---
title: 🧪 How to Create a Mock Auction in ClickBid
description: Run a test auction in ClickBid with sample items, mock bidders, and offline checkout to prepare for your real fundraising event.
---

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# 🧪 How to Create a Mock Auction in ClickBid

#### 🎯 Why Run a Mock Auction?

A mock auction is a great way to:

- Train staff, board members, or volunteers
- Test bidder experience from registration to payment
- Explore ClickBid’s bidding features in a live setting—without processing real credit card transactions

💡 **Tip:** Mock auctions are perfect for board meetings, committee previews, or dry runs before the big event.

---

#### 🎁 Step 1: Activate a few Items

1. Go to **Items** → **Manage Items**
2. Quickly configure existing items:
   
     - select a couple of items.
   ![Screenshot 2026-02-02 142331](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-02-02%20142331.png?width=375&height=144&name=Screenshot%202026-02-02%20142331.png)  
     
     - Scroll down and click **Batch Update**
     - Choose:
       
           - **Closing Time** (recommend 15–30 minutes from now for testing)
           - **Status**: Set to **Active**
     - Click **Update**

**![Screenshot 2026-02-02 142540](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-02-02%20142540.png?width=670&height=427&name=Screenshot%202026-02-02%20142540.png)**

💡 **Tip:** A short bidding window helps you see outbid and winner notifications in real time during your session.

---

#### 🏠 Step 3: Share the Auction Link

1. Return to your **Home Page**
2. Find the **Your Event Site** section with your link, QR code, and keyword
3. Copy the auction URL
4. Share it with your board, committee, or test users

![Screenshot 2026-02-02 152631](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-02-02%20152631.png?width=525&height=464&name=Screenshot%202026-02-02%20152631.png)

---

#### 🧑‍💻 Step 4: Experience Bidding as a Participant

- Click the **Auction** button in the top menu

**![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-16-20-5028-PM.png?width=670&height=511&name=image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-16-20-5028-PM.png)**

- Click on any item’s **Place** **Bid** button

![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-16-44-2536-PM.png?width=373&height=93&name=image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-16-44-2536-PM.png)

- You’ll be prompted to:
  
    - Enter your **email** and **mobile number**
    - Receive and enter a **one-time login code**

**![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-16-59-4985-PM.png?width=670&height=258&name=image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-16-59-4985-PM.png)**

**![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-17-27-8654-PM.png?width=555&height=477&name=image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-17-27-8654-PM.png)**

- Place a bid:
  
    - Choose the **next available amount**
    - Or place a **Max Bid** to let the system auto-bid on your behalf

![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-18-37-2572-PM.png?width=486&height=808&name=image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-18-37-2572-PM.png)

📌 **Info:** You’ll receive **text notifications** when outbid, with a direct link to rebid.

💡 **Tip:** Encourage your team to test out:

- Bidding on multiple items
- Competing with each other
- Donating if donation items are active

---

#### 🏆 Step 5: Simulate Payment & Checkout

When your test items close:

- Winning bidders will receive a **text message** with a link to complete payment

⚠️ **Note:** Card payments WILL be processed and credit card fees will apply. We do not recommend charging cards during a mock auction.

To simulate In-Event checkout:

1. Go to **Event Central** → Butler
2. Pull up the winning bidder under **Bidder Lookup**
3. Click the **red Checkout** button
4. Choose a **payment type**:
   
     - **Check**
     - **Cash**
     - **Other**
5. Submit the transaction
6. The system will send a **receipt via email** to the bidder

 

![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-21-01-4983-PM.png?width=670&height=419&name=image-png-Jul-18-2025-06-21-01-4983-PM.png)

💡 **Tip:** For test events, we recommend selecting **cash or check** to avoid unnecessary credit card fees or refund scenarios.

 

#### 💰 Step 6: Refund and Remove Bids

After your mock auction concludes: 

- Refund cash, check, or other payments under Event Central \> Event Payments \> Paid Checkouts.
- Click the Refund Arrow to process the refund on the next page.
- Delete the bids after the refund 
    - Do this under Items \> Manage items \> Find the "Has Bids" tag
- Click "Has Bids" and click the Xs to delete the bids placed.

---

#### 🧪 Final Thoughts

Running a mock auction helps everyone get comfortable with:

- Registration and bidding flows
- Outbid and winner notifications
- The checkout and payment process

It’s the best way to ensure your **live event runs smoothly**—for your team and your guests.

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