Yes, and most Bidstation Offline users do this as it saves time. The Excel spreadsheet used for import must match the headers. CSV can also be imported. Detailed instructions and formatting conventions are outlined in the Bidstation Offline User Manual.

Yes.  Items, Attendees and Winning Bids can easily be imported and exported as Excel files or CSV files. See the Bidstation Offline User Manual located under the Help menu in Bidstation for details or visit the support videos page to watch a guided tutorial.

Yes.  Simply export winning bids and the data will be in Excel format ready for formatting in PowerPoint or other similar systems for displaying winning bid information. For details, consult the Bidstation Offline User Manual or watch the video tutorial found on the AuctionZoom website.

You need one card reader for every check-in computer you are planning to use at the event. BidStation Offline comes with two card readers. If you plan to have more than two stations for check-in, order enough card readers to have one at each station. If you would like to order additional card readers you can do so at the time of purchase, or later, from the pricing page of AuctionZoom.com.

The short answer is yes. Any computer with Bidstation Offline installed and licensed will be able to browse a local area network (LAN) to access and load a Bidstation Offline database file. However, networking is not recommended, except in exceptional circumstances or for very large events, because networks are prone to disconnection at events and require specialized knowledge and equipment. Although a network will allow multiple users to simultaneously access the software’s database, this use would not be recommended for most auctions as the rapid entry features and other Bidstation Offline functions make it unnecessary, even for large events. If networks are used, it is highly recommended that they be created as wired networks, not wireless (WiFi) to ensure network data speed and reliability.

Note: When using Bidstation Offline with a network, a network communication disruption can occur that renders your database file temporarily unreadable by Bidstation Offline.  A database repair tool is included in Bidstation Offline to enable file recovery for continued operation in anticipation of this type of unplanned interruption. 

Yes. Use the REPORTS function and choose [Print ITEMS by Category] and choose [Results]

We recommend two people per computer, one to read the bids and BIDDER numbers, the other to enter the data. However, a majority of events utilize two teams and two computers set up to share the database on a network so that data entry speed is doubled.

No. This would undermine the effort to produce a speedy checkout. Print all invoices, possibly in multiple stacks, (complete each print run separately though so that one stack is ready before printing additional stacks) prior to checkout so that cashiers need only to thumb through the stack to produce the invoice. Or, print by table number and deliver invoices to tables while guests are still seated.  If the auction has a high number of invoices that only have Other Bid purchases and no auction items, consider printing only invoices with auction items first, as they are the most important ones for the checkout process.

No. All data is saved as entered and the next record is opened. Only the current record would be lost. Having said that, BidStation Offline does have a cleanup function under the file menu that will erase some or all of the data permanently, but will warn before doing so.  Users should always make a backup database file and make a habit of making regular backups after making changes such as entering all items, all attendees, all winning bids, etc.

We recommend testing this process with the actual people who will input the data to determine their individual speeds based on their keyboarding ability.  Typically, bids take a few seconds each to enter.

No.  With practice, you’ll be ready to make required changes quickly and easily.  However, we suggest keeping last minute changes to a minimum at the auction to avoid getting bogged down in data entry tasks.

Yes, follow the instructions in the create documents section to make customizations and to create any type of custom document that you need, in addition to bid sheets (certificates, mailing labels, name tags, etc.).

Yes, see merge instructions in the Bidstation Offline User Manual to learn how to quickly and easily create your own thank you letters using our supplied template or customize it. Also see video tutorial on creating documents for more information.

The easiest way to handle this kind of case is to ask your bidders if they can work it out so that only one of them pays for the item. Otherwise, make a list of all the bidders in the group and divide the total bid by the number of bidders. From here, you can create copies of the item won by the group so that each member can have their share of the winning bid entered against each duplicate copy of the item.

Net funds are typically transferred the day following payment approval and typically arrive in the organization’s account by the next day (business days).

You need to select a bid sheet template with increments and to make sure you have added the increments to each item in the item’s profile.

Yes, and most Bidstation Offline users do this as it saves time. The Excel spreadsheet used for import must match the headers. CSV can also be imported. Detailed instructions and formatting conventions are outlined in the Bidstation Offline User Manual.

Yes.  Items, Attendees and Winning Bids can easily be imported and exported as Excel files or CSV files. See the Bidstation Offline User Manual located under the Help menu in Bidstation for details or visit the support videos page to watch a guided tutorial.

Yes.  Simply export winning bids and the data will be in Excel format ready for formatting in PowerPoint or other similar systems for displaying winning bid information. For details, consult the Bidstation Offline User Manual or watch the video tutorial found on the AuctionZoom website.

You need one card reader for every check-in computer you are planning to use at the event. BidStation Offline comes with two card readers. If you plan to have more than two stations for check-in, order enough card readers to have one at each station. If you would like to order additional card readers you can do so at the time of purchase, or later, from the pricing page of AuctionZoom.com.

The short answer is yes. Any computer with Bidstation Offline installed and licensed will be able to browse a local area network (LAN) to access and load a Bidstation Offline database file. However, networking is not recommended, except in exceptional circumstances or for very large events, because networks are prone to disconnection at events and require specialized knowledge and equipment. Although a network will allow multiple users to simultaneously access the software’s database, this use would not be recommended for most auctions as the rapid entry features and other Bidstation Offline functions make it unnecessary, even for large events. If networks are used, it is highly recommended that they be created as wired networks, not wireless (WiFi) to ensure network data speed and reliability.

Note: When using Bidstation Offline with a network, a network communication disruption can occur that renders your database file temporarily unreadable by Bidstation Offline.  A database repair tool is included in Bidstation Offline to enable file recovery for continued operation in anticipation of this type of unplanned interruption. 

Yes. Use the REPORTS function and choose [Print ITEMS by Category] and choose [Results]

We recommend two people per computer, one to read the bids and BIDDER numbers, the other to enter the data. However, a majority of events utilize two teams and two computers set up to share the database on a network so that data entry speed is doubled.

No. This would undermine the effort to produce a speedy checkout. Print all invoices, possibly in multiple stacks, (complete each print run separately though so that one stack is ready before printing additional stacks) prior to checkout so that cashiers need only to thumb through the stack to produce the invoice. Or, print by table number and deliver invoices to tables while guests are still seated.  If the auction has a high number of invoices that only have Other Bid purchases and no auction items, consider printing only invoices with auction items first, as they are the most important ones for the checkout process.

No. All data is saved as entered and the next record is opened. Only the current record would be lost. Having said that, BidStation Offline does have a cleanup function under the file menu that will erase some or all of the data permanently, but will warn before doing so.  Users should always make a backup database file and make a habit of making regular backups after making changes such as entering all items, all attendees, all winning bids, etc.

We recommend testing this process with the actual people who will input the data to determine their individual speeds based on their keyboarding ability.  Typically, bids take a few seconds each to enter.

No.  With practice, you’ll be ready to make required changes quickly and easily.  However, we suggest keeping last minute changes to a minimum at the auction to avoid getting bogged down in data entry tasks.

Yes, follow the instructions in the create documents section to make customizations and to create any type of custom document that you need, in addition to bid sheets (certificates, mailing labels, name tags, etc.).

Yes, see merge instructions in the Bidstation Offline User Manual to learn how to quickly and easily create your own thank you letters using our supplied template or customize it. Also see video tutorial on creating documents for more information.

The easiest way to handle this kind of case is to ask your bidders if they can work it out so that only one of them pays for the item. Otherwise, make a list of all the bidders in the group and divide the total bid by the number of bidders. From here, you can create copies of the item won by the group so that each member can have their share of the winning bid entered against each duplicate copy of the item.

Net funds are typically transferred the day following payment approval and typically arrive in the organization’s account by the next day (business days).

You need to select a bid sheet template with increments and to make sure you have added the increments to each item in the item’s profile.