Aution FAQ

You may browse as much as you'd like without signing up for Second Life. In order to bid on an auction, you will need to have an active Second Life account with correct billing information and the ability to own land. Please login to Your Account on the Second Life website and upgrade your account to a Premium account today!

How do I register for Second Life?

Visit http://secondlife.com/join to register for a Second Life account.

What are the system requirements needed to use this site?

In order to best view this auction site, we strongly suggest using a version 4.0 browser (preferably the most current version available) from Microsoft or Netscape or a recent version of Firefox. Netscape users should at least be running Communicator 4.5 (Navigator 4.08) or later. For users running IE 4.0, please check the version you are using by going to your browser's HELP menu and choosing "About Internet Explorer." Version 4.72.3110.8 or later should appear. If you do not have at least this version, and you wish to get a free upgrade, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/default.asp.

Looking for system requirements for running Second Life? Go here for more information.

Second Life Auctions and "My Account":

Can anyone in Second Life buy land in the auctions?

No. Only residents that have Premium memberships and are at least 14 days old are eligible to participate in auctions.

Does the land I win in auction count against my land allocation?

Yes. Before you bid, be sure you are comfortable with paying any additional monthly fee ("tiering up") that might be triggered. You can review your land allotment by going to Your Account.

Can I bid on land if it would put me in a higher land tier?

Yes. You will automatically be assigned to the tier when you win and successfully pay for the auction.

Can I bid with L$ that I don't have?

No. The auction program checks your account to make sure you have adequate L$ to cover your bid.

Bidding:

How do I bid?

After you review the listing information for the item that interests you, click on Bid Now. Enter your bid, and then click Confirm. For more information on making a bid, see the Help Desk.

How can I pay with my credit card?

Listings marked with Credit Card Required to Bid may be automatically charged to your credit card once the listing is closed. If so, the card being charged will be noted during the bidding process.

How do I increase my bid?

To increase your bid, go to My Account and select Bidding Activity. Choose the bid you want to increase. If you click the Bid Lot No. on the Bidding Activity page and then click Increase Bid on the following page, you will be taken to a new page where you can enter your new bid. If you click the Item Description on the Bidding Activity page, you are taken to the Listing Info page where you can click Bid Now to increase your bid. Remember all bids are final and binding. You can increase your bid at any time. Every time you increase your bid, the number of bids listed for the item will increase by one.

Why doesn't my bid show up online after I bid?

The Bid History should show your bid as soon as it is entered. If it doesn't appear, you may be viewing an old version of the page. Try clicking your browser's Refresh or Reload buttons. The Listing page updates 10-20 minutes after you make your bid to reflect the new current bid. If you are still having trouble, please file a ticket through the Support Portal at http://secondlife.com/support

How will I know if my bid is no longer winning?

We will send you an email when your bid is no longer winning. However, there can be unpredictable delays in email transmission. We suggest that you regularly visit our Web site to check your bidding activity in My Account.

How will I know if I win?

We will notify you by email if you win; although you are responsible for determining if you have won by visiting this site and checking the status of your bid in My Account.

How can I view all bids I've submitted?

Go to My Account and select Bidding Activity. On the Search page, select ALL from the Status option and click Submit. Your bids from the last 60 days will appear.

Why did a bid from earlier today beat my bid?

Bids retain the time when they are placed. Because we use time to break ties, if you placed a bid for the same price as an earlier bidder, the other bidder will win. It is to the bidder's advantage to get an initial bid in as early as possible. However, if the max bid is raised later, the timestamp is changed to reflect the new bid. We recommend that you make your bid using our Automatic (Proxy) Bidding functionality.

Why does the number of bids on the Listing Info page display more bids in the table than are listed after I click the Bid History link?

If the number of bids in the Listing Info table lists more bids than are listed in the Bid History of the item, it is probably because one or more of the bidders have at one point during the auction increased an initial bid. Every bid made, whether it is an initial bid by a user, or an increase, is recorded in the number of bids.

Can I submit a bid offline?

No. Only online bids can be made.

Collecting Your New Land:

How will I know when I can take possession of the land?

Unless there is a problem with billing, winners of auctions will be assigned the land within 24 hours.

How soon do I have to buy the land I won in the auction?

The land will be assigned to you as soon as the auction closes and billing has run. This may include an increase in land tier.

How do I take possession?

The parcel has already been assigned to you inworld once the auction ends and the billing has run.

Is it possible to avoid tiering up by releasing other land before confirming a new higher tier?

Arrangements with tier should be made prior to participating in an auction. Land won in auction will be delivered to the winning account and will affect peak land use.

Resolving Auction Problems:

What if I win an auction but realize I've made a mistake?

Please file a ticket through the Support Portal at http://secondlife.com/support with all auction questions. If you are unable or unwilling to pay for land bought in an auction, then you will be charged a restocking fee of US$100 (L$8000 for $L auctions). Please note that more than 2 auction defaults may result in a loss of bidding status.

What happens if the winner doesn't pay for the parcel?

If you fail billing on the auction your account will go into delinquency, just as if you failed a membership or land tier billing. If you fail billing for 7 days the account will go on hold. After 30 days your account will be cancelled and your land reclaimed. You should contact support if this occurs.

Who do I contact if I have a problem?

You should file a ticket through the Support Portal at http://secondlife.com/support.