Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about buying, selling, and auctioning equipment on ACM Africa.
How Auctions Work
1
Register and Verify Your Account
Create a free account on ACM Africa and verify your email address. You must be logged in to place bids or list equipment for auction.
2
Browse or List Auction Items
Sellers can list equipment for auction by setting a start price, reserve price, and auction duration. Buyers can browse all active auctions and filter by category, location, or equipment type.
3
Place Your Bids
Enter your bid amount on any active auction. You will be notified if you are outbid so you can decide whether to bid again. Each bid must be higher than the current highest bid.
4
Winning and Completing the Sale
When the auction ends, the highest bidder wins (provided the reserve price is met). The winner must confirm their purchase within 24 hours. If they fail to confirm, the second-highest bidder automatically becomes the new winner. Once confirmed, the buyer and seller are connected to arrange payment, inspection, and collection directly.
Buying
You must be logged in to view seller contact details. Once logged in, visit the listing page and use the WhatsApp or Call buttons to reach the seller directly. ACM Africa does not handle negotiations on your behalf.
For machines, prices are not displayed. You need to contact the seller directly via WhatsApp or phone to discuss pricing. For parts, the seller may choose to display a price or show "Contact for price" instead.
We strongly recommend inspecting all equipment in person before making any payment. Check the seller's trust score and reviews from other buyers. ACM Africa is a marketplace only and does not inspect, verify, or guarantee the condition of any listed equipment.
Yes. Click the heart icon on any listing card or detail page to add it to your wishlist. You can view all your saved listings from your dashboard. You must be logged in to use the wishlist feature.
Selling
Register for a free account, then click "Post Listing" from your dashboard. Upload at least 3 genuine photos of your equipment, fill in the details, select a category, and submit. Your listing will appear on the marketplace once published.
ACM Africa offers three listing tiers: Free (basic listing), Sponsored (R149 -- your listing appears in the Sponsored section at the top of search results), and Dealer (R999 -- dedicated dealer placement and branding). Sponsored and Dealer listings receive more visibility.
During registration, check the "Register as Dealer" option. You can also upgrade to a dealer account from your profile dashboard at any time. Dealer approval is at the discretion of ACM Africa, and a subscription fee applies.
Yes. Go to your dashboard, find the listing under "My Listings", and click Edit to update details or Delete to remove it. Changes take effect immediately.
Auctions
A reserve price is the minimum amount a seller is willing to accept. If bidding does not reach the reserve price by the end of the auction, the item is not sold. Reserve prices are not visible to bidders.
No. All bids are binding commitments. Once you place a bid, you cannot retract it. Make sure you are comfortable with the amount and financially able to complete the purchase before bidding. By placing your first bid, you agree to the Auction Terms and Conditions.
You will be notified on your dashboard. You must confirm your purchase within 24 hours by clicking the "Confirm Purchase" button on the auction page. Once confirmed, the seller's contact details are shared so you can arrange payment, inspection, and collection directly.
If the winning bidder fails to confirm their purchase within the 24-hour window, their winning position is automatically forfeited. The second-highest bidder then becomes the new winner and receives their own 24-hour confirmation window. If no bidder confirms, the auction is marked as unsold and the item is relisted.
Yes. Before placing your first bid on ACM Africa, you must accept the Auction Terms and Conditions. This is a one-time acceptance that applies to all future auction activity on the platform. You can read the full terms on the Auction Terms page.
Payments
When you select a Sponsored or Dealer listing tier, you will be directed to our secure payment gateway powered by PayFast. All payments are processed in South African Rand (ZAR). ACM Africa does not store your card details.
No. Fees for Sponsored listings and Dealer subscriptions are non-refundable once the service has been activated. Please review the listing tier details carefully before purchasing.
No. ACM Africa is a marketplace platform only. All payments for equipment are arranged directly between the buyer and seller. We strongly advise inspecting equipment in person before making any payment.
Account
Click the "Register" link in the navigation bar. Provide your email address and choose a password. You can optionally register as a Dealer during sign-up. Verify your email to activate your account.
Your trust score is calculated based on account activity, completed verifications, and reviews from other users. A higher trust score indicates a more established and reliable member. Trust scores are displayed on your profile and listings.
Yes. Contact us at info@acmafrica.co.za to request account deletion. Your active listings will be removed and your personal data will be deleted in accordance with POPIA, except where retention is required by law.
Click "Forgot Password" on the login page and enter your registered email address. You will receive a password reset link via email. Follow the instructions to set a new password.
Still have questions?
We are here to help. Reach out to our team and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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