Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada FAQ

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Applying & Logging In
Bidding
Payment & Shipping
Other Questions & Troubleshooting

How do I apply on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada? Is there any cost to me?

Click here to create an account. Fill in the required fields, include your GST/HST # and click the submit button. We will notify you within one business day if your account is approved. There is no fee for applying or for being an approved buyer on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada.

Can I apply if I am located outside of Canada?

No. At this time Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada is only open to buyers within Canada, excluding buyers located in Quebec.

What is a business # (GST/HST)? Why do I need it?

A Business number (GST/HST), issued by the Canada Revenue Agency is required as proof that you are a valid business operating in Canada. You will be charged sales taxes on all purchases and your Business # may be used for CRA audit purposes.

Why hasn't my account been approved yet?

Please allow one full business day for your application to be approved. If you have not been approved, it is likely because we have not received a valid business number (GST/HST) from you.

How do I bid?

Once you are an approved buyer on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada, you can go to any auction page and enter the highest amount that you are willing to pay. Enter the amount in the white box to the right of "My Maximum Bid". Below, you will see the minimum allowable bid amount. Once the amount has been entered, click the "Bid Now" button. Please note the message near the top of the page, which indicates if your bid is high enough to become the current high bid. If not, you may wish to increase your bid. For each bid you enter, you will receive an email confirmation that your bid was successfully placed.

What condition is the merchandise in? Is it all new?

The condition of merchandise can vary. Please view the auction page for any information provided, or visit our Conditions page for details on each condition type.

Why do auctions extend at the end?

If a bid is placed in the last 5 minutes of an auction, the auction end time will extend for an additional 3 minutes. This is called "Popcorn Bidding" and gives all bidders an equal chance of winning an auction by extending the end time of the auction if a last minute bid is placed. Popcorn Bidding is used to simulate a live auction and prevents other bidders from "sniping" an auction at the last second.

How can I enter my maximum bid without it appearing to other bidders?

All bids placed on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada act as "proxy" bids. You can bid the highest amount you are willing to bid and allow the system to manage the bidding for you. The Current Bid displayed on each auction is equivalent to the second highest bidder's bid, plus one bid increment (CA$25). If the high bidder has placed a higher bid, it will not display. This allows bidders to know that if they place a proxy bid, they could still win the auction for any amount below or at their maximum bid.

Example: If you find an item that you are interested in that is currently at CA$1,000 without any bids and choose to bid CA$5,000, you will be winning the auction at CA$1,000. If another bidder places a bid for CA$1,100, you will be winning the auction at CA$1,125, one increment higher. The system will continue to automatically outbid other bidders on your half, but will never exceed your proxy bid of CA$5,000.

Can I buy merchandise without bidding on it?

All merchandise sold on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada is in auction format only. If you only want to place one bid, you can always place a proxy bid.

Can I cancel my bid?

Please remember that every bid on B-Stock operated marketplaces is a binding contract. You are agreeing to buy the lot at the price you indicate should you ultimately be the high bidder. Bids may not be canceled once submitted. If you accidentally enter a wrong bid amount (for example, you entered CA$1000 instead of CA$100) you can click on the Cancel link within the bid confirmation pop-up window to change your bid amount prior to submission. Changing your mind does not qualify as accidentally entering a wrong bid amount.

Your bids affect how other users bid within the auction and the auction's final selling price. We provide ample opportunity for you to check and double-check your bid before submitting, so requests to cancel bids will most likely result in the suspension of your account.

A record of all bids is kept on file. If a current winning bid is disqualified in an auction for any reason, B-Stock will restore the next highest non-winning bid to winning status. This decision is made at the sole discretion of B-Stock Solutions.

Are the images on the site actual images of the merchandise?

Merchandise may be displayed in its current condition, or with a stock image. If it is unclear in any way, contact us prior to bidding.

Can I inspect the merchandise before bidding?

Merchandise cannot be inspected prior to bidding. All available information is detailed on the auction page.

Why did I lose the auction if I bid the same amount as another bidder?

In order to win an auction, you need to bid a higher amount than the current high bidder. If both you and another buyer placed maximum bids of CA$1,000, but the other bidder placed their bid before yours, they will win the auction.

How do I know if I win?

At the close of the auction, the winning bidder is notified by email. This will also show up as an order on the "Orders" page under "My Dashboard".

How do I pay? How long do I have to pay?

All auctions must be paid by wire transfer, within 2 business days of auction close. Wire instructions will be included in your "Bid Won" email and on your Orders page after winning each auction. If you are unfamiliar with sending a wire, you can do it easily from your bank (usually for a small fee that varies by bank). Many banks allow you to send wires via their website. Ask your bank for details. Wire transfer confirmation may take up to 24 hours.

Please include the flat rate shipping cost displayed on the auction page and your Bid Won notification, in your total payment. B-Stock collects payment on behalf of Costco Wholesale, and we will notify Costco Wholesale once your order has been paid for.

Please contact [email protected] or fill out the "Ask Us" form with any questions regarding payment.

What forms of payment do you accept? Do you accept credit cards?

Wire payment is the only form of payment accepted, as it is both instant and secure. This is the standard practice in the sale of liquidation lots. We do not accept credit cards, personal checks or Western Union for payments.

Can I Pay for Orders Using Account Credits?

Using our B-Stock Balance feature, you can pay for orders with account credit that you may have accrued.

For more information please visit B-Stock Balance.

Can I combine multiple payments together?

You may always combine multiple payments into one wire for auctions won within 2 days of each other, if you are complying with the payment policy. Please be sure to put all order numbers in the memo section of the wire.

What do I do after I have paid?

After your payment has been confirmed, your order will be sent to the Carrier handling your shipment.

The Carrier will contact you to schedule a delivery after they pick up your shipment from the Seller’s facility.

You will receive an “Order Shipped“ notification after the shipment has left the Seller’s facility and the Carrier will contact you to schedule delivery, usually within 2 days of the notification.

You may also track the status of your shipment on your Orders page. View the details of your order to see additional shipment tracking information.

How does shipping work?

For more information about how shipping works, please visit the Shipping page.

Can I pick up the merchandise myself? Can I just pay when I pick it up?

Costco Wholesale will arrange shipping of your merchandise. Buyers can't arrange their own pick ups.

Do I pay you for shipping?

You are responsible for payment of shipping cost for your order. Please include the shipping cost in your payment based on the flat rate shipping cost displayed on the auction page and sent to you in your Bid Won notification.

What if there is a problem with my order?

All merchandise on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada is sold "as is", and all sales are final. Keep this in mind when bidding on auctions, as merchandise cannot be returned.

Am I buying this merchandise directly from Costco Wholesale?

Yes! All merchandise on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada is coming directly from Costco Wholesale. All orders are shipped from their location(s).

Where is the auction merchandise located?

The auctions on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada are primarily located in Vaughan, Ontario and Airdrie, Calgary. Each auction title and description provides the physical location of the merchandise.

How often are there new auctions?

New auctions can be posted at any time during normal business hours. Buyers that are subscribed to the Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada newsletter will receive an email when auctions are opening and closing each day.

How can I update my personal information / change my password?

As an approved buyer, if you are logged into Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada and select "My Account" from the "Account" drop down. You can update all contact information or change the password on your account. You can also click the reset link on the login page if you cannot remember your password.

How do I report a technical problem?

Send us an email to report your issue. Please be as specific as possible and be sure to include any information that would help us determine the cause of your problem, including which web browser you are using (Internet Explorer, Chrome, etc.), the web page you are on, steps to replicate the issue you are having, and other details and screenshots for our review.

I am approved and having trouble logging in. What can I do?

Sometimes your browser can cause login problems. Please try the following fixes:

  1. Clear your browser's cache, then close it and reopen it and try logging in again.
  2. Try logging in with a different browser. We recommend using the latest version of Firefox, Chrome or Safari.

When I try to log in, I see the message "Invalid login or password." Why?

If you receive this notification, then you either have not yet applied on Costco Liquidation Auctions Canada, or you are entering an incorrect password. You can reset your password by clicking the reset link and entering your email address. If you have not applied, then you can click the Create An Account button to begin your application.

When I try to log in, I see the message "Your application is still pending." What do I do?

If you receive this notification, then we have either not yet reviewed your application or you have not submitted us a valid business registration # (GST/HST). If it has been more than 1 business day since you applied, then we are still waiting on the proper information from you.

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