Bidding terms
Version 1
Bids are binding
When you place a bid, you commit to buy the item at that price if yours is the highest valid bid when the auction closes.
Bids can't be withdrawn
You can't withdraw, edit or delete a bid. This protects sellers and other bidders. Check the amount and the listing before you confirm.
What's recorded
Each bid records your account, the amount, the auction and a timestamp from DropOS's servers. Other visitors see an anonymous label such as “Bidder 3”, and not your identity. The record is kept for dispute resolution, including after an account is deleted, subject to applicable privacy and retention laws.
Timing
DropOS's server clock decides whether a bid was on time, not your device. A bid in an auction's final minutes can extend its closing time, up to a limit shown on the auction. The highest valid bid when the auction closes wins.
If you win
The highest valid bid wins when the auction closes, and an order is created automatically, and you have 48 hours to pay. You pay the seller directly, and DropOS doesn't handle the money. To arrange payment and delivery, your email address is shared with the seller on that order, and theirs with you. If you don't pay in time, the seller can cancel the order, and DropOS keeps a record of it.
Sellers
Sellers can't bid on their own auctions. A listing is locked from its first bid, and a seller can add only visible, timestamped notes after that. Sellers can't cancel an auction once it has bids.
Exceptional cases
DropOS administrators can invalidate a bid or cancel an auction only in exceptional, documented circumstances, such as confirmed fraud. The original record and the reason are kept.