=== Bidvana – Auctions for WooCommerce ===
Contributors: alexwoods
Tags: auction, woocommerce, bidding, auctions, bid
Requires at least: 6.2
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Turn any WooCommerce product into a live auction — real-time bidding, countdown timers, anti-sniping, outbid emails, and winner-only checkout.

== Description ==

**Bidvana adds a true auction product type to WooCommerce.** Create an auction in under a minute: set a starting price, a bid increment, and start/end times — Bidvana handles everything else, from live bidding to getting the winner paid.

= Everything you need to run auctions — free =

* **Auction product type** — a first-class WooCommerce product type, right in the product editor.
* **Live bidding** — visitors bid without reloading the page; the current bid, bid count, and history update in real time.
* **Countdown timers** — a clear, urgent countdown on every auction, synced to the server clock (no timezone bugs).
* **Anti-sniping** — last-second bids automatically extend the auction (window and extension are configurable), so auctions end fairly.
* **Outbid email alerts** — outbid bidders get an email with a link back to the auction. Higher engagement, higher final prices.
* **Winner checkout** — when the auction ends, the winner gets an email with a checkout link, and *only the winner* can buy the item, at exactly their winning bid. Standard WooCommerce orders, any payment gateway.
* **Bid history** — anonymized public bid history on the product page ("j*****n — $42.00 — 3 mins ago").
* **Admin bids screen** — every bid across all auctions with bidder name and email, filterable per auction (WooCommerce → Auction Bids).
* **Live auction badges** — auctions are highlighted on your shop grid.
* **`[bidvana_auctions]` shortcode** — a grid of your auctions, soonest-ending first, for any page.
* **No external services** — everything runs on your site. No accounts, no API keys, no per-auction fees.

= How it works =

1. Products → Add New → choose **Auction** as the product type.
2. On the **Auction** tab set starting price, bid increment (optional), and start/end date & time.
3. Publish. Logged-in customers bid; guests are prompted to log in.
4. When time runs out, Bidvana picks the highest bidder, emails them a payment link, and locks purchase to the winner. Once they pay, the auction is marked sold.

= Great for =

* Collectibles, art, and one-of-a-kind items
* Charity and fundraising auctions
* Liquidation / clearance of returned and open-box stock
* Estate sales, vehicles, equipment
* Domain names, memorabilia, sneakers, trading cards

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do bidders need an account? =

Yes — bidding requires a (free) customer account so winners can pay and outbid notices can be sent. Guests see a "Log in to bid" button. Enable registration under WooCommerce → Settings → Accounts.

= What happens if two people bid at the same time? =

Every bid is recorded; the highest amount wins. If your bid is beaten while you type, Bidvana tells you the new minimum instead of accepting a stale bid.

= What is anti-sniping? =

If someone bids inside the final window (default: last 2 minutes), the auction end automatically moves out (default: +2 minutes) so others can respond. Configure or disable it under WooCommerce → Settings → Products → Auctions.

= How does the winner pay? =

The winner receives an email with a checkout link, and the product page shows them a "Pay now" button. The item is priced at their winning bid and goes through normal WooCommerce checkout — any gateway, taxes and shipping included. Nobody else can add it to the cart.

= Does it work with my theme? =

Bidvana renders through standard WooCommerce hooks and templates, so it works with any theme that supports WooCommerce, including block themes.

= Does it slow my site down? =

No. Assets load only on auction pages, and live updates are lightweight polling (one small request every 8 seconds while an auction page is open).

= Can I relist an auction that got no bids? =

Yes — edit the product and set a new end date; it goes live again automatically.

== Screenshots ==

1. Live auction on the product page — countdown, current bid, one-click bidding, and anonymized bid history.
2. Creating an auction — the Auction tab in the WooCommerce product editor.
3. Every bid across your store — the Auction Bids screen under WooCommerce.
4. Auctions highlighted on the shop grid with live badges.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release: auction product type, live bidding, countdown timers, anti-sniping, outbid/winner/admin emails, winner-only checkout, bid history, admin bids screen, shop badges, [bidvana_auctions] shortcode, settings.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
First release.
