A: CBS reserves the right to set minimum bids and to withdraw any item from auction at any time, for any reason. CBS reserves the right to postpone, delay, interrupt, or cancel any auction for any reason, at any time. CBS does not guarantee continuous, uninterrupted or secure access to its services, and operation of this Site may be interfered with by numerous factors outside of its control, including but not limited to telecommunications network disruptions. Further, CBS does not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of any information on this Site or the results of your use of this Site. Neither CBS nor any third party provider or distributor (including but not limited to any CBS, university partner, conference partner, or other partner) shall be responsible for any damage related to any technical problem that results in your bid being omitted or in an auction failing to properly function.
By bidding on an auction item the user agrees to have their credit card billed and complete the transaction. Should the bid placed by a User be the winning bid, the User will be have their credit card charged for the amount of the winning bid price and any shipping, handling, taxes, or special charges noted in the auction description. If the credit card is denied, CBS Auctions will attempt to contact the User to arrange alternative payment, however it will be the sole responsibility of the User to arrange alternative payment. If a credit card is denied, CBS Auctions will have no obligation to the User with the winning bid and, at CBS Auctions sole discretion, will have the right to re-list the auction item(s), and/or offer the auction item to the next highest bidder.
For additional Terms of Use Click Here
Q: I am new to CBS Online Auctions. How do I begin?
A: You may begin by browsing our online auction selections. If you see something you would like to bid on, you must register for an account first. By registering, you are not obligated and it does not cost you anything. You will be asked for your e-mail address (which will serve as your username), as well as a password and valid contact information. You will only need to register once on CBS Online Auctions.
Q: What are the system requirements needed to use CBS Online Auctions?
A: For best results, CBS Online Auctions recommends you use either Mozilla Firefox 1.x or greater or MS Internet Explorer 4.x or greater.
Q: What security measures does your site have in place?
A: Our software is Hacker-Safe certified daily to pass the FBI/SANS Internet Security Test, which meets and exceeds the highest security scanning standards of the U.S. government and all major credit card companies. In addition, we offer enhanced customer privacy - our store servers use 128-bit encryption with the latest version of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TSL) protocols.
Q: What is your Privacy Policy?
A: The CBS SPORTS.com network of websites including CBS and the more than 200 official collegiate athletic sites operated by CBS Sports are committed to safeguarding your privacy. Our privacy policy, linked below, describes the information we may collect, how it is used and the precautions we take to protect your privacy.
To view our complete privacy policy, CLICK HERE.
Q: Why do I need to register with CBS Online Auctions?
A: You must provide us with valid contact information so that we may contact you regarding your CBS Online Auctions purchases. It is only necessary to register if you want to bid on our auction items.
Q: What does it cost to register?
A: Registering with CBS Online Auctions costs you nothing. Once you have submitted your registration, you will receive a confirmation e-mail message from CBS Online Auctions and you will have instant access to all items available for bid from CBS Online Auctions.
Q: Do I need a credit card to register?
A: Yes, but you will only be billed if you bid on and win an auction.
Q: Do I have to buy anything after I register?
A: No. You are not obligated to buy anything on CBS Online Auctions by registering.
Q: Why didn’t I receive my confirmation e-mail after I registered?
A: After you submitted your registration form, you were sent a confirmation e-mail. This process ensures that your e-mail address is valid. You should receive your registration confirmation message within minutes of submitting your registration.
If you did not receive this e-mail, please return to CBS Online Auctions, login to your account, and verify that you entered your e-mail address correctly; update as necessary.
If you still do not receive this e-mail or need us to re-send it, please contact Customer Service by clicking here.
Q: Can I register under more than one account?
A: No. CBS Online Auctions will not allow members to register under more than one account per e-mail address. If at any time you forget your password, or other account information, please don't create a new account. Instead, click on the "Lost Your Password?" link from the login page.
You will be asked to enter the e-mail address you registered with so that CBS Online Auctions can send you your Password right away. If you do not receive your e-mail message, please contact Customer Service for further assistance.
Q: Can I update my registration information?
A: Yes, at any time. CBS Online Auctions members are expected to maintain valid accounts by keeping their contact information (e-mail address, mailing address, phone number and credit card information) up-to-date. Please review your contact information and if it changes, simply update it from the "My Account" section of the Control Center.
Q: How do I search for an auction on CBS Online Auctions?
A: Through our advanced Search field (which appears on every page of CBS Online Auctions), you can look for specific items by auction title or description. You will be able to sort your search results by item title, current price, bid count and time remaining. When you have located an item you are interested in, click on the item's title link to see its listing page.
Q: How do I bid on an item I am interested in?
A: When you have located an item you are interested in, click on the item's title link to see its listing page.
On each item listing page there is a field for "Maximum Bid" as well as a button marked "Place a Bid!" You must enter a bid amount and click on the button to place a bid.
If you are not already logged in to the system, you will be prompted to either create a new account or log in with an existing account. You will be notified by e-mail if another bidder has surpassed your maximum bid.
When reviewing an item's Bid History after having placed a bid, you should reload, or refresh, your browser so that it displays the most current bid status information. This is especially important during the final minutes of an auction when you should refresh your browser frequently (every 3 - 5 secs).
Q: Is there a charge to place bids?
A: : No. Bidding on CBS Online Auctions is free.
Q: Do I need to use a credit card to bid?
A: Yes. To ensure fair bidding, a valid credit card will be required to bid on any item. Your credit card information is required only for the first time you place a bid on CBS Online Auctions. All additional bids will not require credit card verification.
By providing your valid credit card information, you authorize CBS Online Auctions to authorize your credit card account for $.01, to verify that the credit card information you provide is valid. This credit verification will occur each time you provide a different credit card in the bidding process. Your card will not be charged this amount, it is simply an authorization to confirm that your card is valid.
If you need to update your credit card information, you can do so anytime from the "My Account" link on CBS Online Auctions.
Q: Can I ask CBS Online Auctions a question before I place a bid?
A: Yes. Whether you require additional information about the item, the payment terms, would like to determine shipping and handling costs, or have a general question, You may contact CBS Online Auctions by clicking on the Customer Service link.
Q: What is an Open Auction?
A: In an Open Auction, buyers bid until the auction ends. The item is then sold to the highest bidder at the end of the auction period. Bidding can start as low as the Opening Value (minimum price or starting amount) of the auction.
Q: What is a Reserve Price Auction?
A: In a Reserve Price Auction, there is a Reserve Price, which is a price below which the listing will not sell. The Reserve Price is generally higher than the Opening Value. If the seller has set a Reserve Price you will see either a "Reserve Price NOT Met" or "Reserve Price Met" message on the listing page depending on whether the current bid is below, or at or above, the reserve price.
If the highest bid at auction close does not meet the Reserve Price, CBS Online Auctions is not required to sell the item. In this case, CBS Online Auctions may contact the highest bidder whose offer was below the reserve price to offer the auction at the final bid price. Bidders who are contacted under these circumstances, however, are under no obligation to purchase the item.
Q: What is a Dutch Auction?
A: A Dutch Auction occurs when a seller has multiple, identical items offered for sale. The seller specifies the minimum price (the Opening Value) and the number of items for sale. Bidders can then bid at or above the minimum price for the quantity of items they wish to purchase. At the close of the auction, all winning bidders purchase the items at the same price, which is the lowest successful bid.
For example: for a listing with 10 available items and 2 bidders:
Bidder A bid for 8 items at $5 each.
Bidder B bid for 3 items at $6 each.
In this case, the lowest successful bid is $5. So the outcome of this listing is:
Bidder B wins 3 items at $5 each.
Bidder A wins 7 items at $5 each.
Winning bids are selected in order of bid price per item. For example, a bid for 5 units at $12 per unit is ranked above a bid for 10 units at $11 per unit. If two bids have the same price per item, the earlier bid is given priority.
Q: What is a Fixed Price Auction?
A: Fixed Price Auction listings have a fixed price set by CBS Online Auctions and buyers simply choose to buy the item at that price. Fixed Price listings will remain active until either all items have been sold, or the listing duration has expired. The available quantity will be updated on the listing page each time an additional item is sold.
Q: What is a proxy bid?
A: Each time you place a bid by entering your maximum bid amount (which is the most you're willing to pay for an item), you will be using our proxy bidding system. The system will then bid automatically, on your behalf, and at the lowest possible bid increments, until your maximum bid amount is reached.
Q: What is a "maximum bid amount"?
A: Your maximum bid amount is the highest price you are willing to pay for an item. Your maximum bid amount (if you are a current high bidder) will not be shown to other bidders until after the auction closes.
Q: Can I increase my maximum bid after I've placed a bid?
A: Yes. You can increase your maximum bid at anytime, regardless of whether or not your maximum bid amount has been outbid. To increase your current bid amount, simply return to the listing and enter and submit a new, higher maximum bid amount.
Q: Why isn't my bid showing up?
A: There are 4 steps to placing a bid on an auction. You must complete all 4 steps in order for our system to record and display your bid in a listing's Bid History.
1. Enter your Maximum bid amount and click on the "Place a Bid!" button on the listing page of the item you are viewing. You will be asked to log in, if you haven't done so already. Upon confirming your login info, you will be sent to a Bid Confirmation page.
2. Review your bid information and check it for accuracy. At this point, you will have the opportunity either to go back and modify or correct the desired quantity and bid amount or submit your bid.
3. To place your confirmed bid simply click on the "Click here to authorize bid" button.
Once submitted, you will be returned to the auction listing page, indicating the bid amount placed, and if your bid is currently the winning bid. To place additional bids, repeat steps 1-3 above.
Q: Every time I bid on an item, it says I have been outbid. Why?
A: When this happens, it means that an earlier bidder has placed a maximum bid amount which is higher than the amount of your maximum bid.
Q: I appear to have been overbid by an amount smaller than the bid increment. How has this occurred?
A: The other bidder had placed a "proxy bid". In some cases, it's possible that another bidder's standing maximum bid is greater than yours, but by less than the bid increment. In this case, the other bidder will be winning at exactly their maximum bid. Example:
This item has a bid increment of $2: The current winning bid is at $30.00 You bid $49.00 (proxy bid)
Bidder B bids $49.01 (also a proxy bid)
In this case, Bidder B will be winning at exactly $49.01 even though it appears to not meet the minimum increment. It was more than the bid increment when he placed the bid. The bid was only at $30.00 so a bid of 49.01 is a $19.01 bid increment.
Q: Why does it look some auction users are bidding against themselves?
A: This bidder has entered a proxy bid and someone else is attempting to outbid that person’s maximum bid. For example:
User A enters a top bid of $200, but since the minimum bid is only $100, he's the top bidder at $100. User B enters a top bid of $125, but since that doesn't pass User A's top bid, User A remains the highest bidder at User B's top bid PLUS whatever the bid increment is. If the bid increment for this auction is $10, User A would be the top bidder at $135. However, because User B was never the top bidder, his bid won't show up in the bid history, and it will look like User A was bidding against himself, when in fact, someone else's bid activity triggered his proxy bid.
Q: I have confirmed my bid, but it tells me it is invalid: why?
A: There are two reasons why a confirmed bid can be considered invalid:
1) You have entered an invalid value in the "Bid Amount" field. Make sure that your bid amount contains only numbers and decimal points, i.e., 45.00 . Do not enter any dollar signs ($) or commas (,) into the bid amount field.
2) Your bid amount is less than the "Next Bid" value. Make sure that your bid is equal to or greater than the current "Next Bid" value shown on the listing page.
Q: Can I retract a confirmed bid?
A: Only under special circumstances can you retract a bid. To submit a formal bid retraction request, contact Customer Service BEFORE the auction ends, and please allow 24-48 business hours for Customer Service to respond.
Q: What do I do if I win an auction?
A: If you are the winning bidder when the auction closes, you will automatically be notified via e-mail that you have won that auction item. CBS Online Auctions will attempt to charge your credit card at that time. If successful, your account will have a charge from "collegestore.CBS.com".
If there are problems charging your credit card, Customer Service will contact you directly to attempt to rectify the problem or to acquire new credit card information from you. If your credit card charge goes through, you will be contacted by CBS Online Auctions regarding fulfillment of your auction. If we are unable to contact you, we reserve the right to contact other bidders to offer them the auction item, or to re-list the item all together.
Q: When will I get my auction item if I win?
A: You will receive an email immediately following the end of the auction and if you are the winning bidder. You will receive a second email once your item has shipped or in the case of experiences and other you will receive a second email with instructions about delivery.
Q: What is your return policy
A: All auction sales are final. We do not offer refunds or exchanges.