SMS Consent & Opt-In Policy

Overview

BidWut is an online auction platform where users bid on wholesale pallets, customer returns, overstock, and salvage items. We use SMS notifications to keep bidders informed about their auction activity. SMS messaging is entirely opt-in and users maintain full control over their notification preferences at all times.

Step 1: Voluntary Phone Verification

Users are never required to provide a phone number. To receive SMS notifications, users must voluntarily:

1. Navigate to their Account Settings → Profile tab
2. Enter their phone number in the phone field
3. Click "Verify" to receive a one-time 6-digit verification code via SMS
4. Enter the verification code to confirm ownership of the phone number

Step 2: Explicit Notification Opt-In

After phone verification, users must explicitly enable SMS notifications through the Account Settings → Notify tab. This is a separate, deliberate action — verifying a phone number does not automatically subscribe the user to any messages.

The notification preferences panel provides granular control with two independent channels:

Each notification type can be independently enabled or disabled per channel:

• Auction Starts — notified when an auction the user is watching goes live
• Outbid Alerts — notified when another bidder places a higher bid
• 1 Day Left — reminder when a watched lot ends in 24 hours
• 1 Hour Left — reminder when a watched lot ends in 1 hour
• 30 Minutes Left — reminder when a watched lot ends in 30 minutes
• 15 Minutes Left — reminder when a watched lot ends in 15 minutes
• 5 Minutes Left — final reminder when a watched lot ends in 5 minutes

Sample Messages

Examples of SMS messages users may receive when opted in:

How to Opt Out

Users can stop receiving SMS notifications at any time through multiple methods:

1. Notification preferences — toggle off the "Text" channel in Account Settings → Notify tab. Individual notification types can also be disabled independently.
2. Remove phone number — remove or change the phone number in Account Settings → Profile tab
3. Contact support — email [email protected] to request SMS opt-out

Opt-out takes effect immediately. No further SMS messages will be sent after the user disables the text channel.

Data Handling

• Phone numbers are stored securely and used solely for account verification and opted-in notifications
• We do not sell, share, or use phone numbers for marketing purposes
• Message frequency depends on user activity and preferences (typically 0–10 messages per auction)
• Standard message and data rates may apply
• Notification history is logged for deduplication — users are never sent the same notification twice

Contact

For questions about our SMS practices or to request opt-out assistance:

Email: [email protected]