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How do I sign up?
If you have not registered yet, please log in under the section ´Free registration´ on the homepage. In the first step, please enter your email address.
Then fill out the registration and confirm the terms and conditions and the data protection declaration.
If you want, you can also subscribe to the newsletter.
After entering the data, save it and then send the data on the next page.
You will then receive a confirmation email with a bid application as a PDF file.
After we have received the completed bid application + extract from the commercial register / business registration + VAT ID as an email, you will receive your initial password in another email.
The password must be changed by you after you have logged in for the first time.
Please note that the password requirements displayed must be adhered to.
Every logged-in user receives a system-related bidder number at the beginning of each auction; this is displayed to the other users. In order to guarantee anonymity, the bidder numbers are reassigned for each auction.
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Is participation in the auction free of charge?
Yes, participation in the auctions is free. Only in exceptional cases, for example at a community auction, are fees (€ 49.00 plus VAT) charged per auctioned item. However, we show these before each auction.
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How safe is my data?
Data that you send to us via our website are transmitted using SSL encryption.
You can recognize this by the ´s´ behind the usual ´http´ at the beginning of an internet address.
Only then can you be sure that the data is correctly encrypted and transmitted to us.
The password you freely choose is only stored in our database in encrypted form and is therefore not accessible to us. You only need it for your log-in and we will not ask for it by phone or email.
We recommend that you do not share your password with anyone.
Protect yourself against Internet fraud with so-called ´Phishing-Mails´:
Do not click on links in received e-mails that lead to pages on which you are supposed to enter data and that are allegedly related to our auctions.
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How does the auction work?
After you have logged into the homepage with your email address and password, you will find all auction offers.
You can search for specific criteria or vehicles in the search bars at the top or under "Filter options" on the left:
In the filter options on the left you will find all objects from current and closed auctions. You can also filter here for new or saved (observed) objects and under “My Bids” for all vehicles for which you have placed bids in an ongoing auction.
You will also find further search options under "Show more filters".
Clicking on one of the vehicles opens a detailed view with the vehicle-specific information.
Under the "My Objects" tab you will find the vehicles you have noted (observed) and your bids from the current auctions. The filters "Purchased items" and "Not purchased items" show your accepted / unsuccessful vehicles from closed auctions; In the archive you will find the vehicles you have bought from archived auctions.
You can submit bids at the start of an auction. Each auction ends with a dynamic hot bid phase.
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What happens in the hotbid phase?
In this phase you can add bids at the last second and thereby delay the end of the auction. Two minutes before the start of a hot bid, you will be made aware of the imminent start of the event by an information bar. As soon as the Hotbid starts, a ´Hotbid´ bar appears at the top of the page. A click on this bar takes you directly to the current auction. The individual vehicles are called up there automatically one after the other.
When the hot bid expires, the bid for a vehicle goes to the highest bidder. No emails are sent during the hot bid. If the vehicle is still under reservation after the hot bid, we will either send you an email to accept or reject it.
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Why is the auction extended automatically?
A special feature of the online auction is the hot bid phase at the end of the auction. Bids that are then submitted extend the relevant auction by starting the displayed countdown again.
Only when this countdown has expired and 0 seconds have been reached will the auction for the called vehicle end - the next vehicle will then be called up automatically.
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How can I bid?
Bids can only be submitted in the vehicle detail view. There you will see the starting price for the respective vehicle, the current highest bid and any bidding agent you may have set. The displayed starting price is the minimum bid price, which means that it cannot be undercut.
There are two ways to place bids:
1. Increase the current bid by one or more clicks on the ´ + ´ button by the specified bidding increment.
2. Enter your desired amount manually in the input field.
After submitting the bid, confirm the bid by clicking on "Confirm". If the bid is confirmed, it is binding and cannot be withdrawn after it has been submitted!
If the amount you entered exceeds the current maximum bid by more than the amount of the respective bidding step, your bid will still only be increased by one bidding step and your bidding agent will be activated automatically at the same time. The amount of the bidding agent you have set is displayed to you.
If you are the highest bidder, your bid will be shown in green both in the detailed view and in the vehicle list. If you are no longer the highest bidder, the color of the bid changes to red.
Important instructions:
Until the reserved price has been reached for an object, the seller decides after the auction whether to sell the vehicle at this price or to reject the offer.
The reservation price for the definitive bid is not visible.
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Do I bid anonymously?
Every logged-in user receives a system-side bidder number at the beginning of an auction, which is displayed to other users. In order to guarantee anonymity, the bidder numbers are reassigned for each auction.
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How do I use the bidding agent?
By entering your maximum amount (the maximum amount you would like to pay for a vehicle), you activate a bidding agent. They automatically place bids on your behalf, even if you are not online yourself.
As soon as another auction participant bids on the same vehicle, your bidding agent submits a slightly higher bid on your behalf by one increment or bid increment so that you remain the highest bidder - but no more than your entered maximum amount. You will always receive your bid at the lowest possible price.
If your maximum amount is overbid and you are no longer the highest bidder, we will inform you by email (if you have activated the overbid option under "My Account").
If another interested party bids the maximum amount of your bidding agent, the bid submitted first, i.e. yours, applies.
An increase in your maximum amount is possible at any time during the auction period.
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When does the bidding agent take effect?
Your bidding agent intervenes when another interested party submits a bid that is below your set maximum amount or corresponds to your maximum amount.
Example:
the starting price is 500 euros;
the bidding step is 100 euros
Bidder 1 submits a maximum bid of 1000 euros.
The highest bid is set at EUR 500, the bidding agent at EUR 1000.
Bidder 2 offers 600 euros.
Bidder 1's bidding agent automatically submits a bid for one increment.
The highest bid is then 700 euros.
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What happens if I buy an item?
After a closed auction, the highest bidder will receive confirmation of the successful bid by email. This contains information about the auctioned car and the contact options.
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How can I sell with AlphaAuction?
After successful commercial preprocessing via our sales department, you will receive your own auction platform from us, which we will individualize for you. You operate the auction on your own under your company name.
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How do I advertise a car in the auction?
There are two options available for vehicle entry:
1. PDF upload of a vehicle certificate, e.g. from DEKRA or TÜV
2. CSV. interface import
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What is the cost of the auction?
The listing and auctioning of vehicles and spare parts is free of charge for the seller. The buyer only pays a surcharge of € 49 plus VAT per auctioned object to Alpha Online. Alpha Online GmbH will invoice this fee to the buyer.
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Can I specify a minimum price/reservation price?
Yes, this is possible. If the minimum price is not reached during the hotbid phase, the highest bid can be subsequently rejected / accepted or renegotiated directly with the highest bidder.
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How do I reach potential bidders with my offer?
There are two bidding circles on Alpha Auction:
1. auction with closed circle of bidders: you invite the dealers you know to register on your auction, and activate the accesses after verification of the bidding application and business registration. You inform your circle of bidders about the respective auction dates via newsletter.
2nd auction with open bidder circle: the auction date is communicated to all registered dealers of the Alpha Community as well as to dealers of our partner portal Adesa GW List. This enables you to reach around 30,000 verified dealers throughout Europe. Adesa GW-List takes over payment processing, especially for foreign bidders.
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What happens after the sale?
After a completed auction, the highest bidder receives an award email. This contains information about the auctioned vehicle and how to contact the seller. The commercial process after the sale is handled by the seller directly with the buyer. Alpha Online can offer the payment service provider bezahl.de in the auction platform if desired. The vehicle handover modalities are agreed upon directly by both parties.
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How do I get my money after a successful auction?
After a completed auction, the highest bidder receives an award email. This contains information about the auctioned vehicle and the contact details of the seller. Alpha Online gives the buyer the option to pay for the car via the payment service provider bezahl.de or to transfer the amount directly to the seller's account.