🛡 Our Standards, Your Responsibility

The trust of our customers is our most valuable asset. Our values aren’t just words on a page—they guide our actions every single day.

Affiliates who compromise those values or damage our reputation put the integrity of the entire network at risk—a responsibility we take seriously. That’s why these policies are non-negotiable. They exist to uphold a higher standard and ensure a fair, consistent experience for our entire community of buyers, sellers, and affiliates.

Your feedback is important. If you have questions about these policies or would like to discuss anything, reach out to support@k-bid.com.

💡 Our Core Values

Integrity We believe acting ethically and with integrity are the foundation for building trust, confidence and relationships that are necessary for our long term success.
Innovation We believe in the importance of continually challenging ourselves to improve and exceed expectations.
Partnership We believe all our success is predicated on developing and nurturing respectful relationships.
Service We believe our role is to provide users with the tools and knowledge necessary for an effective and fulfilling experience.
Transparency We believe open and honest communication is essential to building trust among our partners.

🤝 Understanding the Affiliate Relationship

As a K-BID affiliate, you are an independent business owner. You operate your own business using K-BID’s platform and tools. You are responsible for all aspects of your business, including:

Informing consignors, bidders, and vendors that you are not an agent of K-BID, but an independent auction company.
Complying with all applicable laws (local, state, federal) for your business and the assets sold.
Maintaining and insuring your auction site.
Establishing secure supply lines and creating thorough consignment contracts.
Writing accurate, honest descriptions, and providing clear, quality photos.
Managing operations on inspection and removal days.
Creating a responsive communication system to handle inquiries and resolve issues.
Handling funds distribution: paying consignors, submitting state tax, and remitting BP to K-BID.
Protecting K-BID's reputation by acting with integrity in all transactions.

🔍 Integrity in Action

Reputation matters—and it’s fragile. Affiliates must proactively protect both their reputation and K-BID’s.

A single misleading auction, lack of payment to a consignor, or repeated buyer complaints can damage trust quickly. We rely on you to operate with honesty and professionalism in every transaction.

If an affiliate's integrity is in question—due to repeated issues, dishonesty, or non-payment—K-BID may immediately terminate the relationship.

📋 Listing Standards: Descriptions & Photos

Why It Matters

Clear, accurate descriptions and quality photos help bidders make informed decisions, increase bidding confidence, and minimize post-auction issues.

Your Responsibility

Affiliates are required to:

Write detailed, honest descriptions for every lot.
Include all known defects, damage, or missing parts.
Upload clear, well-lit photos that accurately represent the item.
Avoid misleading wording or “sales language”—focus on facts.

Many bidders will not attend inspection. Your photos and descriptions must speak for the item.

📣 Full Disclosure Policy

All items listed on K-BID must meet full disclosure standards. Bidders assume that items are complete, undamaged, and in good working order, unless clearly stated otherwise.

You must clearly disclose:

Any missing parts
Any visible or functional damage
Any malfunctions
Any known limitations or abnormalities

“As-Is, Where-Is”

This phrase only applies after a lot has been thoroughly described. If key information is missing, the winning bidder may refuse the item without penalty, and it may become a No Sale.

📷 Stock Photo Policy

Affiliates must use actual photos of each lot. Stock photos may only be used when:

The item is brand new, factory-sealed, unopened, and undamaged.
A stock photo is shown in addition to actual photos, not instead of.

Exception:

If a disassembled item cannot reasonably be assembled for photography (e.g. too large or complex), a stock photo may be used with these conditions:

The listing must clearly state that a stock photo is used.
All differences between the stock image and actual item must be disclosed.
Include real photos showing any damage, missing pieces, or open packaging.

🌐 Exclusive Use of K-BID Platform

Affiliates must post all online auctions exclusively on K-BID (with the exception of eBay for individual items).

You may promote your auctions on platforms like Craigslist or social media, as long as all traffic is directed back to K-BID to place bids.

All items listed on K-BID must remain exclusively for sale on K-BID for the duration of the auction.

🚫 Affiliate & Seller Bidding

Affiliates are strictly prohibited from bidding on their own auctions.
Sellers may not bid on their own items. Your consignment contracts must clearly state this.

Violations may result in:

Immediate auction termination
Permanent ban for the seller
Fines or penalties for the affiliate

Affiliates are responsible for monitoring consignor behavior. Contact K-BID immediately if suspicious bidding activity is observed.

📝 Consignment Contracts

Every auction must be backed by a written consignment contract between you (the affiliate) and the seller. This is essential to protect your business, ensure compliance with K-BID policies, and hold sellers accountable.

Required Clauses:

The seller is contracting with you, an independent business using K-BID as the sales venue.
The assets listed cannot be sold elsewhere once the auction is published on K-BID.
The seller cannot remove items once the auction is live.
The assets will sell to the highest bidder, unless a disclosed and programmed reserve was set prior to publishing.
“As-is, Where-is” only applies if item descriptions and photos are complete and accurate.
The seller is prohibited from bidding on their own items. If they do:
- The item or auction may be immediately terminated.
- The seller may be banned from K-BID.
- A 10% penalty will be charged on any winning bid placed by the seller.
Reserves must be disclosed in advance and entered in the system before the auction is published.
No Sale items due to unmet reserves can only be reposted once with a reserve. After that, they must be sold without a reserve.

💰 Buyer’s Premium

All items sold on K-BID are subject to a 15% Buyer’s Premium, which is automatically added to each bidder’s invoice.

Bid Price	Buyer’s Premium	Affiliate Retains	BP Cap (Per Item)
Any Amount	15%	5%	$1,500

K-BID receives 10% of the BP.
A $100 minimum BP is required per auction.
BP is billed to affiliates twice monthly and paid via BillandPay.com.
This fee is non-negotiable.

💳 Online Credit Card Payments

Affiliates must allow online credit card payments for invoices up to $3,000.
(K-BID recommends allowing payments up to $5,000 unless otherwise limited by your payment processor.)

Important:

For restricted items (e.g., firearms, ammunition, foreign currency), you may disable online payment.
Surcharging is not allowed on invoices under $5,000.
Failure to offer online payments up to $3,000 or applying convenience fees will result in forfeiting your 5% share of the BP—you’ll owe the full 15% to K-BID.

🏠 Real Estate Auctions

Affiliates are permitted to auction real estate on K-BID, but must take full responsibility for legal compliance.

K-BID acts only as the venue. We are not a party to the transaction.

Affiliate Requirements:

Understand and follow all real estate laws in your state.
Consult a licensed real estate professional if you are not licensed yourself. A licensed broker or real estate attorney,
Include a disclaimer in all contracts (seller, buyer, broker, closing agent) stating that K-BID is not involved in the transaction beyond listing the property.
Listings may run for a maximum of 4 weeks.

Fees:

$250 Non-Refundable Posting Fee (per property).
If sold, K-BID collects a 2% Buyer’s Premium. The posting fee is deducted from this amount.

🔫 Firearms Policy

All firearms listed on K-BID must be sold by a licensed FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealer.

Requirements:

The FFL’s name and license number must be included in the auction terms.
Affiliates without an FFL may not handle firearms in any way (no possession, transport, or payment processing).

K-BID holds an FFL license under the name The Arms Gallery. You may refer sellers to us, and depending on value, you may receive a referral fee. To qualify, notify support@k-bid.com in writing with the seller’s name.

🚗 Titled & Registered Assets

Selling vehicles or other titled/registered assets requires extra care and compliance. Each affiliate is responsible for following all state-specific regulations and K-BID procedures.

Vehicles Sold in Minnesota

Auctions are considered a commercial sale in MN and must be sold under an active Auto Dealer.

K-BID holds a Minnesota Auto Auction Dealer’s License.
Affiliates with a MN dealer license may act as their own Dealer of Record (DOR).
Affiliates without a MN dealer license must use a DOR (can be K-BID or someone else) and should list the dealer # in the auction terms.

Vehicles Sold Outside of Minnesota

Affiliates must understand and follow the rules in their own state.
Follow the formatting and process outlined in the “Affiliate DOR and Out of State Affiliates” documentation.

🛑 Prohibited & Restricted Assets

Affiliates are responsible for knowing what can and cannot be sold—both legally and per K-BID policy.

🔒 Illegal to Sell (Examples):

Drop-down cribs
Lawn darts
Alcohol
USPS property
Migratory waterfowl mounts

⚠️ Restricted (License or Permission Required):

Firearms
Ammunition
Gambling devices
Livestock
Used mattresses

❌ K-BID “Do Not Sell” List:

Distasteful/offensive items (e.g., Nazi memorabilia, risqué images, Black Americana)
Pets and non-livestock animals
Uninspected pallet lots (i.e., shrink-wrapped truckloads of returns/damaged goods from suppliers)

You may break down pallet lots and sell usable items individually, provided each item is inspected and disclosed appropriately.

📦 Inspection & Removal Days

Every auction must include at least one inspection day to allow bidders to view items in person.

Bidders must be able to see and touch the lots they’re considering.
Keep the inspection process simple and accessible.
An exception applies only to brand-new, factory-sealed items—if the buyer may inspect at pickup and refuse if the item is not as described.

Removal Days:

Must be clearly listed in the auction terms.
Affiliates must staff and manage all aspects of buyer pickup.

📉 Reserve & No Sale Fees

Selling with reserves is discouraged—but allowed with limitations.

Key Rules:

Reserves must be:
- Disclosed to the seller
- Programmed into the system prior to publishing
Starting bids over $5.00 are considered reserves and are subject to the same rules.
Reserves under $100 are not allowed.
Reserves under $3,000 are discouraged as they are generally ineffective.

Reposting Unsold Items:

Items may be reposted once with a reserve.
If not sold again, the item can only be reposted without a reserve.

Reserve Not Met (RNM) Fee:

$25 per item with an unmet reserve, including those relisted with lower reserves.
RNM fees are billed monthly.

🟡 ON HOLD Status

If concerns arise about an affiliate’s compliance or conduct, K-BID may place their account ON HOLD.

While ON HOLD:

No new auctions may be posted.
Affiliate must resolve the issue before auctions can resume.

Reasons You May Be Placed ON HOLD:

Failure to pay consignors within 2 weeks
Not closing invoices within 10 days
Late payments or missing documents due to K-BID
Policy violations or repeated buyer complaints

🔚 Affiliate Termination

The affiliate relationship is at-will and can be terminated by either party at any time, for any reason.

If terminated:

All payments and paperwork for completed auctions are due immediately.
K-BID will not tolerate behavior that damages its reputation, creates risk, or violates policies.

This covers a majority of our policies, however, please view this page for a complete list: Policy Overview