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Complete Guide to Using Bharath Surplus: Auctions, Want Ads & More

Learn how to buy and sell effectively on Bharath Surplus - from creating listings and bidding on auctions to posting want ads and communicating with buyers and sellers.

Rani
Author
October 12, 2025
7 min read
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Complete Guide to Using Bharath Surplus

Welcome to Bharath Surplus - your online marketplace for auctions and buy requests! This guide will help you understand all the features available and how to use them effectively.

Table of Contents

  • [What is Bharath Surplus?](#what-is-bharath-surplus)

  • [Getting Started](#getting-started)

  • [Selling Items (Listings)](#selling-items)

  • [Buying Items (Bidding)](#buying-items)

  • [Want Ads (Buy Requests)](#want-ads)

  • [Communication & Chat](#communication)

  • [Premium Features](#premium-features)

  • [Safety Tips](#safety-tips)

    • ---

    What is Bharath Surplus?

    Bharath Surplus is an online auction and marketplace platform where:

  • Sellers can list items for auction or set a "Buy Now" price

  • Buyers can bid on items or purchase directly

  • Buyers can post "Want Ads" describing what they're looking for

  • Sellers can respond to want ads with relevant items

  • Everyone can communicate through our built-in chat system

    • Important: All payments and transactions happen directly between buyers and sellers. Bharath Surplus provides the platform to connect, but you arrange payment methods (UPI, bank transfer, cash on delivery, etc.) yourselves.

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    Getting Started

    Create an Account

  • Click "Sign Up" in the navigation menu

  • Enter your email, username, and password

  • Verify your email address

  • Complete your profile (add avatar, bio, location)

    • Browse Listings

  • Visit the home page to see active auctions

  • Use the search bar to find specific items

  • Filter by category, price range, or location

  • Sort by newest, ending soon, or price

    • ---

    Selling Items (Listings)

    Create a Listing

  • Click "List an Item" in the navigation

  • Fill in the required details:

    • - Title: Clear, descriptive name
    - Description: Detailed information about the item
    - Category: Choose the most relevant category
    - Starting Price: Minimum bid amount
    - Buy Now Price (optional): Set a fixed price for instant purchase
    - Auction Duration: 1-7 days
    - Images: Upload clear photos (up to 10 images)
    - Location: Where the item is located

  • Add category-specific details (e.g., for vehicles: make, model, year; for electronics: brand, condition)

  • Review and submit for approval

    • Listing Status

    Your listing goes through these stages:

  • Pending: Under review by our team

  • Scheduled: Approved, waiting for start time

  • Live: Active and accepting bids

  • Ended: Auction has finished

  • Sold: Item has been purchased

    • Managing Listings

    Visit "My Listings" to:

  • View all your listings

  • See current bids on each item

  • Track which listings have sold

  • Edit listings (only before bids are placed)

  • Cancel listings if needed

    • ---

    Buying Items (Bidding)

    How Bidding Works

  • Browse: Find an item you're interested in

  • Bid: Enter your bid amount (must be higher than current bid + bid increment)

  • Wait: Monitor the auction - you'll be notified if someone outbids you

  • Win: If you're the highest bidder when the auction ends, you win!

    • Buy Now Option

    Some listings have a "Buy Now" price:

  • Click "Buy Now" to purchase immediately

  • The auction ends automatically

  • No need to wait or outbid others

    • After Winning

    When you win an auction:

  • You'll receive an email notification

  • An order is automatically created

  • Go to "My Orders" to view order details

  • Use the built-in order chat to:

    • - Provide your shipping address
    - Arrange payment method (UPI, bank transfer, COD, etc.)
    - Track shipping status
    - Confirm delivery

    Payment Methods

    Bharath Surplus does not process payments. Common methods buyers and sellers use:

  • UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.)

  • Bank Transfer / NEFT / IMPS

  • Cash on Delivery (COD)

  • In-person cash (for local pickups)

    • Discuss and agree on the payment method in the order chat.

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    Want Ads (Buy Requests)

    What are Want Ads?

    Want Ads let buyers post what they're looking for. Sellers can then respond with relevant items.

    Create a Want Ad

  • Click "Create Want Ad" or visit /want-ads/create

  • Fill in details:

    • - Title: What you're looking for
    - Description: Detailed requirements
    - Category: Choose relevant category
    - Max Price: Your budget
    - Min Price (optional): Price range lower bound
    - Condition Preference: New, Like New, Good, Fair, or Any
    - Location: Where you're located
    - Images (optional): Reference images

  • Set urgency and expiration (default: 30 days)

  • Submit

    • Want Ad Limits

  • Basic Users: 1 active want ad

  • Premium Users: 10 active want ads

  • Pro Users: 50 active want ads

  • Enterprise Users: Unlimited want ads

    • Responding to Want Ads

    As a seller, you can respond to want ads:

  • Browse want ads at /want-ads

  • Find relevant want ads for items you have

  • Click "Respond" and provide:

    • - Your offered price
    - Message describing your item
    - Link to your listing (if applicable)

  • Wait for buyer to accept or decline

    • Managing Your Want Ad

    When sellers respond:

  • You'll see all responses on your want ad page

  • Review each response carefully

  • Accept the best offer - this opens a chat with that seller

  • Decline unwanted responses

  • Once you find what you need, click "Mark as Fulfilled"

    • ---

    Communication & Chat

    Three Types of Chat

    Bharath Surplus has three chat systems:

    #### 1. Listing Chat (Pre-Order)

  • Ask questions about a listing before bidding

  • Visible to everyone viewing the listing

  • Use for general inquiries

    • #### 2. Order Chat (Post-Order)

  • Private chat between buyer and seller

  • Automatically created when an auction ends

  • Use to arrange:

    • - Payment method
    - Shipping address
    - Delivery details
    - Any issues or questions

    #### 3. Want Ad Chat (After Acceptance)

  • Opens when buyer accepts a seller's response

  • Private chat between buyer and respondent

  • Use to finalize the transaction

    • Chat Features

  • Real-time messaging: Instant delivery

  • Image uploads: Share photos in chat

  • Message notifications: Get notified of new messages

  • Message history: Full conversation preserved

  • Mobile-friendly: Works on all devices

    • Best Practices

  • Be polite and professional

  • Respond promptly to messages

  • Share payment/shipping details in chat

  • Keep all communication within the platform (safer)

  • Don't share personal phone numbers unless necessary

    • ---

    Premium Features

    Upgrade to Premium, Pro, or Enterprise for additional features:

    Featured Listings

  • Your listing appears at the top of search results

  • More visibility = more bids

  • Duration: 7 days

  • Available for both listings and want ads

    • Boosted Listings

  • Increased visibility in search

  • Higher ranking in browse pages

  • Duration: 3 days

  • Can be applied multiple times

    • Premium Analytics

  • View detailed statistics:

    • - Total views on your listings
    - Number of bids received
    - Conversion rates
    - Most viewed listings
    - Monthly trends

    Bulk Upload

  • Upload multiple listings via CSV

  • Save time for professional sellers

  • Pre-built templates for each category

  • Pro plan: 100 items per upload

  • Enterprise plan: 500 items per upload

    • Higher Limits

    Basic Plan (Free):

  • 5 active listings

  • 1 want ad

  • Basic features

    • Premium Plan (₹299/month):

  • 50 active listings

  • 10 want ads

  • Featured listings

  • Analytics

    • Pro Plan (₹899/month):

  • 200 active listings

  • 50 want ads

  • Bulk upload (100 items)

  • Priority support

    • Enterprise Plan (₹2499/month):

  • Unlimited listings

  • Unlimited want ads

  • Bulk upload (500 items)

  • Dedicated support

    • How to Upgrade

  • Visit the "Plans" page

  • Choose your plan

  • Click "Request Upgrade"

  • Enter your phone number

  • Admin will contact you for payment

  • After payment confirmation, features activate immediately

    • ---

    Safety Tips

    For Buyers

    ✅ DO:

  • Check seller ratings and reviews

  • Ask questions before bidding

  • Use the order chat for all communication

  • Inspect items upon delivery (if COD)

  • Leave a review after transaction

    • ❌ DON'T:

  • Send payment before confirming item availability

  • Share sensitive personal information

  • Make payment outside the platform discussion

  • Fall for deals that seem too good to be true

    • For Sellers

    ✅ DO:

  • Provide accurate item descriptions

  • Upload clear, honest photos

  • Respond to messages promptly

  • Ship items promptly after payment

  • Keep proof of shipment/delivery

    • ❌ DON'T:

  • Accept payment from untrusted sources

  • Ship before payment confirmation

  • Share bank login details

  • Inflate prices or mislead buyers

    • General Safety

  • Verify Identity: Check user profiles, ratings, and reviews

  • Meet in Public: For local pickups, meet in safe, public places

  • Document Everything: Keep records of conversations and transactions

  • Report Issues: Use the "Report" feature for suspicious activity

  • Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong, it probably is

    • ---

    Getting Help

    Contact Support

  • Email: support@bharatsurplus.com

  • Help Center: Visit the "Help" page for FAQs

  • Report Issues: Use the "Contact" page

    • Community Guidelines

  • Be respectful and honest

  • Follow all local laws

  • Don't list prohibited items

  • Honor your commitments

  • Leave honest reviews

    • ---

    Start Your Journey Today!

    Whether you're looking to sell items you no longer need or searching for great deals, Bharath Surplus makes it easy.

    Ready to get started?

  • Sellers: [List Your First Item](#)

  • Buyers: [Browse Auctions](#)

  • Looking for Something?: [Create a Want Ad](#)

    • Happy buying and selling on Bharath Surplus! 🎉

    Tags

    #auctions#marketplace#buying guide#selling guide#want ads#online auctions#bharath surplus