Online Auctions is now available with Event Caddy PRO! Auctions, combined with the new Event Caddy Tournament App allows your players to make bids on items via mobile phone. You can now manage your event by logging in as an organizer via the app.

Download the Event Caddy Tournament App via the App Store.

You can easily setup your auction under the Online Auction Tab. Enable your auction and setup your time zone under Online Auction > Auction Settings. The contact you add to this page will be the one that appears when the winners are sent a text message - so if someone other than the main organizer is managing the auction - add them here.

Before you add your items - you will want to create your auction categories first under Online Auction > Manage Categories. If you have multiple categories (Trips, Memorabilia, Art, etc), this will allow your players to easily filter by category via the app.

You can now go to Online Auction > Manage Items to add your items. Follow all the fields on this page to add your item, add images, add a starting price and minimum bids - and finally when you would like the bidding for that specific item to open and close.

Once your items all are set up - how do you and your players view and bid on them? This is all done via the Event Caddy App. Right now - only players registered for the event will be able to bid on items. Players can download the app and login with the phone number they registered with. Admins can login with their regular Event Caddy Logins.

Because the app must be used to view and bid on items - it's best to communicate with golfers as early as possible (especially if auction opens before tournament day). We suggest creating email blasts, or even creating a custom email that goes out to golfers when they register (Player Manager > Registration Email Template) and add information about the auction and to download the app.

After bidding closes - a text will be sent out to the winner. Under Online Auction > Winners, you can also see a list of winners, and you can send an email with invoice to them. Once you have received payment, this is where you can also mark the items as PAID.

With this first release of Online Auctions - payments will not be collected via the app. You can reach out to your winners to arrange payment. If you need to collect through your event, you can create an item in the Online Store for winners to pay.

Start Auction Early: To create the best possible outcome for your auction - we suggest starting the auction well before your tournament day. Since you can set the time and date of auction opening and closing - there is no limit. Give your players the best chance to make their bids and contribute to your charity!

Communication: Because players will need to use the Event Caddy app to view items and place bids - it's best to communicate to them as much as possible. Create email blasts with our Marketing Tools to tell them about the auction and let them know to download the app. You can also create a custom email that goes out to every golfer at registration (Player Manager > Registration Email Template).

Players Login: The way your players will log in to the app is with the phone number attached to the player / used when they registered. To eliminate confusion, you can instruct your golfers to get you names/contact info well in advance for you to edit - or they can edit this themselves via your tournament website. In the menu, there is an option "Manage Order" where all they need is the receipt number and email used when registering. If a player comes up to you the day of - you can easily add their phone number with the app with the Player Manager feature.

Tournament Website: Currently - items you add to your auction are not added anywhere on your tournament site. If you would like to add auction information - the best way to do this is under Website Editor > Additional Pages. This way you can let golfers know about the items included, and how they can bid.

Non-Players: Currently - only golfers registered for your event can login to the app to bid. If you have non-golfers that would like to bid, they will have to be added as a player in your event. If you want to do this (either Add Player Manually or create another Registration Option), you will just have to keep in mind your player list/player numbers may be affected.

Outside of North America: If you are holding an event outside of North America, please contact us via the chat - there may be a special country code that needs to be added to all phone numbers for login access.