violation of these prohibitions may result in immediate account termination and legal action.

16. Limitation of Liability

Bidz.com shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages resulting from your use of the service. Our total liability shall not exceed the fees paid by you in the twelve months preceding the claim.

17. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Bidz.com, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the Platform or violation of these Terms.

18. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email and platform notifications. Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

19. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Bidz.com operates, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

20. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

Email: legal@bidz.com
Support: support@bidz.com