Popcorn bidding extends the auction time for items that receive last-minute bids, ensuring every interested bidder has a fair chance to win.
What is popcorn bidding?
Popcorn bidding is a feature that gives every bidder a fair last chance—and helps you raise more in the process.
When enabled, it automatically extends the bidding time on an item whenever someone places a bid in the final moments. You can customize both:
When popcorn bidding begins (for example, 10 minutes before an item is set to close)
How much extra time is added (for example, extend by 10 more minutes)
Each time someone bids during that window, the item’s end time gets pushed back. This keeps the auction exciting and competitive—so no one misses out in the final seconds.
Popcorn bidding continues until no new bids are placed during your chosen final countdown period.
Please note: This feature applies to each item individually and can be turned off at any time from your auction settings.
How to enable popcorn bidding
Go to the settings page of your auction dashboard
Click on the “Settings” tab.
Scroll down to the "Popcorn Bidding" section.
Set “Enable Popcorn Bidding?” to “Yes.”
Choose when to trigger the extension under Start Popcorn Bidding When (e.g., 10 minutes remaining).
Select how much time to extend the auction by under Extend Bidding Time By (e.g., 10 minutes).
Click the blue “Save” button to apply your settings.
How popcorn bidding works
When popcorn bidding is turned on, the auction time for an item is automatically extended if someone places a bid during the final countdown window you’ve selected.
Here’s how it works:
A bidder places a bid during the final minutes of the auction—based on the “Start popcorn bidding when” setting you choose (for example, 10 minutes remaining).
The system automatically extends that item’s auction by the amount of time you’ve set under “Extend bidding time by” (for example, another 10 minutes).
Each time a new bid comes in during that window, the countdown resets and the end time is extended again.
The process repeats until no bids are placed during the final time window—then the item officially closes.
This happens on a per-item basis, so each item may close at a slightly different time depending on bidding activity.