# Set payment time for winners
After an auction ends, the winner needs time to complete payment.\
The **payment time for winners** setting lets you control how long the winner has to pay before their winning rights expire.
This helps you keep auctions fair and prevent delays.
### ๐ฏ Why set a payment time?
Setting a payment time helps you:
* Prevent winners from holding the item without paying
* Automatically move to the next bidder if payment is not completed
* Speed up order completion after auctions end
* Reduce manual follow-ups with winners
***
### ๐ ๏ธ Step-by-step: Set payment time for winners
1. Open the app > go to **Settings** > **General**
2. Scroll down to **Bids > Winner**
3. Find **Time limit for the winner to process the payment >** Enter a number (for example: `24`)
Select the time unit:
* Hours
* Days
4. Click **Save**
***
### ๐งช Examples
#### Example 1: 24-hour payment window
**Settings:**
* Payment time: **24 hours**
**Result:**
* Winner has 24 hours to complete checkout
* If unpaid after 24 hours, the winner loses checkout access
#### Example 2: Short payment window (high-demand items)
**Settings:**
* Payment time: **2 hours**
**Result:**
* Fast checkout required
* Auction moves quickly to the next winner if unpaid
***
### ๐ Combine with auto-assign next winner
For best results, use this setting together with:
**Auto-assign next winner if payment is not completed**
This ensures:
* Auctions continue smoothly
* The item is offered to the next highest bidder automatically
* No manual admin action is needed
***
### โ๏ธ **Allowed to process payment when timeout**
#### What this option does
When the payment time for the winner has expired, this setting decides whether the winner:
* โ Cannot pay anymore, or
* โ Is still allowed to complete payment
| Setting | Result |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Disabled** (recommended) | Winner loses checkout access after timeout |
| **Enabled** | Winner can still complete payment even after timeout |
#### **How to set**
1. Open the app > go to **Settings** > **Bids > Winner**
2. Tick on **Allowed to process payment when timeout** checkbox
3. Click **Save**
**Note**: This option is *not recommended* when using Auto-assign winner feature.\
**Why?**
* When Auto-Assign is enabled, the system must clearly decide who the final winner is.
* Allowing the first winner to still pay *after* their timeout creates conflicts:
* The first winner can still try to pay.
* But the system may already have assigned the item to the second winner.
* This may result in double orders, overselling, or confusion about who the actual winner is.
Recommended Setup: If you enable **Auto-assign**, please leave **Allowed to process payment when timeout** turned OFF for the safest and most consistent auction flow.
#### Example scenarios
**Example 1: Option disabled (recommended)**
**Settings:**
* Payment time: **24 hours**
* Allowed to process payment when timeout: **OFF**
**Result:**
* Winner has 24 hours to pay
* After 24 hours:
* Checkout access is removed
* Next winner can be assigned (if enabled)
๐ Best for high-demand or time-sensitive auctions.
***
**Example 2: Option enabled**
**Settings:**
* Payment time: **24 hours**
* Allowed to process payment when timeout: **ON**
**Result:**
* Winner can still pay after 24 hours
* Auction does not automatically move on
* More flexibility for the winner
๐ Useful for custom orders or manual follow-up situations.
***
**๐ Still need support?**
If you still need help, please feel free to contact us at . Weโll be happy to assist you further.
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.tipo.io/tipo-auction/winner-and-checkout-flow/set-payment-time-for-winners.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.