Auctions: all the information
How to bid, how to sell, what you pay and what happens after the auction. A practical guide for reefers using Community Corals and Marine Marketplace auctions.
Fixed-price listings remain available across CoralBay. Auctions provide another way to sell one clearly described item or complete bundle, with online payment and the applicable CoralBay Protection process.
1. The essentials
- An account is required to bid. Visitors may browse; buyers must log in. Sellers must complete the payment setup and verification needed to receive protected-sale payments before starting an auction.
- Each auction is one lot. It may be a single item or a complete bundle. A tank breakdown with separately priced items needs separate listings or a clearly defined complete lot.
- A listing is either an auction or a normal sale. While bidding or winner payment is reserved, the item cannot also be bought at its normal asking price.
- The visible starting price is the seller’s minimum acceptable price. There is no additional hidden reserve. The first valid bid can win at that price if nobody competes.
- New auctions normally use automatic maximum bidding. The panel identifies the bidding method. Existing auctions may retain simple bidding under their original rules.
- Auction purchases use online protected payment. This applies to collection as well as delivery. Direct cash, bank-transfer or other off-platform payment is not the auction checkout method.
The person named as the seller is responsible for supplying the lot. Unless CoralBay itself is identified as the seller, CoralBay provides the auction platform and administers the protected-payment process; it does not own, inspect, pack or dispatch that seller’s items. Payment setup is not a guarantee of item quality.
This page supplements CoralBay’s general Terms and the protection terms shown for your auction and purchase. Auction-specific saved terms describe the process for that sale; ordinary direct-sale arrangements elsewhere on CoralBay do not replace it. Nothing here overrides rights that the law gives you.
2. How maximum bidding works
Enter the highest item price you are willing to bid. CoralBay uses that ceiling to keep you ahead at the lowest price needed, up to your maximum. The buyer protection fee and any postage are added separately and shown before you confirm.
| Action | Public result |
|---|---|
| You enter a private maximum of £10. | You lead at £1. |
| Another bidder enters a maximum of £4. | You remain ahead at £5 automatically. |
| Nobody else bids before closing. | Your winning item price is £5, plus the applicable fee and postage. |
Your maximum is not an immediate charge. It is not shown to other bidders or the seller. Authorised CoralBay support staff may access bidding records when handling a problem.
Equal bids, increases and increments
- If two bidders enter the same maximum, the bidder who entered that maximum first has priority.
- You can increase your maximum, including while leading. Raising your own leading maximum does not raise the public price by itself.
- A saved maximum cannot be reduced or withdrawn through the normal bid form. Check the amount carefully before confirming; report a genuine mistake promptly.
- A competing maximum must meet the minimum shown. Public prices normally rise by the configured increment, but the final step can be smaller when it reaches the winning bidder’s ceiling.
- A bid may be accepted but immediately outbid by an existing higher maximum. This does not mean the other person has just clicked again.
Public bid history shows leading prices, including automatic responses, under masked bidder labels. It does not publish everyone’s private maximum or every private increase. The public bidder count is separate from the number of price changes.
On an older simple-bidding auction, the entered amount is the actual bid rather than a private ceiling. The highest bidder cannot increase their own public bid. The method shown for an auction stays with that auction.
3. Fees, postage and the total you pay
CoralBay’s currently advertised buyer protection fee is 50p plus 4% of the item price . The percentage is calculated on the final winning item price, not on postage . Auctions currently have no CoralBay listing fee or seller commission.
Buyer total = winning item price + agreed postage + buyer protection fee
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Winning item price | £20.00 |
| Seller’s offered postage | £6.00 |
| Buyer protection fee: 4% of £20 + 50p | £1.30 |
| Total payable | £27.30 |
For collection with no delivery charge, the same £20 winning price would total £21.30. The protection fee still applies because payment and the protected handover process are handled online.
The bid form shows the maximum possible total if bidding reaches your ceiling. When you are leading, your current winning total is shown separately. No auction payment is due merely because you submitted a losing bid.
Check the actual quote for your auction: its agreed fee and postage terms are saved, so an older auction may have different terms from this illustration. Any future fee changes should be made clear before a new commitment; changing a site setting does not silently rewrite an existing auction’s saved fee.
Current protected-payment limits also apply. Your proposed maximum, fee and chosen postage must fit the permitted total. A rejected bid has not raised your ceiling. After a completed sale, the seller’s normal entitlement is the winning item price plus the agreed postage, subject to any approved refund, adjustment or payment hold.
4. Before bidding: your responsibilities as a buyer
Only bid if you are at least 18, can enter the purchase agreement and genuinely intend to pay if you win. Keep your account details accurate and your login secure.
- Read the whole listing. Check the lot contents, quantity, condition, measurements, known faults, photographs and seller information. Ask questions before bidding.
- Check suitability. For equipment, check compatibility and installation requirements. For coral, consider tank maturity, water conditions, lighting, flow, placement and livestock compatibility.
- Check fulfilment. Make sure you can reach the collection location or receive delivery at an eligible address. Do not assume delivery, a particular courier or an alternative collection location is available unless offered.
- Budget for the full total. Your maximum covers the lot, with protection and postage added. If bidding on several auctions, allow for winning all of them.
- Read the protection terms and deadlines. Coral arrival claims and equipment inspection use different procedures. Collection is inspected at handover.
- Review and confirm the bid. Check your entered maximum, selected fulfilment and consent before submitting. Use the on-screen result and your account to confirm acceptance.
A bid is a genuine commitment to complete the purchase if you become the winner, subject to any cancellation or other rights that apply by law. Bidding is not a free reservation or an invitation to renegotiate a lower price afterwards.
Keep communication courteous, respond to reasonable fulfilment enquiries, use the agreed purchase address and arrangements, and do not ask the seller to bypass the protected-payment process.
5. Setting up an auction: your responsibilities as a seller
Use the existing Community Corals or Marine Marketplace listing form and choose Auction. Set a starting price you would genuinely accept, choose a permitted duration and provide the protected collection and/or delivery options you can fulfil. Complete the required seller payment verification first.
- Describe one complete lot. State exactly what is included and excluded. A buyer wins the advertised bundle, not a right to choose one item afterwards.
- Be accurate about condition. Disclose faults, repairs, missing parts, damage, unusual requirements and known relevant livestock health or pest concerns. Do not promise that livestock is guaranteed free of every pest or disease unless you can substantiate that claim.
- Use honest images. Use recent photographs of the actual lot wherever possible. Clearly identify any representative image. Do not use colour editing or filters that materially misrepresent the item. A WYSIWYG listing must supply the actual item shown.
- Only sell what you may lawfully supply. You must have the right to sell it and meet applicable safety, wildlife, licensing, sourcing and tax requirements. Keep relevant provenance or permit records. CITES requirements depend on species and circumstances; do not assume every coral needs the same certificate.
- Disclose business trading. If acting as a trader, identify yourself accordingly and provide the business details and consumer information the law requires. Describing a business sale as a hobby sale does not remove legal responsibilities.
- Set realistic fulfilment costs. Include appropriate packaging in your offered delivery price. Check service availability, contents restrictions and geographic coverage before allowing bids.
- Keep the item available. Do not sell the same lot elsewhere while its auction or winner reservation is active. After payment, keep it reserved until proper fulfilment or an agreed, confirmed cancellation.
Listing media currently supports images . Public listing videos are not part of the auction listing flow; private claim evidence is a separate facility.
Editing and cancelling
Before the first bid, use the front-end form to amend the listing or cancel the auction. Editing an auction before bidding can reset its end time; check the displayed ending after saving.
After a bid has been accepted, the lot, description, images, postage and auction terms are locked against ordinary seller changes. A cancellation needs CoralBay review and a recorded reason. A request does not itself cancel the auction. Do not use deletion, relisting or an outside agreement to avoid a valid winner.
If coral becomes unfit for transport, equipment fails or another serious problem arises, contact support promptly with evidence. Never send an unsuitable substitute or unsafe item just to complete a sale.
6. When the auction ends
Once the recorded ending time is reached, new bids are no longer accepted. The system records the winner and final item price. Background processing may take a little time; a stopped countdown alone is not proof of a completed sale.
- The lot is reserved for the recorded winner. Winning initially means awaiting payment. It is not confirmation that money has been received.
- The winner opens the payment action in their account. Review the final item price, offered fulfilment, fee, address and agreed protection terms, then pay through CoralBay’s Stripe checkout.
- Payment is verified. Sellers should rely on the protected-purchase record showing confirmed payment, not a screenshot, promise or bank message. Do not dispatch or hand over before verification.
- The listing is marked sold after confirmed payment. The protected fulfilment and claim process continues even though the public listing is sold.
The payment allowance is configurable and is recorded for that auction. The initial default is 24 hours from winner confirmation ; use the actual deadline in your account. A separate informal arrangement with the seller does not automatically change the platform deadline.
If you cannot pay or believe there is a genuine error, contact CoralBay immediately. The auction is not automatically void because you have changed your mind. Equally, this commitment does not remove an applicable statutory cancellation right.
If the deadline passes, CoralBay checks for confirmed or pending payment before releasing a reservation. A payment verification problem can keep the item held for review. The seller must not assume that an unpaid-looking screen means the lot is free to sell again. There is no automatic offer to the second-highest bidder and no automatic non-payment penalty charge.
7. Delivery and collection
Protected delivery
The seller is responsible for packaging, dispatch and the offered delivery arrangements. Use the service selected for the purchase, provide genuine tracking and record dispatch through the purchase page. A tracking number alone does not prove delivery or release seller payment.
For coral, agree a suitable next-day service and a day when the buyer can receive it. Use secure, leak-resistant packaging, appropriate insulation and temperature management for the conditions. Check that the carrier accepts the contents. The services available for equipment are not automatically appropriate for coral or other livestock.
The buyer must supply a correct address, monitor tracking and arrange prompt receipt. Delays, missed deliveries, weather and disputed delivery records need individual review; they do not automatically settle who receives a refund.
Any permitted change to dispatch or delivery arrangements should be recorded and, where necessary, agreed with CoralBay. Do not replace the agreed service or send to an unverified address without resolving the purchase details.
Protected collection
Collection still requires online payment. Arrange a suitable time and place with the seller, then inspect the actual lot before accepting it. Ask to see relevant equipment working where practical.
The seller opens the purchase to prepare the handover code. The buyer enters it and confirms actual receipt and acceptance at collection. Do not share or use it in advance, and do not confirm collection for goods you have not received.
If something is materially wrong, do not confirm acceptance. Record the concern, keep the item with the seller where appropriate and contact CoralBay. This process has no later collection inspection or coral DOA window after accepted handover; statutory rights remain separate.
The initial collection allowance is 14 calendar days after payment, but your purchase may differ. Request an extension through the purchase process before the deadline. Overdue collection triggers a held-payment review, not automatic forfeiture, a late fee or an instant refund.
8. CoralBay Protection, claims and seller payment
CoralBay Protection provides a recorded process for covered problems with an eligible purchase paid through CoralBay. Payment is processed through Stripe, and seller transfer requires the appropriate completion checks and CoralBay approval. It is not an assurance that every problem or loss will result in a refund.
| Purchase | Main platform protection process | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered Marketplace item | Non-delivery, delivery damage, undisclosed faults and material misdescription, under the saved terms. | Check promptly and use the purchase page to report a covered problem before acceptance or the displayed inspection deadline. |
| Delivered Community Coral | Non-delivery, evidenced dead-on-arrival and material misdescription. Ordinary change of mind and later husbandry losses are outside this platform cover. | Report arrival concerns immediately using the coral claim process and preserve evidence. |
| Collected item or coral | Inspection and acceptance at handover; a separate review if collection is not completed. | Inspect before confirming receipt. Raise a problem before accepted handover. |
Reporting a problem
Open the protected purchase in My account and use its reporting action. Explain what is wrong, when it happened and which part of the lot is affected. Provide clear original photographs, packaging and tracking evidence where relevant. Use private claim uploads for personal information; do not put addresses or payment details in public comments.
For equipment, check the displayed inspection deadline. In the current process, that allowance begins when verified delivery is recorded and the inspection notice is posted to the account. Inspect promptly on actual arrival rather than waiting for an email or an administrator’s action. Non-delivery has a separate route and does not require pretending that the item was received.
Do not click acceptance simply to dismiss a message. Acceptance closes the ordinary platform claim route and can allow seller payment approval. If a reporting button is unavailable, or an exceptional issue arises later, contact support; statutory rights are not extinguished by the button state.
Coral arrival evidence
The initial DOA reporting default is 120 minutes from the carrier-recorded delivery time , even if CoralBay’s delivery verification is still pending. The initial evidence-upload default is a further 120 minutes after the report is submitted. Follow the deadlines saved on your purchase.
Photograph the affected coral clearly, preferably in its original bag or container, with packaging and the delivery label. An unboxing video can help where private video uploads are available, but lack of a video is not presented here as an automatic rejection. Describe each affected coral; closed polyps alone do not establish death. Preserve original files and packaging. Do not delay necessary care or prolong suffering just to collect evidence.
CoralBay can review evidence extensions for technical or delivery problems. An extension is not assumed until recorded. Coral claims are reviewed without requiring the coral to be posted back; partial refunds may be appropriate where only part of a bundle is affected.
Equipment returns and refunds
Do not post an item back without the recorded return instructions. For an upheld equipment claim, CoralBay may authorise a tracked return with a specified address, service and return-postage arrangement. Keep proof of posting and update the return tracking. The returned item may need to be received and checked before a refund is approved.
Who pays return postage is shown in the purchase and return decision. CoralBay may fund authorised returns under the terms offered for that purchase; this is not a promise that all returns are free forever. A proposed buyer-paid cost contrary to the purchase’s CoralBay-paid arrangement needs the recorded agreement before posting. Return-postage arrangements cannot override a trader’s legal obligations.
An approved full platform refund includes the item price, original postage and protection fee. Partial outcomes are assessed and recorded separately. Refunds require payment-provider confirmation and may take additional time to appear with the buyer’s bank. Never claim a refund twice for the same loss.
When the seller receives payment
A paid order does not trigger an immediate seller payout. CoralBay checks the payment, fulfilment, relevant acceptance or claim window, and any open issue or provider hold before approving the seller transfer. Stripe’s onward payout to the seller’s bank is a separate step, so a fixed bank-arrival date is not guaranteed.
Both parties must respond honestly to reasonable requests for information. An open claim or payment review holds seller release while the issue is resolved. CoralBay considers the agreed listing, saved terms, timing, tracking and evidence; contacting support does not guarantee a particular outcome.
9. Private sellers, traders and your legal rights
CoralBay’s platform protection is separate from your rights against the seller. A short reporting deadline, acceptance button, payment release or a “no returns” statement does not remove rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
When buying as a consumer from a trader, goods must meet the applicable requirements for description, quality and fitness for purpose. Online-only bidding does not, by itself, remove distance-sale cancellation rights: the legal public-auction exception is not a blanket exception for internet auctions.
For many qualifying online trader sales, a buyer can notify cancellation within 14 days after receiving goods, subject to the relevant rules and exceptions. Goods liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly may be exempt from change-of-mind cancellation, but this does not excuse misdescription or faulty supply. Do not assume every aquatic product falls under the same exception.
A genuine private sale usually has fewer consumer remedies and does not normally provide the same trader-sale cooling-off right. The seller must still have the right to sell and describe the lot honestly. Trader status depends on the circumstances, not simply the account label.
The platform’s ordinary protection process does not cover a general change of mind. If you wish to exercise a separate legal right, contact the seller and CoralBay promptly; the claim button is not the only way to notify a legal concern. No platform review decision prevents you from seeking independent advice or pursuing an available legal remedy.
Further reading: GOV.UK: returns and refunds ; Trading Standards guidance: internet auction sites and marketplaces ; independent consumer advice routes .
10. Auctions without a paid sale and optional final auctions
A manual auction with no bids may return to its normal fixed-price listing if that listing is still valid, or expire, according to the saved settings. Confirmed non-payment after the winner’s payment window can follow the corresponding unpaid-auction rule, after payment checks are complete.
Where enabled, a seller can opt a normal listing into an automatic final auction and save its auction terms in advance. The initial trigger default is three days before normal expiry. Starting still requires an eligible, available listing, completed seller setup and usable protected fulfilment options.
The final auction runs for its full configured duration , even if this goes beyond the normal listing lifetime. For example, a seven-day auction beginning on day 57 can end on day 64; it is not stopped on day 60. A winner’s payment reservation is also allowed to finish.
A final auction without bids, or without confirmed payment after the required checks, ends as expired rather than reverting to another normal-sale period. A successful verified payment marks the lot sold. Renewing before the scheduled auction starts can change the trigger, so recheck the listing’s settings after renewal.
11. Fair bidding, errors and technical problems
Sellers cannot bid on their own lots. Nobody may use another account, a friend, household member or coordinated bidder to push up a price without a genuine independent intention to buy. Fake competition, deliberate non-payment, false claims, harassment and attempts to evade payment safeguards are unacceptable.
Sharing an address or connection is not, by itself, proof of wrongdoing; conduct must be considered in context. CoralBay may investigate reports, preserve relevant records and take proportionate action such as reviewing or cancelling an affected auction or restricting access. There is no promise of an automatic fine, fee forfeiture or permanent ban for a single incident.
If you enter a genuinely mistaken amount, suspect manipulation or discover a serious listing error, email support promptly with the auction link, time and explanation. There is no normal self-service bid retraction. Depending on the issue, CoralBay may need to review the whole auction; do not assume your bid or a seller’s obligations have already been cancelled.
The bid must reach the server and be accepted before the recorded ending time. Screen countdowns, polling, emails and push notifications can lag. An optional last-minute extension applies only where enabled under that auction’s saved rules. Place bids with time to spare and check your account rather than relying only on a notification.
If the site or payment service fails, preserve any error message and contact support. A technical fault does not automatically extend every auction or authorise an outside payment. CoralBay will review available records and communicate the outcome; an early-release label does not remove legal responsibilities.
12. Deadlines at a glance
These are initial software defaults, not a statement of every live administrator setting. Use the duration and deadlines actually shown on your auction and purchase. Saved rules remain attached to that sale when general settings change.
| Stage | Initial default | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Auction length | 7 days; initial permitted range 1–30 days | Approved listings begin the clock when their auction actually starts. |
| Public bid increment | £1 | A winning maximum can cap the last increment at a smaller amount. |
| Winner payment | 24 hours | Count from recorded winner confirmation; use the exact deadline shown. |
| Payment reminder | 6 hours before the deadline | Delivery depends on settings and user preferences; a reminder is not guaranteed. |
| Delivery dispatch allowance | 3 working days | The software counts weekdays; check the saved dispatch-by date and agree appropriate coral timing. |
| Collection allowance | 14 calendar days after payment | An extension must be properly agreed and recorded. |
| Collection review response | 48 hours | An overdue collection does not automatically move or forfeit money. |
| Marketplace delivery inspection | 24 hours | Runs from the verified-delivery inspection notice in the current process. |
| Coral DOA report | 120 minutes | From carrier-recorded delivery, even if CoralBay verification is pending. |
| Initial coral evidence upload | 120 minutes after reporting | Ask promptly if a technical problem prevents upload. |
| Automatic final-auction trigger | 3 days before normal expiry | Optional site feature plus seller opt-in; full auction duration still applies. |
| Late-bid extension | Off | Where enabled, the auction’s saved trigger, extension and total cap apply. |
Report promptly, even if a deadline seems unclear. The table explains the platform workflow. It is not a list of statutory limitation periods and does not replace consumer rights.
13. Notifications, privacy and saved records
Follow your auctions through My bids & auctions . Relevant alerts can include outbid notices, winning, payment reminders, cancellation and auctions ending without a sale. Notification Centre preferences control available delivery channels and optional event types. Once paid, the protected-purchase record handles fulfilment and claim updates.
Check your account yourself: an unread, delayed or disabled notification does not automatically suspend a deadline. Keep your email address current and use the support route if the account information appears wrong.
Public bidder labels are masked. Necessary buyer and seller details are made available for payment, fulfilment and support; use them only for that transaction. Do not harvest contact details or add another user to marketing lists without a lawful basis.
The platform keeps bid and purchase records, agreed prices, relevant terms and review history. Listing photographs are reused during the auction rather than copied for every bid. A resulting purchase can retain a private sale snapshot and claim evidence for review.
Public listing images and private evidence may be removed under retention settings after expiry or completion. Open purchases, claims and relevant holds can delay cleanup. Do not rely on a public listing or image remaining available indefinitely; keep your own receipt, agreed terms and original evidence. Data rights and retention are governed by the applicable privacy policy and legal requirements.
14. Frequently asked questions
Do I need seller payment setup just to bid?
No. You need a logged-in account and eligibility to use the payment service. Seller onboarding is required to receive auction proceeds, not simply to bid.
Why am I still winning after somebody else bids?
Your private maximum may be higher than theirs. CoralBay can respond automatically without you being online. The public price rises only as needed, within your maximum.
Why was my maximum immediately outbid?
Another bidder already had a higher maximum, or an equal maximum with earlier priority. Check the new public price and minimum before choosing whether to increase your ceiling.
Does increasing my maximum make me pay more immediately?
No. A private increase while you are already leading leaves the public price unchanged. Another genuine competing bid is needed to raise it.
Why is the last price increase less than the normal increment?
The system does not exceed the winner’s maximum just to complete a full increment. For example, a competing £10 ceiling can be beaten by an accepted £10.01 ceiling if the current minimum allows that submission.
Can I reduce my maximum, retract a bid or cancel a win?
There is no normal self-service reduction or retraction. Bid carefully and contact support immediately about a genuine mistake or a legal cancellation right. A request is not confirmation of cancellation.
Can I buy the item now instead?
Not while it is an active auction or reserved for its winner. A normal asking price may be retained for a permitted return to fixed-price selling, but it is not a simultaneous buy-now offer.
Is there a hidden reserve?
No. The displayed starting price is the minimum acceptable item price. A single valid bid can win at that amount.
Can I pay cash when collecting?
Auction purchases use online protected payment, including collection. Ordinary non-auction listings elsewhere on CoralBay may offer direct payment; that is a different transaction route.
Can postage be combined if I win several lots?
Do not assume it. Each auction is a separate lot and normally a separate protected purchase. Ask before bidding if combined delivery matters. There is no automatic combined-postage discount or promise that fees will merge.
Can I sell fish or anything that appears in Marine Marketplace?
An item must be eligible for the auction and protected-payment flow, lawful to sell, and suitable for the fulfilment methods offered. A Marketplace category is not approval to post live fish through a particular carrier. Check the contents rules and contact CoralBay if the service cannot properly support the item.
Can a seller refuse a low winning price?
The starting price must be an amount the seller is willing to accept. Disappointment with the result is not an ordinary reason to abandon the sale. A genuine item or listing problem needs CoralBay review.
Does “sold” mean the seller has already been paid?
No. It means buyer payment has been confirmed. Collection or delivery, the applicable protection checks and seller transfer approval still follow.
Do I get a refund automatically if the parcel is late or collection is missed?
No. Use the relevant purchase or collection review process. Payment remains subject to the recorded facts and review; neither a late scan nor a missed appointment automatically decides the outcome.
Is the protection fee insurance or a guarantee of a refund?
No. It supports the described protected-payment and claims process. The issue must be assessed under the agreed terms and any applicable legal rights.
What happens if I change my mind?
Ordinary change of mind is outside the platform’s covered-problem process. Whether you have a separate cancellation right depends on matters such as seller status, the goods and the contract. Read the consumer-rights section and contact the seller and CoralBay promptly.
What about a clearly marked demo auction?
Follow its demonstration instructions. An official no-payment demo is not an offer of goods and should not be paid for. If a demo unexpectedly presents a payment request, stop and contact support. Practising on an ordinary live auction is not allowed.
15. Help, complaints and related policies
Email support@coralbay.uk with the auction or listing link, purchase reference if available, a concise explanation and relevant dates or error messages. Never send full card details, passwords or handover codes by email.
For a time-sensitive covered problem, use the purchase’s reporting action first so it is recorded against the transaction. If that fails, email promptly and keep evidence of the error and the time you tried. A general message to the seller does not necessarily register a platform claim.
If you disagree with a review outcome, explain why and provide any additional evidence. CoralBay can review the recorded decision. Payment-provider processes and independent legal remedies remain separate; disclose any related refund or dispute so the same loss is not recovered twice.
Auction rules may develop as the service improves. Material changes should be communicated appropriately and used for future commitments. Saved auction and purchase terms remain relevant to existing transactions; this page does not silently rewrite them.