# Bidder registration & tracking

> Register bidders before or during a sale, number them automatically, set purchase limits and request guarantees, with every bidder's activity on one page.

- URL: https://www.selloff.auction/features/bidder-management
- Language: English
- Domain: Sales & bidding
- Last updated: 2026-10-07
- Français: https://www.selloff.auction/fr/fonctionnalites/gestion-encherisseurs.md

## At a glance

- Bidder numbers assigned automatically from a range per bidder type
- Purchase limit per bidder, taken from the client's default limit if left blank
- Guarantee requests emailed with an online payment link
- Registrations from your website and from Drouot
- Dashboard alerts for warning tags, open balances and bidders near their limit

## A bidder number for every participant

Each client who takes part in a sale receives a bidder number for that sale. Leave the number blank and Selloff assigns the next one from the range defined for the bidder type: room, telephone, internet or any other type you set up. Bidder types also feed the sale statistics.

A bidder can be registered weeks in advance or in a few seconds at the front desk, from an existing contact. Clients who bid on your website for the first time receive their bidder number automatically, and bidders registered on [Drouot](https://www.selloff.auction/integrations/drouot.md) can be imported into the sale.

## Limits, guarantees and remarks

For each bidder you record a purchase limit, a sales agent and remarks. The limit defaults to the client's own limit, which you can update at the same time, and it is sent to the connected live bidding platform as the bidder's credit limit.

When you need security before accepting a participant, Selloff emails a guarantee request with the amount and a link to your online payment page. Once paid, the guarantee is marked as paid on the bidder.

## Everything about a bidder on one page

The bidder page shows the client's tags, activities, bid statistics, purchase limit and buyer's premium, and all their bids: absentee, phone, OR bids, offers, sales and live bids. From there you add bids, record a hammer price or print the bidder's bid sheet.

## Keeping an eye on risk

The sale dashboard lists bidders with important tags, such as a payment warning, bidders with unpaid balances and bidders close to their purchase limit. The front desk and the auctioneer know who to check before the first lot is called.

## Works with

- [Drouot](https://www.selloff.auction/integrations/drouot.md): Export your catalogue in the Drouot format, import the bidders registered on drouot.com and the results of your sale, and link each lot to its Drouot bidding page.

## Related features

- [Absentee & phone bids](https://www.selloff.auction/features/bid-recording.md): Record absentee, phone and OR bids in the book, check them against your bid increments, confirm them to clients by email and print the bid book for the room.
- [Client records & history](https://www.selloff.auction/features/client-records.md): One record per contact with addresses, ID and bank details, tags, consignments, bids, invoices and a complete activity history shared by the whole team.
- [Bid import from platforms](https://www.selloff.auction/features/bid-import.md): Bring bids, results and registrations from Drouot, Sixbid, Numisbids, Philasearch, Biddr and Excel files into your sale, with contact matching and a review step.
- [Online payments](https://www.selloff.auction/features/online-payments.md): Let buyers pay invoices, guarantees and free amounts online via Stripe, Datatrans or Saferpay, with fees and payment statuses tracked in Selloff.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I register a new bidder during the sale?

Yes. Enter the contact by name or client number, choose the bidder type and save. If you leave the bidder number empty, Selloff assigns the next free number in that type's range, and the bidder can bid straight away.

### How do purchase limits work?

Each bidder can have a purchase limit for the sale; if none is entered, the client's default limit applies. The sale dashboard flags bidders whose winning bids are close to their limit, and the limit is passed to the connected live bidding platform.

### Can I ask a bidder for a deposit before the sale?

Yes. Selloff emails the bidder a guarantee request with the amount and, when an online payment gateway is set up, a link to pay online. The guarantee is then tracked with the bidder until it is paid.