Question 1

What types of live auction does BidJS support?

Accepted Answer

BidJS supports two live auction formats: webcast auctions, where floor bids, phone bids, and internet bids compete simultaneously in real time; and timed online auctions, where each lot closes at a preset time with soft-close overtime to prevent sniping. Both formats use the same real-time WebSocket infrastructure.

Question 2

Can I run a webcast auction while also having internet bidders?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is the core use case for webcast auctions. Your auctioneer runs the sale from the auction room as normal. Your clerk enters floor and phone bids into the BidJS console; internet bidders connect via WebSocket and see every bid in under 50 milliseconds. All three channels compete on the same lot simultaneously.

Question 3

How many bidders can join a live auction at once?

Accepted Answer

BidJS is designed for scale. Each stack handles 40,000 concurrent WebSocket connections. For very large-scale events, infrastructure can be scaled horizontally. In practice, the platform handles thousands of simultaneous internet bidders without any degradation in performance or latency.

Question 4

Is there a commission on sales?

Accepted Answer

No. BidJS is priced on a per-lot or monthly subscription basis — there is no commission deducted from hammer prices or buyer's premium. Your revenue stays entirely with your auction house. This is one of the key reasons professional auctioneers move from marketplace platforms to BidJS.

Question 5

How is BidJS different from an online auction marketplace?

Accepted Answer

A marketplace runs your auctions on their platform, under their brand, with their commission structure — and your bidders become their customers. BidJS runs on your website, under your brand, with no commission. Your bidder data is always yours, exportable at any time. This is the fundamental difference that matters most to professional auction houses.

Live auction software that keeps every bidder in the room

What is live auction software?

Why your bidders need sub-50ms latency

Your brand, not ours

From setup to your first live sale in days

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