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Frequently asked questions
General information about Lowest Unique Bid Auctions
Registering to bid
- How can I bid?
- Are there any restrictions on who may register?
- Are there any terms and conditions for participating in the auction?
- What are the costs involved?
- Can I use the credit in my Bid Bank to bid on real estate offered for auction on www.uniquebidhomes.com.au?
The bidding process
- How do I make a bid?
- Are there restrictions on the number of bids I can make?
- How will I know the status of my bid?
- What if the status of my bid changes?
- My status message says "The current winning Bid is Higher than your bid" What does this mean?
- My status message says "The current winning Bid is Lower than your bid" What does this mean?
- How do I know when an Auction starts or closes?
- What is the Bid Range and where do I find it?
The winning bid
- Who is the winning bidder?
- What if none of the bids are unique?
- If I am the winning bidder, am I legally bound to purchase the item?
- What if I win the bid?
Postage and Delivery
Tips and techniques in bidding
- How much should I bid?
- Are there any tools I can use to determine the whereabouts of the lowest unique bid?
- Shouldn't I just wait until as late as possible before I bid?
Technical issues
- What is my username? Can I change my Username?
- What is my password? Can I change my password?
- I have opened an account and received my password but can't Login. What's wrong?
- How do I make changes to my account?
- What if I have made a bid but haven't received my result via email?
- How are payments made?
- Can I rely on the website to be secure?
Tell Your Friends Feature
Voucher Redemption
- I have received a free Bid from a business. How do I redeem it?
- What if I would like to increase my chances and place more bids?
Contacting us
General information about Unique Bid Homes Auctions
1. What are Lowest Unique Bid Auctions?
Lowest Unique Bid Auctions is a website which offers items for sale by a reverse auction process. Rather than the bidder with the highest bid winning (as is the case in traditional property auctions), the winner is the person who has the "Lowest Unique Bid".
Lowest Unique Bid Auctions is associated with Unique Bid Homes. Your membership with Lowest Unique Bid Auctions also gives you access to Unique Bid Homes and your Bid Bank can be used at both websites.
Please note: all correspondence for Lowest Unique Bid Auctions is received by Unique Bid Homes.
TopLowest Unique Bid Auctions allows people to bid on items offered on its website, allowing people to buy items at an incredibly low price.
The cost of the item is covered by the administration fee you pay to make a bid. The administration fee varies from item to item, but is noted on each item.
For more information please refer to the "How To Play" Page.
TopRegistering to bid
You may bid after you register. This is an easy 3-step process as follows:
- Register - complete the registration form. Your password will be emailed to the email address you provide. It is vital you keep your username and password confidential, otherwise you may allow others to access your Bid Bank and place bids from your account. You are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password, account and through your subscription.
By registering on Lowest Unique Bid Auctions, you will also have membership to our sister site, Unique Bid Homes, where you can bid to buy a property for a fraction of the value. - Purchase Credit - deposit money into your "Bid Bank". There are 3 ways to deposit funds into your Bid Bank:
- PayPal - Enter the amount you would like to deposit on the Purchase Credit page, click on "Pay Pal Click Here To Pay". You will then be taken to the PayPal website. Complete the transaction by entering your credit card details, or using your Pay Pal account if you have one. Once complete click on "Return to Lowest unique Bid".
- Credit Card by Phone - Australia: Ph: 1300 550 108, International: Ph: + 61 7 5585 1930 during business hours - 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri(AEST).
- Direct Deposit - Click here for details, funds will be credited to your Bid Bank once cleared in our account (you should allow for up to 5 days).
- Place A Bid, Click on "Bid Now" under the item you would like to buy. You will then be taken to the "Place Your Bid" page. Enter the amount you wish to bid, being a dollar amount in the left box and cents in the right box.
Then click "Submit Your Bid".
Top4. Are there any restrictions on who may register?
To register, you must be over the age of 18 and have legal capacity to enter into a contract. Bidding is open to residents of Australia and New Zealand over the age of 18 except Disqualified Persons.
5. Are there any terms and conditions for participating in the auction?
Yes. Our Terms and Conditions are available by clicking here.
By bidding in an auction, you are agreeing to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
Our Terms and Conditions include our privacy policy, which details how your personal data will be used.
Top6. What are the costs involved?
Whilst there are no set-up costs, there is a non-refundable administrative/bid fee for every bid placed.
The fee is debited from your Bid Bank immediately upon the submission of a bid. Your Bid Bank must have sufficient funds to cover the Administration/Bid Fee or your bid will be void. The Administration Fee can vary from item to item and is noted on each item.
Top7. Can I use the credit in my Bid Bank to bid on real estate offered for auction on www.uniquebidhomes.com.au?
Yes, you can.
Unique Bid Home Auctions is an associated website of Lowest Unique Bid Auctions where properties are Auctioned for a fraction of their value.
Please note that you can not use bonus credits obtained through Unique Bid Homes or the funds deposited in order to gain bonus credits on items at Lowest Unique Bid Auctions.
TopThe bidding process
To make a bid, Click on "Bid Now" under the item you would like to buy. You will then be taken to the "Place Your Bid" page. Enter the amount you wish to bid, being a dollar amount in the left box and cents in the right box.
Then click "Submit Your Bid".
You will then be shown the status of your bid. An email will also be sent to you with the status of your bid.
If you want to place another bid, click on "Place Another Bid". Once you place a bid, it cannot be cancelled or refunded.
Top9. Are there restrictions on the number of bids I can make?
No, you can bid as many times as you like on each item. Each time you bid, you will be charged the administration fee (Note: the administration fee can vary from item to item and is noted on each item).
Top10. How will I know the status of my bid?
As soon as you place a bid, the status of your bid will be shown on the screen and sent to your email. The status will indicate whether your bid is the Lowest Unique Bid, if your bid is unique but not the lowest bid, or if it is not unique.
You will also be told if the current winning bid is higher or lower than your bid. This information is current at the time of placing the bid.
You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.
Top11. What if the status of my bid changes?
While the bid is open (a unique bid), you will be notified by email of any change to the status of your bid. You will be updated if:
- Your bid becomes the Lowest Unique Bid; or
- Your bid is no longer the lowest; or
- Your bid is no longer unique.
You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.
Top12. My status message says "The current winning Bid is Higher than your bid" What does this mean?
This means the current successful bid amount (the current Lowest Unique Bid) is Higher than the bid amount you placed.
This message also means your bid is not unique.
Using status messages you may be able to determine the current Lowest Unique Bid.
However remember if you place a bid for the same amount as the current Lowest Unique Bid, then that amount will no longer be unique and there will be a new Lowest Unique Bid.
The Lowest Unique Bid is the lowest bid which has not been offered by anyone else.
Top13. My status message says "The current winning Bid is Lower than your bid" What does this mean?
This means the current successful bid amount (the current Lowest Unique Bid) is Lower than the bid amount you placed.
Using status messages you may be able to determine the current Lowest Unique Bid.
Remember if you place a bid for the same amount as the current Lowest Unique Bid, then that amount will no longer be unique, and there will be a new Lowest Unique Bid.
The Lowest Unique Bid is the lowest bid which has not been offered by anyone else.
Top14. How do I know when an Auction starts or closes?
A periodical newsletter is sent to all members listing current Auctions. You may unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time. All bidders will receive an email when an Auction they have bid on closes.
Top15. What is the Bid Range and where do I find it?
The Bid Range shows a range where the current Lowest Unique Bid is. You can find this range on the Bidding Page.
TopThe winning bid
16. Who is the winning bidder?
The winning bidder is the person who has the Lowest Unique Bid at the close of the auction subject to the winning bid being validated. The Lowest Unique Bid is the lowest bid which has not been offered by any other Bidder.
The table below provides examples of how this is worked out:
Bid |
$0.01 |
Not Unique |
Bid |
$0.01 |
Not Unique |
Bid |
$0.03 |
Lowest Unique Bid |
Bid |
$0.04 |
Unique, but not the lowest |
Bid |
$0.05 |
Unique, but not the lowest |
Bid |
$0.07 |
Unique, but not the lowest |
Bid |
$0.10 |
Unique, but not the lowest |
The results and the winning bid will be displayed on the Results Page immediately following the close of an Auction. The name of the successful Bidder will be displayed once the validity of the bid has been confirmed.
During the Auction the Lowest Unique Bid is constantly changing. If in the example above, someone else was to bid $0.03, then $0.03 would no longer be a "Unique" bid, meaning it would no longer be the Lowest Unique Bid and $0.04 would become the Lowest Unique Bid. However if someone Bid $0.02, because this has not been bid previously by anyone else, it would become the Lowest Unique Bid.
Top17. What if none of the bids are unique?
In the event that there is not one single Lowest Unique Bid at the close of the auction, the winning bid will be the earlier of the lowest bid amount with two bidders. If this still does not produce a winner, it will go to the lowest bid with three bidders, and the process continues until a winner is produced. See also Question 23.
Top18. If I am the winning bidder, do I have to purchase the item?
When an Auction closes the successful bidder will be automatically sent an email where they may accept or reject the purchase. If they accept they must make sure they have sufficient funds in their bid bank to cover the bid amount. If the successful bidder rejects the item then the bidder who has the 2nd Lowest Unique Bid will be automatically sent with the option to accept or reject the item. This process will continue until the item is accepted. The recipient of the email will have 7 days to respond or the item will be deemed rejected and will be passed to the next Unique bidder.
TopYou will receive an automatic email informing you of your successful bid. You can either accept the item or reject the item. You will have 7 days to respond or the item will be deemed rejected and will be passed to the next Lowest Unique Bidder.
TopPostage and Delivery
20. Are there any delivery charges?
- Lowest Unique Bid will deliver to any address in Australia Free.
- There will be a charge for deliveries to New Zealand.
- If you require insurance on your delivery this will also incur an additional charge.
- Email info@uniquebidhomes.com.au for details of New Zealand postage costs or insurance costs.
Tips and techniques in bidding
Your bid amount must be between $0.01 and the maximum bid amount (displayed on each item) and should be an amount that you believe will be the lowest unique bid.
Top22. Are there any tools I can use to determine the whereabouts of the lowest unique bid?
We have recently added a "Bid Range" feature to our website which shows a range in which the current lowest unique bid is (See Question 15). You may also be able to determine what the current Lowest Unique Bid is by analysing the status messages we send through to you if your bid's status changes. You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.
Top23. Shouldn't I just wait until as late as possible before I bid?
Not necessarily. For example, a recent winner of the Savannah Property auction on the Unique Bid Homes website placed his successful bid long before the auction closed. On placing the bid he was notified that his bid was unique but not the lowest however, as the auction played out, his unique bid became the lowest in the closing stages of the auction and held that status until the close of the auction.
Also, in the event that there is not one single Lowest Unique Bid at the close of the auction, the winning bid will be the earlier of the lowest bid amount with two bidders. If this still does not produce a winner, it will go to the lowest bid with three bidders, and the process continues until a winner is produced. In this scenario, it is important to place bids early, as waiting to bid may not necessarily be the most successful strategy.
TopTechnical issues
24. What is my username? Can I change my Username?
Your username is the email address you used to register. You can change your username by emailing us your new and old email addresses. An email will be sent to both addresses once the change has been made, and a new password will be issued to the new email address.
Top25. What is my password? Can I change my password?
You were sent your password via email when you registered. You may change it at any time when you login. Simply click on Edit Profile in the Members Menu bar, and enter a new password in the field provided.
If you have forgotten your password, click on the Forgotten your Password? link and it will bring you to a page where you can enter in your email address and we will send your password by email. Please remember to always ensure that your password is secure.
Top26. I have opened an account and received my password but can't Login. What's wrong?
Usually this is caused by your security settings in Internet Explorer. We suggest trying the following:
- Check your cookie settings if you are using Internet Explorer. Go to the Tools Menu, select Internet Options, select the Privacy tab, pull the leaver down to Medium. If it is already on medium, try low.
- Try clearing/ deleting your cache and cookie files (Temporary Internet Files) and restarting your browser.
- Confirm that the date and time on your computer is correct.
- Also check to ensure you have the latest version of your internet browser. Go to the Tools Menu, select Internet Options, select the General Tab and the Browser History Settings button.
27. How do I make changes to my account?
When you are logged in, you can change your details (except your username) by clicking Edit Profile on the Members Menu. You can change your username by emailing us with your new and old email addresses, an email will be sent to both addresses once the change has been made, and a new password will be issued to the new email address.
Top28. What if I have made a bid but haven't received my result via email?
The time it takes for emails to be delivered to you can vary depending on your ISP and the traffic on the internet at the time. We suggest you make sure you are able to receive email from outside companies before bidding. You should also check your spam filter and your junk mail box to ensure you are able to receive emails from Unique Bid Homes.
Please ensure you add info@uniquebidhomes.com, admin@uniquebidhomes.com and newsletter@uniquebidhomes.com to your to your email address book or trusted-sender list.
You can also see the current status of your bids on the Bid History page.
Top- PayPal - Payments can be made with a Visa or Mastercard (you do not need a PayPal account to pay by Credit Card) or by direct deposit through a PayPal account. You can obtain a PayPal account free of charge by going to www.paypal.com.au or
- Direct Deposit - Funds will be credited to your Bid Bank once received and cleared in our account. For more information on this option please Click Here or
- Phone - Mastercard or Visa Only. Call 1300 550 108 during business hours, 8am - 5pm Mon-Fri(AEST).
30. Can I rely on the website to be secure?
To ensure a high level of security we choose to only use PayPal for the processing of all monetary transactions. We do not store your credit card details on our servers.
TopTell Your Friends Feature
31. What is the "Tell A Friend" Feature?
This is a way of letting your friends know about Lowest Unique Bid Auctions.
Top32. How do I use the "Tell A Friend" Feature?
Simply click on the "Tell A Friend" link at the top of the page. You will be taken to a page where you can enter the name and email address of your friend. Once you submit the details (click on "Send"), an email will be sent to your friend.
TopVoucher Redemption
33. I have received a free Bid from a business. How do I redeem it?
You need to be a member to redeem a free Bid. If you are not yet a member please see question 3 for details on registering. If you are already a member please sign-in and Click on Purchase Credit. Here you will find a section to enter the details of the voucher.
Enter your voucher number and select the business you received the voucher from. Once complete Click on "Process and Validate Voucher" If the details are valid, you will be credited the amount on the voucher. See question 8 for details on how to bid.
Please Note: If you enter the incorrect combination 3 times you will be locked out of the redemption facility. If this happens please email info@uniquebidhomes.com with the details of your voucher.
Top34. What if I would like to increase my chances and place more bids?
As your voucher entitles you to one free bid, you can purchase additional bids by depositing funds into your Bid Bank, Click here to make a deposit.
TopContacting us
35. Can I deregister or unsubscribe from Lowest Unique Bid Auctions?
You can leave the service at any time by calling or emailing us - refer to our contact details below. If you choose to leave the service, and you still have active bids (bids that are unique) you may still receive bid status updates.
TopIf you have any questions which are not answered here, or you require further information about Lowest Unique Bid, please email or phone us on the below details:
Email: info@uniquebidhomes.com
Australia: Ph: 1300 550 108 Fax: (07) 5585 1935
International: Ph: + 61 7 5585 1930 Fax: + 61 7 5585 1935
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