How to Register:
You must register on Cowan's Midnight Auction site, even if you have a Cowan's account. You only have to register at Midnight site once. For subsequent auctions, simply click on the Midnight link, log in with your ID and password, and start bidding!

Timed Auction:
Items posted to the Midnight platform are available for absentee bidding only. Each auction will remain open for a 14 day period. You can browse the catalog and place bids at any time.
The Midnight platform operates using the "proxibid" method - you may place a high bid and the system will bid on your behalf up to that limit.

When submitting a question to a Seller, the message gets sent directly to their email address on file. The Seller can respond by following the link in the email.

To ask the Seller a question:
    1. Log into your account.
    2. Go to the Item listing.
    3. Scroll down to the section marked "Comments."
    4. Click the text "Ask the seller a question." This will take you
    to a Contact User form.
    5. Enter your message.
    6. Click "Send" button.

You can search for items on the Home Page or browse items by category. To place a bid or sell an item you must register for an account.   

Reserve - The Reserve price is the absolute minimum dollar amount the Seller will accept for an item. Buyers are notified after placing their bid if it is below the Reserve price.If a Buyer's maximum bid is greater than the Reserve price, the Reserve is automatically met and that user is the high bidder. The ability to set a Reserve price is only available to Traditional Auctions .

Searching - There are two ways to seach for items, Basic Search and Advanced Search.

Basic Search - Accessible from both the Home Page and Browse.

• Enter Keywords, Item #, or Username

• Select appropriate search parameter

  • Title & Description

  • Item #

  • User

• Click "Search" button

Advanced Search - Accessible by clicking the "Advanced Search" button on the Home Page

The following options are available for the Advanced Search:

• Load Saved Search - Use a previously saved search.

• Category - Select a specific item category or "All Categories."

• Search - Enter Keywords or Item #. To search Title & Descriptions check the appropriate box.
  The following options are available for keyword search:

  • All of these words

  • Any of these words

  • Exactly these words

• Item Options - Used to search custom item fields. Example: ISBN # for textbooks.

• Refine Your Search - Narrow the search. Reduce the number of search results by setting specific searchable properties.

  • Price Range

  • Start Date

  • End Date

  • Words to Exclude

  • Listing type

  • Auction Listing Options

    • Completed

    • No Reserve only

• Display Format - How to organize the items your search returns.

  • Items Ending First - Items with the least ammount of time left first.

  • Items Ending Last - Items with the longest ammount of time left first.

  • Newest Items First - Items with the most recent start date.

  • Oldest Items First - items with the oldest start date.

  • Lowest Price First

  • Highest Price First

  • Most Bids First

  • Least Bids First

  • Alphabetically

  • Reverse Alphabetically

Press "GO" to activate Advanced Search.