Auction Terms and Conditions

1. Scope and Applicability

These Auction Terms and Conditions ("Auction Terms") govern all auction activities on the ACM Africa platform, including listing items for auction, placing bids, and completing auction sales. These Auction Terms supplement the general Terms and Conditions of ACM Africa. In the event of a conflict, these Auction Terms prevail for auction-related matters.

2. Eligibility to Bid

• You must have a registered and verified ACM Africa account to place bids.
• You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into binding agreements.
• You may not bid on your own auction listings.
• By placing your first bid, you accept these Auction Terms in full. Your acceptance is recorded and applies to all future auction activity on the Platform.

3. Bids Are Binding

• Every bid placed on ACM Africa constitutes a binding commitment to purchase the item at the bid amount if you are the winning bidder.
• Bids cannot be retracted, withdrawn, or cancelled once placed.
• Do not bid unless you are fully prepared and financially able to complete the purchase at the amount you are bidding.
• Frivolous, speculative, or non-genuine bids are strictly prohibited and may result in account suspension.

4. Auction Duration and Anti-Snipe Protection

• All auctions run for a fixed duration of 24 hours from the scheduled start time.
• If a bid is placed in the final seconds of an auction, the end time may be automatically extended to prevent last-second sniping. This is called anti-snipe protection.
• The auction end time displayed on the listing is always the current official end time, including any extensions.

5. Reserve Price

• Sellers may set a reserve price, which is the minimum amount they are willing to accept for the item.
• Reserve prices are hidden from bidders. The auction page will indicate whether the reserve has been met or not.
• If the highest bid at the end of the auction does not meet the reserve price, the item is not sold and the auction is marked as unsold.

6. Buy Now Option

• Sellers may set an optional Buy Now price, allowing a buyer to purchase the item instantly at a fixed price.
• Using the Buy Now option immediately ends the auction and designates the buyer as the winner.
• The Buy Now option is only available while the current bid is below the Buy Now price.
• A Buy Now purchase is subject to the same 24-hour confirmation requirement as a standard auction win.

7. Winning and Sale Confirmation (24-Hour Rule)

• When an auction ends, the highest bidder (provided the reserve price is met) is declared the provisional winner.
• The provisional winner must confirm the purchase within 24 hours of the auction ending by clicking the "Confirm Purchase" button on the auction page.
• If the provisional winner fails to confirm within 24 hours:
  • Their winning position is automatically forfeited.
  • The second-highest bidder automatically becomes the new provisional winner at their bid amount.
  • The new provisional winner then has their own 24-hour window to confirm the purchase.
• If no bidder confirms the purchase within their respective confirmation windows, the auction is marked as unsold and the item is relisted as a standard listing.
• Failure to confirm a winning bid may negatively affect your account standing and trust score. Repeated failures to confirm may result in account suspension.

8. After Confirmation

• Once the winner confirms the purchase, the sale is considered final and binding on both the buyer and the seller.
• The buyer and seller must arrange payment, inspection, and collection directly between themselves.
• ACM Africa does not process payments for auction transactions, hold funds in escrow, or act as an intermediary in the transaction.
• We strongly recommend meeting in person, inspecting the equipment before payment, and using secure payment methods.

9. Seller Obligations

• By listing an item for auction, you commit to selling the item to the winning bidder at the final bid price (provided it meets the reserve price, if set).
• Sellers may not withdraw an item from auction once bidding has commenced, unless the auction is cancelled by ACM Africa administration.
• Sellers must provide accurate descriptions, genuine photographs, and honest disclosure of the equipment's condition.
• Once a buyer confirms the purchase, the seller must make reasonable efforts to arrange handover of the equipment in a timely manner.

10. Prohibited Auction Conduct

The following activities are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate account suspension:

• Shill bidding — placing bids on your own auction (directly or through third parties) to artificially inflate the price.
• Bid manipulation — coordinating with other users to suppress or inflate bidding.
• False listings — listing items you do not own or intend to sell.
• Bid retraction abuse — repeatedly winning auctions and failing to confirm purchases.
• Price manipulation — any attempt to undermine the fairness and integrity of the auction process.

11. Platform Role and Liability

• ACM Africa provides the auction platform infrastructure only. We are not a party to any auction transaction.
• We do not guarantee the accuracy of listing descriptions, the condition of equipment, or the outcome of any transaction.
• ACM Africa is not liable for any losses, damages, or disputes arising from auction transactions between buyers and sellers.
• We reserve the right to cancel any auction, remove any listing, or suspend any account at our sole discretion if we suspect fraud, manipulation, or violation of these Terms.

12. Dispute Resolution

• Disputes between buyers and sellers must be resolved directly between the parties.
• ACM Africa may assist in dispute resolution where possible but is not obligated to mediate or arbitrate.
• If you believe an auction involved fraudulent activity, please report it to us immediately via info@acmafrica.co.za.
• These Auction Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

13. Modifications

ACM Africa reserves the right to update these Auction Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued participation in auctions after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Auction Terms.

14. Contact

For questions about these Auction Terms, please contact us: