Traditional Auctions Are Broken
In traditional online auctions, the person with the fastest connection — not the best bid — often wins. Snipers place bids in the final second, giving other bidders zero time to respond.
This creates anxiety, frustration, and unfair outcomes. Serious bidders who've been following an item for days get frozen out by automated sniping tools.
Three Steps to Fair Bidding
QBC divides every auction into three clear phases. Bid early to qualify, then compete on equal footing.
Open Bidding
Bid to qualify
Anyone can bid during the open phase. Every bid placed before the cutoff qualifies you for the final phase. Set a max bid and the system bids on your behalf.
- Anyone can place bids
- Bid history visible to all
- Set auto-bid with max bid
- Bidding qualifies you for finals
Qualification Cutoff
15 minutes before end
The door closes. No new bidders can enter. Only people who committed a bid during the open phase continue. This is what makes QBC different.
- 15 minutes before auction end
- New bidders locked out
- Only qualified bidders continue
- Strategy rewards commitment
Fair Final Phase
Qualified bidders compete
Qualified bidders compete in the final minutes. If someone raises their bid in the last 2 minutes, a 60-second response window opens — so nobody gets frozen out.
- Last 10 minutes of auction
- Private max bids for strategy
- 60-second response buffer
- Max 2 extensions (bounded end)
Auction Timeline
Here's what a QBC auction looks like from start to finish
Open Phase
Anyone can bid
Cutoff
15 min before end
Final Phase
Qualified only
The Response Buffer
The key to fairness. If a qualified bidder raises their max bid in the last 2 minutes, a 60-second response window opens so other bidders can react. This can happen at most twice — keeping auctions bounded but fair.
Live Example
Try It Yourself
Watch a simulated auction. See how bids flow, how unqualified bidders get locked out, and how the response buffer works.
Live QBC Demo
Watch a simulated auction unfold in real time
Current Bid
$—
Bidders
Live Activity
Press Start to begin the demo
QBC vs Traditional Auctions
See why QBC is the fairer way to auction.
Traditional Auctions
- Snipers win by bidding in the last second
- No time to respond to late bids
- Favors those with the fastest connection
- Automated sniping tools create unfair advantages
- Creates anxiety and frustration for honest bidders
FairClose QBC
- Qualified bidders always get response time
- Early commitment is rewarded with qualification
- Strategy and valuation matter more than speed
- Bounded, predictable end time (max 2 extensions)
- Fair outcomes build trust and repeat participation
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a qualified bidder?
Simply place a bid on an auction before the qualification cutoff (15 minutes before the scheduled end). Any bid — even the minimum — qualifies you for the final phase.
What happens if I miss the cutoff?
If you haven't placed a bid before the cutoff, you won't be able to bid in the final phase. You can still watch the auction and bid on future listings.
Can the auction go on forever?
No. The response buffer can activate at most twice (60 seconds each), so auctions end at most 2 minutes after the scheduled time. This keeps things bounded and predictable.
Does QBC apply to all auctions?
QBC applies to all timed auctions on FairClose. Fixed-price and Buy Now listings are not affected since they don't involve competitive bidding.
Can I set a max bid?
Yes. During both the open and final phases, you can set a maximum bid. The system will automatically bid on your behalf up to your maximum, without revealing it to other bidders.