Creating & Managing Live Auctions
Seller guide to setting up auction items, managing the product queue, activating items during streams, and closing sales.
Setting Up Auction Items for Your Stream
Before going live, prepare your auction items by creating listings with the listing type set to 'Auction.' Set a starting bid price — this is the minimum amount the first bidder must offer. Choose your auction format: Standard (fixed countdown) or Sudden Death (timer extends on late bids). Sudden Death is recommended for live streams because it prevents sniping and generates higher engagement. You can also set a reserve price, which is a hidden minimum you are willing to accept. If bidding does not reach the reserve, you are not obligated to sell. Add your auction listings to your stream's product queue before going live so they are ready to activate during the broadcast.
Managing the Product Queue
Your product queue is the backbone of your live stream. It is organized into three tabs: 'Up Next' (items waiting to be auctioned), 'Current' (the item currently being auctioned), and 'Sold' (completed items). Before going live, arrange your queue strategically — lead with eye-catching items to hook early viewers, place your highest-value items in the middle when viewership peaks, and save a crowd-pleaser for the end to keep viewers engaged throughout. During the stream, you control the flow by activating the next item when you are ready. Only one item can be in the 'Current' position at a time. You can rearrange the 'Up Next' queue on the fly if you want to adjust the order based on viewer interest or chat requests.
Activating and Running an Auction
When you are ready to auction an item, activate it from the product queue. The item instantly appears in the 'Now Selling' overlay visible to all viewers, the countdown timer starts, and buyers can begin placing bids. Present the item on camera — show it from multiple angles, demonstrate features, and highlight condition details. Answer viewer questions from the chat in real time. The bid activity appears live in the chat feed and in the product overlay, so both you and your viewers can track the current price and leading bidder. If using Sudden Death format, let viewers know that late bids will extend the timer so they understand the mechanics.
Closing Sales and Post-Auction
When the timer expires, the highest bidder wins. WeaponDepot automatically records the sale, notifies the winner, and creates a pending order. The item moves to the 'Sold' tab in your product queue with the final price and buyer information. After the stream, navigate to your seller dashboard to see all completed sales, process orders, and generate shipping labels. If a buyer does not complete payment within 72 hours, you can file a non-paying bidder claim through the platform. For items that did not meet their reserve price, you can relist them, adjust the starting bid, or convert them to fixed-price listings.
Auction Pricing Strategies
Start auctions at a low price (sometimes even $1) to generate initial excitement and encourage competitive bidding. Low starting prices attract more bidders, which creates momentum and often drives the final price higher than a high starting bid would. Use reserve prices to protect your minimum acceptable sale price on high-value items. For live streams, consider offering bundle deals or 'mystery box' auctions to create variety and excitement. Monitor your auction results over time using the Market Data tools to understand what starting prices and formats generate the best outcomes for your products.