Community Standards

The spirit of AuctionPage

AuctionPage exists to help nonprofits raise money through community-driven auctions. Every sale on this platform benefits a cause. That shared purpose depends on every participant — sellers, bidders, and NPOs — acting honestly and treating each other with respect.

These standards define what is acceptable on the platform. They apply to everyone, at all times. When in doubt, ask yourself: would this help or hurt the nonprofit this sale is meant to benefit?

Acceptable items

AuctionPage is a general-purpose marketplace with a charitable focus. Items listed for auction should be things a reasonable community would be proud to sell for a good cause.

Prohibited items in detail

Counterfeit goods. Items that falsely claim to be a brand they are not — including replica handbags, fake autographs, and bootleg media — are strictly prohibited. Selling counterfeits is illegal and harms both legitimate sellers and the nonprofits who depend on this platform's reputation.

Weapons. Firearms (including parts and kits), ammunition, switchblades, and items primarily designed to cause injury are not permitted. Decorative, historical, or decommissioned items that cannot be made functional may be listed with clear disclosure.

Hate items. Any item whose primary purpose is to promote hatred, discrimination, or violence against a person or group based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin is prohibited.

Regulated items. Some items are legal to own but require licenses or permits to sell (certain knives, pepper spray, etc.). Sellers are responsible for knowing and following all applicable laws in their jurisdiction and the buyer's jurisdiction.

Listing standards

An honest listing builds trust and gets better results. All listings must meet these standards:

• Accurate title and description. Describe the item honestly, including its condition (new, used, flaws, repairs). Do not use misleading keywords to attract bids.
• Real photos. Use actual photos of the item being sold. Stock photos are acceptable only for brand-new, sealed items — and must be clearly labeled as such.
• Complete condition disclosure. Disclose all known defects, wear, missing parts, or damage. "As-is" listings are fine; hidden defects are not.
• Accurate shipping information. State whether you will ship, where you will ship to, and provide a pickup zip code for local-only items.
• One listing per item. Do not list the same item multiple times simultaneously.
• No external links. Listings may not contain links to other websites, payment methods, or contact information intended to circumvent the platform.

Bidding conduct

Bidding is a commitment. Place bids only when you intend to pay if you win.

• No shill bidding. You may not bid on your own listings through another account, ask friends or family to inflate bids, or coordinate with others to manipulate auction prices.
• No bid manipulation. You may not place and retract bids to probe a seller's reserve price, or use any automated tool to gain an unfair advantage.
• No interference. You may not contact other bidders to discourage them from bidding or to coordinate bids.
• Honor your bids. Winning a bid obligates you to complete the purchase. Repeated non-payment will result in account suspension.

Completing transactions

Sellers must ship within 5 business days of receiving payment and provide tracking information. Items must match the listing description. If something changes (item damaged, no longer available), contact the buyer and EPage immediately.

Buyers must pay within 48 hours of winning. Confirm receipt promptly — seller payout is held until you do, or until 7 days after confirmed delivery. Do not falsely claim non-receipt to delay payment to a seller.

Communication. Keep transaction-related communication within the AuctionPage platform. Do not ask buyers or sellers to move transactions off-platform or to pay through alternative methods.

Disputes. If a transaction goes wrong, contact us at epage@epage.com within 5 days of delivery. We will mediate in good faith.

Messaging conduct

AuctionPage provides a messaging system so buyers, sellers, and NPOs can communicate about transactions. Use it honestly and respectfully.

• Stay on topic. Messages should relate to a specific listing, auction, or transaction. Do not use the messaging system to send unsolicited promotions, spam, or content unrelated to the platform.
• No harassment. Threatening, intimidating, insulting, or repeatedly contacting a user who has asked you to stop are all prohibited. This includes retaliatory messages after a dispute or negative feedback.
• No off-platform solicitation. Do not use messages to ask buyers or sellers to complete a transaction outside of AuctionPage, to pay through alternative methods, or to share contact information for the purpose of circumventing the platform.
• No personal information requests. Do not ask other users for sensitive personal data — phone numbers, home addresses, or financial information — beyond what AuctionPage provides for shipping purposes.
• Accurate identity. Do not impersonate EPage staff, another user, or any organization in your messages.
• Messages may be reviewed. EPage may access and review messages to resolve disputes, investigate reported violations, and enforce these Community Standards. By using the platform you consent to this review.

NPO conduct

Registered nonprofits carry additional responsibility as trusted participants in the ecosystem.

• NPOs must maintain accurate registration information and notify EPage of any change in legal status.
• NPOs may not misrepresent their mission or use proceeds for purposes inconsistent with their stated charitable activities.
• NPO staff and volunteers who use the platform are bound by these Community Standards like any other user.
• NPOs should not pressure sellers into listing items or into selecting a higher donation percentage than the seller chooses voluntarily.

Reporting violations

If you see a listing, bid, or user behavior that appears to violate these standards, please report it to us:

• Email epage@epage.com with the listing URL or username and a brief description of the concern
• We review all reports and respond within 2 business days
• Reports are confidential — we do not disclose who filed them

Enforcement

EPage reviews violations on a case-by-case basis. Consequences depend on severity, history, and context:

• Warning First-time or minor violations — listing removed or edited; user notified with explanation.
• Suspension Repeated minor violations or a single serious violation — account temporarily suspended, pending review. Active auctions may be cancelled.
• Termination Fraud, shill bidding, sale of prohibited items, or any pattern of bad-faith conduct — permanent account ban. Funds may be withheld pending resolution of open disputes.
• Legal referral Sale of counterfeit goods, stolen property, or other clearly illegal activity — reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities.

EPage's decisions on enforcement are final. If you believe an action was taken in error, contact us at epage@epage.com and we will review in good faith.