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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Matchfire?
A: The selling party has retained Matchfire (The Matchfire Group) to manage this auction. Matchfire provides a comprehensive auction management service focused on creating successful high-value, high-profile promotional auctions for charities, nonprofit organizations and top brand companies. Matchfire is a promotional agency which helps define client brand promotional strategy through auctions, delivers creative design, and manages operations of feature online auctions for maximum visibility of well-known brands, media companies, charities, nonprofits, public relations firms and advertising agencies.

Q: Is Bidder Pre-Qualification necessary to participate in this auction?
A: All bidding activity below $5,000 does not need to be pre-qualified. Fixed price listings do not require prequalification.

Bidding above $5,000 must be Pre-Qualified. Click here to fill out the secure Bidder Pre-Qualification form. In order to help ensure a smooth and successful auction experience, Matchfire will be performing Bidder Pre-Qualification for this auction. Fixed price listings do not require prequalification.

Q: Why do eBay members need to Pre-Qualify?
A: We realize that the Bidder Pre-Qualification policy may seem like an unnecessary procedure to eBay community members in good standing, but to ensure a safe and fair auction, we require that all bidders participate for all bidding activity above $5,000. Fixed price listings do not require prequalification.

Q: Is the campaign open internationally?
A: Unless otherwise noted above the campaign is open worldwide. All international shipments use FedEx. CHECK SHIPPING COST BEFORE BIDDING. Members of the EU, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Switzerland must supply an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number. International buyers are responsible for any additional international shipping fees that apply including Customs, VAT (value added tax), duties, fees, tariffs, etc. which may be assessed and due upon delivery of item. We cannot pre-determine such fees and are not responsible for these additional costs. 
 
Q: I've won the auction! What happens next?
A: An invoice will be sent to the winning bidder via eBay or Matchfire to confirm the payment amount and payment instructions. Payment must be in U.S. funds and received within two (2) business days of the close of the auction.
 
Q: Will a receipt be provided?
A: Yes, a receipt for the final bid amount paid will be provided by Matchfire.
 
Q: Is there sales tax?
A: Sales tax is applied at time of purchase on all transactions conducted via the eBay marketplace and is generally based upon the tax law of the state(s) in which a buyer resides.  Please note that while some states allow an exemption for purchases made by charitable organizations, items that are sold by the same charitable organization are not exempt from tax in most states. If you have paid sales tax on the purchase of a special experience, Matchfire will submit the transaction to eBay for review. If eBay finds the sale meets the buyer’s state requirements for tax exemption, eBay will refund any collected tax. 

If you have paid sales tax on the purchase of any item for which you believe an exemption should apply, we ask that you either (1) submit a request for a sales tax refund via eBay’s customer service portal on ebay.com, or (2) contact your local state Department of Revenue and apply for a sales tax refund directly from your state of residence.  More information is available at eBay's website. Paying tax on eBay purchases | eBay Thank you for your business and your support of eBay for Charity.
 
Q: Is this purchase tax deductible?
A: Please contact your personal tax advisor for information on this issue.
 
Delivery information for auction items.
Winning bidders must provide a physical address and phone number. Barring unanticipated circumstances and/or any special fulfillment conditions, the estimated delivery time is 2-3 weeks after final payment is received and acknowledged. International bidders will be required to pay any duties or taxes associated with their shipment.

Questions?
Please use the "Ask a Seller a Question" option above.

Disclaimers

• Matchfire, the auction manager, is performing a management service on behalf of and at direction of the selling party and as such is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for any warranties or guarantees either explicit or implied herein.

• The purchaser/high bidder agrees to pay within 2 business days of the close of the auction
• Warranties: All items originate from the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Matchfire nor its employees, agents, or contractors provide any warranties or guarantees, express or implied and will not be held responsible for discrepancies or inaccuracies in item descriptions provided.
• All items are sold as is.
• Elton John AIDS Foundation will receive the proceeds of the winning bid on this auction.
• All bids are binding.
• All bids are in US dollars.
• This auction does not include any items or services that are not detailed above.
• Bidders must be at least 18-years of age.
• Please note that shill bidding is neither allowed nor tolerated. This practice is illegal and carries legal consequences in many areas. Per eBay’s help pages, "shill bidding is the deliberate placing of bids to artificially raise the price of an item and is not allowed."
• Please note that due to the nature of high-profile auctions, we have occasionally experienced attempted fraud through the use of second chance offers. If you are contacted by anyone other than a Matchfire representative about this item or items similar to this, please contact us immediately.
• Matchfire reserves the right to block a bidder for any reason including but not limited to, feedback, non-paying bidder, bid retractions, and recent bid history.
• Your participation in this auction constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

About eBay for Charity: 

A charity fundraiser platform that keeps on giving, eBay for Charity has raised an impressive $1.3 billion dollars for nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad. The platform launched in 2003 and has helped over 83 thousand nonprofit organizations architect and implement fundraising ideas and charity auctions that engage over 197 million active buyers. The program gives online users from all over the world a chance to make a difference by shopping, selling, or donating on eBay. eBay for Charity and PayPal Giving Fund, a nonprofit partner, screen and certify participating nonprofits as well as process the donations from charity auctions. From celebrity souvenirs to novelty items, eBay for Charity has proven its versatility as a premier charity fundraiser platform. Learn more 

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