How online pigeon auctions work: maximum bids, soft close and fees

An online pigeon auction works much like a sale in a hall, with a few differences that make it fairer and easier. Here is how bidding works on LoftHunter, in plain language.

Lots and closing times

Each bird is a lot with its own closing time. In an auction the lots close one after the other, usually a few minutes apart, so you can follow the birds you want one by one. The countdown on each lot always shows the official closing time.

Your maximum bid

Instead of clicking again every time someone bids, you enter the most you are willing to pay. The site then bids for you, one step above the next highest bidder, up to your maximum. If nobody else bids, you may win the bird at the starting price.

Nobody, not even the seller, sees your maximum. If two people enter the same maximum, the one who entered it first leads.

Bid steps

Bids go up in fixed steps that depend on the current price: small steps on cheaper birds and bigger steps as the price climbs. The lot page always shows the lowest bid you can place next.

Soft close: no sniping

A bid in the final minutes of a lot adds a little extra time to that lot, and this repeats for every late bid. Nobody can win a bird by bidding in the very last second: everyone gets a fair chance to answer. The exact minutes are shown on each auction.

Outbid alerts

The moment someone goes past your maximum, we email you, and the hammer on your watchlist turns red. You can then decide whether to raise your maximum.

Winning, fees and paying

• When the lot closes, the highest bidder wins and the invoice is created straight away.
• The invoice is the winning bid plus a fixed buyer's fee of R150 per bird.
• Pay by EFT within 48 hours, using the reference on the invoice. No card details are ever entered on the website.
• After payment clears, the bird is collected or couriered nationwide, as arranged with us.

Reserve prices

A seller may set a hidden reserve. If the bidding does not reach it, the bird is not sold. The amount is never shown. If your maximum bid reaches the reserve, the price goes straight up to the reserve.

The full rules are on the Auction rules page. Ready to bid? See the racing pigeons for sale now.