Questions buyers ask
Before you bid
How do sample boxes work?
Check the coffee yourself before you bid: 150 g of green coffee from every lot in the auction, at US$180 per box with shipping included. Boxes are limited, so requests are served first come, first served, with a waitlist once they run out.
uncrack never takes payment. The auction presenter sends your payment request through uncrack, and genuine links always start with uncrack.auction/pay/
Who ships the coffee to me?
Each winning bid settles directly with the origin’s official exporter, who ships your coffee. Shipping terms are agreed with the exporter.
Is there a minimum bid or lot size?
Both vary by auction. Every lot within an auction shares the same starting price, and you’ll see it on the lots once the auction opens. For the Honduras auctions, lots range from 15 kg up to around 120–130 kg.
Too much for a micro-roastery?Team up with other roasters and bid on a lot together. One roaster places bids on behalf of the group.
Can I cancel a bid?
No. Every bid you place goes through a confirmation. Once confirmed, it can’t be cancelled or changed. The one exception is an obvious error, such as a misplaced decimal point: tell the house before the auction closes, and it may cancel the bid if that is fair to other bidders.
Bidding
Who can bid?
Any approved account. House staff can’t bid, and producers and exporters can’t bid in an auction that includes their own lots.
Can I raise my own leading bid?
No. While you hold the highest bid on a lot, the floor won’t take another bid from you. You can still set or raise an auto-bid ceiling.
What happens when two ceilings meet?
The higher ceiling takes the lead, one step above the other ceiling and never above its own. If both are equal, the ceiling set first keeps the lead.
Does an auto-bid extend the close?
Yes. An auto-bid in the final minute extends the close by 5 minutes, just like a bid you place yourself. That includes the first bid placed when you set a ceiling.
How many times can the close extend?
There’s no limit. Each bid in the final minute, yours or an auto-bid, adds 5 minutes, and the auction closes only when a final minute passes with no bids.
What is a reserve?
A minimum price on some lots. Lots with a reserve are marked in the auction’s lot list, but the amount isn’t disclosed. If the highest bid at the close is below it, the lot is not awarded.
Can we win a lot with partners?
Yes. On a lot you’ve bid on, you can list bid partners that only you can see. If you win, they carry over as co-winners, up to 20 names, editable on My Page. They appear with yours in the published results.
What do I pay, and to whom?
Your winning bid per kilogram times the lot’s confirmed weight, paid directly to the exporter. Shipping terms are agreed with the exporter. uncrack adds no buyer’s premium and never holds your funds.
How will I know an auction has opened?
Choose Notify me at open on an upcoming auction. You’ll get a notification, and an email if alerts are on, when bidding opens.
Payment and shipping
Who do I pay, and how?
The official exporter for your lot, by bank transfer to the verified bank details on your invoice. uncrack never receives or holds your payment.
How is the total worked out?
Your winning bid per kilo multiplied by the lot’s confirmed weight. If the weight isn’t confirmed yet, the total shows as pending until it is.
Do buyers pay a commission or premium?
No. There is no buyer’s premium. uncrack’s commission is charged to the exporter, not added to your invoice.
Where do I find my invoice?
On My Page, under Won lots. Open Payment details, then Open invoice. You can print it or save it as a PDF.
What if my invoice shows no bank details?
Bank details appear only once the lot’s exporter is linked and verified. Until then, the invoice will be provided by the presenter or exporter.
Can an exporter change their bank details?
Not on their own. After verification, any change is a request the house reviews and approves. Always pay to the details on your uncrack invoice.
I won together with partners. What changes?
Add up to 20 company or roastery names on My Page and they appear next to yours in the public results. The invoice and payment stay with the winning account.
When are results made public?
When the house confirms them. Unless the house holds an auction’s results back, that happens automatically 24 hours after the close.
How will I know my coffee has shipped?
The status changes to Shipped. When a tracking number is added, you get a notice and the carrier and number appear on your won lot, linked to the carrier’s tracking page when we recognise the carrier.
When can I confirm receipt?
Once the award is marked Shipped. Use Confirm received on My Page and the date is recorded on your won lot.
What if a lot closes below its reserve?
No award is created, so there is nothing to settle. If yours was the highest bid, the lot page shows ‘Highest bid — reserve not met’.
How settlement works →Fees & Charges →Shipping & Settlement →
Still have a question? Email info@eggstone.co