FAQ
All the answers to your questions on CircularPlace.
What types of products can I find on the site?
CircularPlace offers a wide variety of wholesale bulk merchandise catering to the unique needs of professional buyers with products ranging from new, used, shelf-stripping, refurbished, returns and salvage in many different categories.
Our product categories include apparel and accessories, jewelry and watches, computers and networking, consumer electronics, general merchandise, housewares, tools and machinery, and store fixtures.
Most auctions start at 100€ without reserve, leaving the market to decide the final price.
New auctions are added every day.
What are the value-added services offered by CircularPlace?
– Management of the entire logistical process of collection and delivery of goods.
– Follow-up of shipments.
– Assistance in matters relating to international transport agreements.
– Detailed report.
– A dedicated customer service.
– Act as a liaison between buyers and sellers to provide neutral and impartial support in the event of a dispute.
– Minimize your liability by using FOB destination shipping methods rather than FOB origin, thereby protecting the buyer’s right to dispute the goods.
How can I buy on CircularPlace?
Step 1: Register
Registering as a buyer on CircularPlace is free and easy. Just click here to start the registration process.
The integrity of your data is important to us and the information you provide will be verified. If we need additional information, our support team will contact you.
Within 72 hours of verification, you will receive a response confirming your membership.
If you have any questions about our registration or verification process, you can contact us by phone or email.
Step 2: Find goods
Browse the auctions on our site by performing a basic keyword search in the search bar on each page, or by clicking Advanced Search under the search bar for additional search options.
To be notified automatically when items of interest are added to our site, set up a search agent or sign up for email alerts.
Step 3: Bidding
Provided your registration has been verified, you may bid on any auction by entering your maximum bid in the “Bid” box on any auction viewing page.
Please note that a valid credit card and shipping address must be on file in order to bid.
Step 4: Pay for an auction
Depending on the type of auction and the amount of the transaction, we accept payment by PayPal, credit card or bank transfer.
Please note that any transaction over €5,000 must be paid by bank transfer.
Step 5: Receipt of assets
Goods are usually shipped within 4 business days of receiving payment.
Step 6: Managing your account
Visit the My Account section to view transactions, edit your profile, set up your saved searches, add auctions to your watch list, and much more!
How do I change my user ID?
For integrity reasons, we cannot currently change your user ID. Our terms and conditions allow for one account per company.
If you are no longer associated with parties on your original account, you may request a new account and request the closure of the original account.
What should I do if I forget my username and/or password?
Click here to recover your username or reset your password.
You can also email or call us for help resetting your password.
How to find goods?
Easily search for auctions using one of the following methods:
Home page
Some of the best deals are featured in the “Hot Deals” section on the homepage. In addition, by clicking on a category in the header navigation, you can run a broad search and refine your results using our filtered options on the left side.
Search bar
Use the search bar to find auctions by keyword, product category or country.
Advanced search
Under the search box, click on “Advanced” to use the advanced search utility to find auctions that meet a more detailed criteria. Search by seller, auction ID, auction title, price, condition, shipping terms, retail price, and more!
Email alerts
Sign up for email alerts and receive weekly emails and/or occasional special alert emails based on your preferences.
Search tools
The search tools are product searches that you create based on specific criteria you specify. To activate a search tool, log in to My Account and click on the search tools link on the left side. If results match, an email will be sent with the corresponding results twice a week.
What are the different conditions of the products offered at auction?
New
The new assets are in their original packaging and have all the characteristics, qualities and features announced by the manufacturer. Traditionally, these are overstock items that have never been offered for sale in a retail environment or used in any way.
Refurbished
Refurbished assets are used, but have been inspected, tested and returned to full working order. They rarely come in their original packaging and rarely contain documentation or additional parts and/or accessories. Due to their operating history, refurbished goods have visible cosmetic defects and/or imperfections, including but not limited to dents, scratches and signs of aging.
Returns
Returned goods are goods sold to a customer, who physically brings them back to a store or mails them to a specific location. The reasons for the return of a product may have no correlation to its usefulness (i.e. size, color, model, etc.) and, therefore, it may be in good working condition.
However, the majority of returns have some operational and/or aesthetic issues. Depending on a company’s return policy, these items may also reflect a measurable amount of usage. In addition, because most of these items are sent through a reverse supply chain (e.g., from a customer to a centralized store or warehouse), they may show signs of subsequent handling. Time-stamped products, such as food, supplements, car seats and refrigerators, may be expired.
Returns may not be delivered in their original packaging and often do not include the advertised documentation or additional parts and/or accessories. As a result, returns may have a wide range of individual product and packaging conditions that may differ significantly from the original manufacture.
Assets Used
Used goods were previously sold, placed in service and had visible cosmetic defects and imperfections including, but not limited to, dents, scratches and signs of aging. Because these assets are typically removed from a work environment, they are rarely delivered in their original packaging and rarely contain documentation, additional parts and/or accessories. They are minimally tested to meet basic functionality requirements, and therefore may not be in optimal operating condition as they may require additional maintenance and repair.
Recovered Goods
Recovered goods have been identified as defective for reasons of functionality, appearance or both. Salvage goods can generally only be used for parts and are therefore recommended for professional buyers who specialize in repair or resale of parts.
Who supplies the goods found on CircularPlace?
Goods on CircularPlace include products from retailers, manufacturers, public sector organizations, financial institutions, service companies and logistics providers. They are kept at the seller’s premises for pick-up or shipment.
How can I be notified of specific items or product categories for sale?
You can sign up for email alerts or create a search agent to be notified when new merchandise becomes available.
How can I find out where the goods are?
The location of the merchandise can be found on the auction page, under the “Place a bid” box. In addition, this information is also listed in the “Summary” section of the auction page.
How do I make a bid?
Place your bid by indicating your maximum bid amount in the box provided on any auction page. Once you click “Bid”, we will ask you to provide, or select, your shipping address. Also, if no credit card is registered, we will ask you to provide one at that time. Once you have made your selection, the system will display a confirmation screen for the desired offers, allowing you to verify your information before clicking “Confirm Offer”.
Why do I need to provide shipping and credit card information to make an offer?
Place your bid by entering your maximum bid amount in the box provided on any auction page. Once you click “Bid”, we will ask you to provide, or select, your shipping address. Also, if no credit card is registered, we will ask you to provide one at that time. Once you have made your selection, the system will display a confirmation screen for the desired offers, allowing you to verify your information before clicking “Confirm Offer”.
How can I automatically increase my bid? What is a proxy auction?
You can use proxy bidding to automatically bid on your behalf. To use this feature, enter your maximum bid amount (the highest bid you are willing to pay) in the bid box on the auction page. Our system will record your maximum bid amount and place a bid at the current lowest minimum bid. If another bidder outbids your lowest minimum bid, the system will automatically place another bid placing you back as the current winning bidder. The proxy bidding system will continue to place the lowest minimum bids on your behalf until you are the winning bidder or until another bidder places a higher bid than your maximum bid. Proxy bids are completely private and are never displayed to other bidders.
What does "Buy Now" mean?
“Buy Now” is a feature that allows you to instantly purchase an auction at a fixed price rather than placing a bid. This feature is only available for some sealed bids and for regular auctions. If an auction is eligible for a fixed price, you will see the required fixed price listed. Please note that by clicking on the “Buy Now” button and confirming your purchase on the following pages, you will have won the auction and will need to make payment immediately.
What happens if I lose connectivity while bidding?
An auction only goes through once you see a confirmation page. If this page does not appear, your bid is not valid and has not been accepted. If you do not see a confirmation page, please call support immediately.
How do I know if I have been outbid?
You will receive an email indicating that another bidder has outbid your high bid. If the auction is still open, you will have the opportunity to place a new bid or proxy bid by returning to the auction page or logging into My Account. In addition, you can sign up for SMS bid alerts and be notified by SMS when you have been outbid, allowing you to increase your bid easily and quickly.
How can I track the status of my offers?
You can track the status of your offers by going to the My Account page. You will see the auctions you are actively bidding on, the ones you are monitoring and the ones you have won.
How do I know if I won the auction?
If you are the highest bidder at the close of an auction, you will receive an email with payment instructions. Once we have received and processed your payment, we will notify the seller and ask them to prepare the goods for pickup and/or delivery to the delivery address on file.
How do I cancel an auction?
Your auction is a binding contract. Once an offer has been placed, it cannot be cancelled or retracted. If you are the winner and are unable to complete the transaction, please contact us as soon as possible to determine your options.
Why is the auction closing time extended when an auction is about to end?
When a bid is placed in the last 5 minutes of an auction, the closing time is extended by an additional 5 minutes to avoid sniping – the practice of placing a bid just as an auction is about to close. The auction will be extended as many times as necessary until no bid is placed in the last 3 minutes. The automatic extension of the auction is advantageous for buyers because it gives you more time to respond with a new bid, rather than losing the goods to a sniper.
I am a new or first time buyer on CircularPlace and have already won two auctions. Why can’t I bid on other auctions?
To help new buyers have a positive and successful shopping experience, you will be allowed to have a maximum of 2 pending transactions requiring a one-time payment. Once your first two transactions have been paid, you are free to continue bidding until you win an additional bid. As soon as your first transaction is completed (delivered without any further action required by the parties involved), you will be able to bid without restrictions. It is important to note that as a first time buyer of used or salvaged lots, you will only have to pay by PayPal or bank transfer.
What is a quantity difference?
Quantity variance is the percentage of items that are considered to be either over or under the amount listed on the auction; it ranges from 1% to 10% per auction. For example, the batch you are looking at has 100 items with a quantity variance of 2%. You should expect to receive between 98 and 102 items.
What is a sealed bid auction?
Unlike a standard auction, a sealed bid auction does not allow buyers to view the bidding history or the minimum bid required to win the auction. Therefore, to make a competitive bid, buyers must indicate the highest amount they are willing to pay for this auction. The winning bidder is the one who submits the highest bid, as long as it meets the confidential minimum amount set by the seller. That winner will receive an email notification within two business days of the auction closing time with instructions for making payment.
What is a purchase incentive?
A buyer’s premium is a standard auction commission that helps cover the costs associated with product procurement, auction marketing, market management and services such as payment collection, fulfillment, testing, shipping and inspection.
For all transactions, sales tax will be applied to the buyer’s premium in accordance with a mandate we have received from the IRS. Each time you bid or express interest in an auction, you will receive an email about the sales tax. This is the most direct way we have found to be able to inform active buyers of any sales tax changes. Please be sure to check your email regularly, as it is automatically generated by our system whenever you bid or express interest in an auction.
How much does it cost me to buy on CircularPlace?
We do not charge any fees for registering or browsing our marketplace. As the winning bidder, you will pay the final auction price, buyer’s premium, applicable taxes and appropriate shipping charges, which are collected before the goods are shipped from the seller’s location.
How to pay?
Once the auction is over, and if you are the winning bidder, you will receive an email with payment instructions. You can pay for your auctions online by logging into My Account and visiting the Transactions section. Simply click on the “Pay Now” link to complete your transaction.
What are the different payment options?
Bank transfer
PayPal (US and CAD up to $5,000)**
Credit card (Visa, MasterCard and American Express up to $5,000)*
Can I use more than one payment method to pay for a transaction
At the moment we are not able to split the payment method. Please select one of the accepted payment methods to make the full payment.
When is my payment due?
Payment by the winning bidder is due at the close of the auction. This payment includes the total amount of the winning bid, the buyer’s premium and the finalized shipping costs. Payment must be received within 2 business days of the close of the auction to avoid penalties and/or cancellation.
Is there a penalty if I don’t make my payment on time?
Yes, a cancellation fee is applied to all late payments. This fee is 15% of the auction lot price or €300, whichever is greater. If we do not receive the funds or payment in a timely manner, your transaction will be cancelled and your account may be permanently suspended.
Is my payment processing secure?
Yes, all payment information will be stored and processed by our secure server. All data is transferred in an encrypted format, and can only be decrypted by CircularPlace or the processing bank.
Can I pay for multiple transactions at once?
Yes, you can pay for multiple transactions at once using only the bank transfer payment option. Please indicate which transactions are included in the notes or comments section of your transfer and ensure that they are included on the transfer confirmation. If you pay by credit card or PayPal, you must process each transaction individually.
How can I check the status of my payment?
You can check the status of your online payment in My Account. We will also inform you by email as soon as your payment has been validated.
Why can’t I see the credit card information I entered in my auction?
The credit card information you entered prior to placing your bid was for verification purposes only. Credit card information is encrypted for your security. You will not see the credit card number at checkout, as this would compromise the security of your information.
What is your policy on chargebacks and credit card fraud?
CircularPlace offers an efficient dispute resolution process to resolve any dispute filed due to gross misrepresentation. In accordance with our terms and conditions, buyers have agreed to use this dispute resolution process and should not use credit card chargebacks as an alternative means of resolving a dispute. Any buyer attempting to reverse a credit card transaction (i.e. chargebacks), or disputing a payment via PayPal without our express written consent will be IMMEDIATELY banned from CircularPlace.
Why am I being asked to pay sales tax?
Under state sales tax laws, we are required to collect tax from any person or business that purchases products from CircularPlace.
Every time you bid or show interest in an auction, you will receive an email about the sales tax. This is the most efficient way we have found to be able to inform active buyers of any sales tax changes. Don’t forget to check the emails as they are automatically generated by our system every time you bid or show interest in an auction.
If you or your organization is tax-exempt, we must obtain the appropriate documentation to waive sales tax on your transactions.
If the sale is exempt from sales tax due to export or other reasons, the buyer must provide proper documentation prior to the sale. Refunds can be requested after the sale if proper documentation is provided.
The completed documents must be sent by fax. DON’T FORGET TO INDICATE YOUR CIRCULARPLACE USER NAME ON THE FORM OR ON THE FAX COVER SHEET.
Once your tax exception form has been applied to your account, refunds may be backdated for transactions that have not exceeded three days in a complete state.
Who is responsible for shipping and/or shipping costs?
You, the buyer, are responsible for all shipping charges, including duties and taxes for international shipments. CircularPlace makes it easy by putting you in touch with one of our partners. However, you remain responsible for the organization and management of the shipment. You will have the possibility to insure the goods up to 100% of the auction value.
How can I get an estimate of the shipping cost?
You can get an estimate of the shipping cost by clicking on “Get a Shipping Estimate” in the “Shipping Details” section of each auction page. Our online shipping quote tool provides real-time shipping estimates.
Please note: Shipping estimates are subject to change and are for estimation purposes only. These estimates are based on the rates charged by the carriers. We will find and present the best available rates for CircularPlace.
What are the factors that influence the shipping cost estimate?
CircularPlace veut donner à chaque client les meilleurs tarifs de transport possibles. Nous personnalisons le devis pour chaque envoi en utilisant plusieurs transporteurs et méthodes d’expédition. Bien que le prix du carburant fluctue, nous avons également fourni un guide de référence ci-dessous afin de comprendre d’autres raisons pour lesquelles les frais d’expédition sont calculés ou pourquoi ils peuvent varier.
Facteurs susceptibles d’affecter votre tarif d’expédition :
Colis : Le poids de l’envoi et la taille peuvent tous deux avoir une incidence sur le coût de l’envoi.
Palette : Le tarif d’un envoi en chargement partiel est basé sur la distance, la classe, les dimensions et le poids, de sorte que certains envois plus lourds ou devant parcourir une plus grande distance seront plus chers à expédier.
Camion (> 10 palettes) : Le poids de la marchandise n’a pas d’importance puisque les tarifs FTL sont généralement fixes, mais le poids doit être inférieur 18 tonnes
Connaître les détails de l’expédition de votre enchère
Notez l’emplacement, la classification par taille et le poids de la marchandise dans la section Informations sur l’expédition de chaque liste d’enchères. Ces informations vous aideront dans votre processus de décision, en vous aidant à déterminer le coût d’expédition. La plupart des enchères offrent aux utilisateurs la possibilité de connaître la meilleure offre en fonction des informations relatives à la livraison.
Distance
Tant le LTL que le FTL seront soumis à des droits minimums malgré la proximité de l’origine et de la destination. Au fur et à mesure que la distance augmente, le prix augmentera à un rythme décroissant. Les articles qui sont expédiés en dehors de l’Europe auront des tarifs d’expédition plus élevés pour toutes les catégories de taille. Les envois internationaux auront également des coûts de transport au débarquement plus élevés en fonction des frais de douane et des droits applicables.
Mettre à jour vos informations sur l’expédition
Avant d’enchérir, assurez-vous que vos envois seront livrés au bon endroit en vérifiant votre adresse de livraison et vos coordonnées dans l’onglet « Adresse » de la section « Informations personnelles » de votre page « Mon compte ». Le fait d’avoir des informations incorrectes (ex : indiquer que vous avez un quai commercial alors que ce n’est pas le cas) peut entraîner des retards d’expédition et des frais de livraison.
Profitez des économies d’échelle
Réduisez vos coûts unitaires grâce à l’augmentation des volumes et à l’efficacité opérationnelle. L’acheteur peut combiner des colis et des palettes de même origine pour réaliser des économies.
Can I arrange my own shipping?
To determine if you can arrange your own shipping for a particular auction, you should refer to the “Shipping Details” listed on the auction page. Eligible auctions will state “Buyer can arrange shipping” or “Buyer must arrange shipping”.
Before making the payment, you will have the opportunity to click on a button that says “Arrange your own shipping”. This button will only appear on the payment summary when an auction is eligible. By clicking on this button, the shipping costs will be automatically removed, the total amount due will be recalculated and you will be informed of the delivery conditions. Once the transaction is paid, you will receive an email with the necessary forms to sign and return. When you arrange your own shipping, you must sign a shipping waiver form.
Once the payment is made, you will receive the pickup location and contact information. You will then schedule the pickup via our online scheduler. Buyers who arrange their own shipping are encouraged to inspect the merchandise before removing it from the seller’s site. They must also arrange for all transportation costs to be billed directly to them.
How long will it take for me to receive the items?
Depending on the shipping method, shipping may take between 1 and 12 business days.
How can I check the status of my shipment?
The shipping status of your transaction can be viewed online by clicking on the Transactions section of My Account.
How do I know if an auction is available to be shipped overseas?
Auctions marked “Available for Export” may be shipped internationally. Only these auctions can be shipped abroad. The “Available for Export” distinction can be found on the auction display page under “Shipping Details”. Look for a field called “Shipping Restrictions”. All import duties, taxes and fees are the responsibility of the buyer.
For products marked “Can only be shipped to France”, CircularPlace will not be able to prepare international shipping documents. If you wish to ship a product labeled “Can only be shipped to France” to a location outside of France, the goods must be shipped to a forwarder in France. The freight forwarder will be able to help you prepare the product for international shipment and complete the necessary paperwork.
Can you ship to my country?
Not all countries are treated equally under the EAR (Export Administration Regulations) due to differences in national security, non-proliferation or foreign policy considerations. Due to regulations, CircularPlace does not ship to the following countries:
Cuba
Iran
North Korea
Sudan
Syria
What is your policy regarding the transportation of hazardous materials by land and air?
Before listing products on the marketplace, it is the responsibility of the seller to know if the products they are selling are regulated as hazardous materials and if they comply with the regulations required to sell and ship these materials (such as IATA). We have provided a guide for your reference.
Why does my auction arrive via multiple carriers?
Shipments, when there is more than one package, may arrive by multiple carriers with separate tracking numbers that can be found and tracked in your account. The use of multiple carriers keeps the prices on CircularPlace as low as possible.
Are there any guarantees on the merchandise?
No warranty is, or should be, implied beyond what is stated in the auction description.
What should I do when I receive the goods?
When you arrange your own shipment, you or your agents are responsible for counting the units and verifying the purchased goods before they leave the seller’s premises. If the goods are not acceptable for any reason, notify CircularPlace immediately, prior to removal, as claims cannot be made after removal. Otherwise, when you pay to arrange shipping, problems with shipping or delivery should be notified immediately upon receipt. You then have three business days after delivery of the goods to submit an online dispute form for shipping issues or for any incorrect or inaccurate description of the goods list.
Thereafter, the buyer’s right to make a claim expires. Please note that you must log in to your account to view this form.
Can I return the goods after delivery?
This will be determined during the challenge process. For more information on filing a claim, please click here. You must log in to your account to view this form.
Please do not return merchandise until CircularPlace requests it, as this will prevent us from effectively linking your merchandise to your account and to the dispute case. We cannot guarantee a refund until a dispute has been resolved in your favor.
How do I file a dispute?
To file a dispute, please note that you must be logged into your account to view this form. We will review the issue and find a solution within 10 business days. All parties must comply with the dispute resolution provided by CircularPlace. Supporting documentation such as photographs, video clips and/or detailed manifests are an essential part of the claims process, so please include them when submitting the dispute online. See the section entitled “What do I do when I receive the goods” for more information.
Who is responsible if the merchandise I receive is not in the condition indicated in the auction list, or if it has been grossly misrepresented?
If the items have been damaged in transit for shipments arranged by one of our partners, CircularPlace will file a claim with the carrier/shipping service and provide a solution to the buyer. If the items received are not in the condition indicated in the auction details, or if they have been grossly misrepresented, you must file a dispute claim. Once the claim is filed, CircularPlace will investigate the matter and come up with a solution to which both the buyer and the seller must comply. For more information on filing a claim, please click here. You must log in to your account to view this form.
How can I control my transactions?
You can monitor active and completed transactions on your account.
How do I add items to my watch list?
You can add items to your watch list in two different ways:
– Search page: you can select the auctions you are interested in by clicking on “+ Watchlist” in the auction box.
– Auction Viewer Page: Click on the link under the “Place Auction” button to add the specific auction to your watch list.
You can view your watchlist auctions in your account dashboard.
How do I create a search agent?
You can create and manage search agents from your account. Search agents are simply searches that you name and register – the search agent does the rest. It will find auctions that match your unique search criteria and email the auction results directly to you. The results are sent by e-mail twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday. Notifications for all your agents will be sent to you in a single email. You can also launch your search agent at any time on our Search Agent page.
Where can I manage my profile?
You can manage your profile from your account. Here you can change your contact and password settings, or make changes to your information.
Will CircularPlace ever ask me to provide personal information via email?
No. CircularPlace will never ask you to provide your personal information – including usernames, passwords or credit card details – via email. If we need to request personal information, we will contact you by phone, or we will send you an e-mail asking you to contact us by phone.
If you receive an email claiming to be from CircularPlace and asking for personal or sensitive information, do not respond and forward it immediately to support@obydo.fr. The practice of sending such emails is known as “phishing,” which is the fraudulent criminal process of attempting to acquire sensitive information by posing as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. If you believe you have received a phishing email, please contact us immediately at the above address.
Why did I receive a "change confirmation" email?
CircularPlace has already put security measures in place to protect your account. However, to help keep your account secure, we will send you an email if there is a change to your account. The change may be to your password, email address, billing information or address. The email keeps you informed of potentially suspicious activity by notifying you of the change that has been made.
– I acknowledge this change: if you acknowledge this activity as your own, you may disregard the email.
– I do not recognize this change: If you do not recognize this change, we recommend that you change your password as soon as possible.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us via Live Chat, phone or email.
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