Prep Annual Online Auction FAQs

When will bidding begin, and when does the auction close?

Auction bidding will open on Wednesday, April 29 at 9 am and close on Monday, May 11 at 9:30 pm.
Registered bidders can opt in to receive text notifications when the auction opens, if they have been outbid, or if there are changes to a item they are bidding on. Also, text alerts will be sent as the end of the auction nears.

For information on winning and item pickup, see the details below.

How do I reset my username and password?

If you have participated in the auction over the past few years, you may have an existing profile. Note: There is no need to make an anonymous name. Only you will see your name, and all bids are anonymous to the public!*

If you need to reset your username and password, here are the easy steps:

Click "Sign In" within the campaign site.
Click the blue "Forgot Username or Password" button.
Enter your mobile number used with previous registration.
Click "Send Pin".
Enter the pin sent to you via text.
Update username and/or password.
Click "Save and Sign In".
Once updated and saved, you will land on the auction home page as a registered user and will not need to sign in.

If you need assistance logging in, there is a live chat button to the bottom left of the screen available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Why do I need to put my credit card on file?

Credit cards are required to ensure all pledged proceeds are received by St. John's Prep.

If you did not add a credit card when registering, you will be prompted to do so when you make your first bid or instant buy purchase. To add a credit card, visit the auction site and sign in with your username and password or follow the link you received from GiveSmart when you registered. You can add or remove credit cards attached to your user account at any time.

 
*How do I bid anonymously? 

For your convenience and privacy, all bids are set to be viewed as anonymous to the public. You will see your name on the list of bidders but to all other bidders will appear as anonymous. So no need to make up a nickname to be mysterious! For contact purposes, St. John's Prep will have your name and contact information, but will not be given your credit card information. 

Who can participate in bidding?
The auction will be shared with the whole Prep community. However, feel free to share prepauction26.givesmart.com with friends, neighbors, and family members - and on social media too! Note: Do not share the link you receive from GiveSmart once you register. This is a personal link to you.

What should I know before bidding?

Descriptions provide you a brief overview of the item, expiration dates, restrictions, and venue locations. Every effort has been made to describe the auction items accurately. All items are sold "as is" and all sales are final. Please read all descriptions carefully, and take note of conditions and limitations.

If an item you won is canceled, please follow up with the ticketing service or the donor if you received tickets through them.

How do I browse, bid, and buy?

If you haven't yet, register for mobile bidding! Text "PrepAuction26" to 76278. All bidding will be done electronically on any mobile device or computer. If you are pre-registered, you will receive a text or email when the auction is open for bidding. Simply click on the link, sign in if necessary, and start bidding. 

Important Notes: 

Opening Bid: An opening bid is a starting point. It is usually set at 35-50% of the fair market value of the item. During the preview period, the opening bid reads as the "current bid" even though no bids have yet been placed. Once bidding opens, bid often and bid big to support the Fund for St. John's!

Place a Bid: The system automatically enters the next minimum bid amount. You may choose to enter a bid amount higher than the minimum raise. Click the green "Bid" button to place your bid.

Auto Bid: An auto bid can be placed and set at the maximum amount you are willing to spend. With Auto Bid, the system will place your bid at the minimum amount needed to lead. When you are outbid, the system will bid automatically for you until your maximum is reached or the auction ends. Click the green "Bid" button to place your auto bid. You may change your maximum bid at any time. Note: If two bidders place auto bids on one item, the price will move fast until it reaches one of the top bids. ALSO NOTE: If two auto bids are for the same amount, the one which was set up first (timestamped) will be designated the winner. So set your auto bids early!

Watch this Item: Clicking the star by "Watch this Item" will add the item to the "My Activity" list.

My Activity: Clicking on the "My Activity" button will give you a snapshot of the bids you have placed and the items in which you are interested.

Timestamps are set when the initial bid is placed; for auto bids, this is when a maximum was set. When two bids are placed for the same amount, the bid placed first based on the timestamp takes precedence. 
 

How will I know if I won an item?

Winners will be notified via text after the auction category closes on Monday, May 11 at 9:30 pm.

How do I make my payment for items that I won? 

Immediately following the close of all auction categories, winners will receive a text message with the option to check out and pay for the items they won.  At 4 pm on May 12 (the day after the auction closes) any unpaid items will be automatically charged to each winning bidder's card on file.

How do I retrieve my auction item?

Information about auction item pickup will be emailed the following day. IMPORTANT NOTE: Some Gift Certificates are physical items and NOT digital, so they will need to be picked up. - If you view the online item on the website,  look for the picture that deems it a physical item or a digital item.

However, physical auction items cannot be mailed or shipped. St. John's Prep may schedule pickup times for auction items. Please review your winning alerts carefully. Feel free to contact the Office for Institutional Advancement to arrange a time to pick up your item at St. John's Prep.  Call 978-774-1368 or email jpurisky@stjohnsprep.org to arrange or for more information.

Please be considerate of our donors and contact them immediately.

Once you receive your winning certificates, please contact donors to redeem their prizes in a timely manner.  We encourage redemption of any experience or service prior to the start of the next auction cycle (one year) unless otherwise noted. Contact information will be provided.

The dates and times of "mutually agreed upon" items should be arranged directly between the donor and the buyer, not through St. John's Prep.

Note: Non-digital certificates and gift cards are original documents and cannot be replaced if lost.

Anything else?

St. John's Prep has the option to withdraw or make changes to any item from the auction at any time. If this happens while bidding is taking place, bidders will be alerted.

Please keep in mind that all of the items in our auction were generously donated by families, alumni, staff, and friends of
St. John's Prep. Please respect our donors and do not ask them to duplicate or alter the terms of their donation in any way. 

If you have any questions, please email Jill Purisky at jpurisky@stjohnsprep.org, or call her directly at 978-624-1368.

Thank you for supporting St. John's Prep!

 
Updated 01.21.26