Mission Briefing: How IT Works
ChickenBids is a live, descending-price auction. The clock is your enemy, and hesitation is how you lose. The price goes down until someone locks it in, then they get one minute to pull the trigger and pay.
Overview
- 1. Price starts high. Each drop begins above normal retail so there's room to fall.
- 2. Price ticks down. The amount and speed of the drop are shown on-screen.
- 3. You lock in. When you hit LOCK IN the current price is reserved just for you.
- 4. One-minute window. You receive a secure payment link. You have 60 seconds to pay.
- 5. If you don't pay. The lock expires and the auction resumes from where it stopped.
Accounts & verification
- Email + phone. You need an email to register. Phone helps us organise delivery - but it's optional. We can communicate through email if you prefer.
- Secure payment. Payment is processed securly with Stripe. We do not store any of your card details. We currently support all major cards.
- One winner at a time. While a lock is pending payment, no other buyers can take that item.
FAQ
- What happens if someone doesn't pay in time?Users have 60 seconds to pay. If they don't, their reservation is cancelled and the price starts dropping again from where it paused. The item isn't sold until a payment succeeds.
- Is this a lottery or pay-to-bid?No. Watching and entering drops is free. You only pay if you successfully lock in a price and complete checkout.
- How is payment processed?All card payments are handled securely by Stripe. ChickenBids never sees your full card details. We use your email and phone to verify you and send payment links.
- How do I know if I won an item?The app will notifiy you that you have won an auction. Upon winning an item, you will receive a confirmation email. Delivery details will be provided via email or phone.
- What about shipping?Shipping is included in the final price of the item and handled by Australia Post. We will get your shipping address from you upon winning the auction. Items are dispatched within 24 hours of payment being received with tracking provided.
- Are the items new?
Most of our "Sealed" items are brand new stock sourced from major Australian retailers. However, because we are an independent reseller (not a factory partner), we legally sell them as "Second-Hand / Sealed." This means you get the fresh unboxing experience and the factory seal is intact, but you are technically the second owner.
- What's the deal with used items?
If an item isn't marked "Sealed," it is sold "As Is." We inspect everything personally. If there's a scratch, a dent, or a quirk, we photograph it and put it in the Drop Description. Trust the Intel: Don't rely on generic specs from the manufacturer's website. If our listing says it's missing a cable, it's missing a cable. What you see in the Drop is exactly what you get.
- What about warranties?
For Sealed Items: You get the balance of the Manufacturer's Warranty. We provide the original retailer receipt so you can claim directly with Sony, Apple, etc.
For Used Items: These come with statutory guarantees under Australian Consumer Law (they will work as described), but we do not offer extra warranties for age-related wear or cosmetic damage that was disclosed in the listing.
- What countries can participate?We are currently only open to Australian users. We will expand to other countries in the future.