# 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.

### 🎯 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

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### 🛠️ 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**

<figure><img src="https://272152876-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F4mjuzufW4nQwe72Yww3t%2Fuploads%2FBoVlBpgK8Ll7QMTAHFmn%2F2026-02-05_15-19-01.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e6e1b40f-6aa7-4b50-a0f0-34d496e8429a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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### 🧪 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

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### 🔄 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

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### &#x20;⚙️ **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:

* ❌ Cannot pay anymore, or
* ✅ 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. &#x20;Open the app > go to **Settings** > **Bids > Winner**&#x20;
2. Tick on **Allowed to process payment when timeout** checkbox
3. Click **Save**

<figure><img src="https://272152876-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F4mjuzufW4nQwe72Yww3t%2Fuploads%2FlGPJqfR1ZVOPDhmXRvgL%2F2026-02-05_15-21-02.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5856c199-64ef-4b50-971c-3ffcfb69d6fc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**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)

👉 Best for high-demand or time-sensitive auctions.

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**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

👉 Useful for custom orders or manual follow-up situations.

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**🙋 Still need support?**

If you still need help, please feel free to contact us at <hi@tipo.io>. We’ll be happy to assist you further.